Chapter 2: The Research Enterprise in Psychology

Question 1

What were Weiten’s themes?

Answer 1

Theme 1: Psychology is empirical

Theme 2: People’s experience of the world is highly subjective

Question 2

Operational definition

Answer 2

statement that describes the procedures or the specific measures that are used to record observations

Question 3

Construct

Answer 3

something abstract that is not a concrete concept

Question 4

Psychological measures can be:

Answer 4

physiological, behavioral, or self-reported

Question 5

Descriptive Studies

Answer 5

present observations about characteristics of a subject

Question 6

Types of Descriptive Research

Answer 6

naturalistic/field, case studies, archival, self-reports

Question 7

What is a concern with correlational observation?

Answer 7

danger of confounding variables

Question 8

Confounding variable

Answer 8

a third factor that influences both variables causing them to covary

Question 9

Correlation coefficient must be between

Answer 9

-1.00 to +1.00

Question 10

Extraneous variables

Answer 10

variables other than the independent variable that influence the dependent variable in an experiment

Question 11

Confounding of variables

Answer 11

when two variables are linked in such a way that it is difficult to distinguish the effects of one from the other

Question 12

Sample

Answer 12

a subset of the population

Question 13

Representative sample

Answer 13

accurate representation of the population

Question 14

Random sample

Answer 14

every individual in the population has an equal chance of being chosen

Question 15

Convenience sample

Answer 15

sample using individuals that are most readily available

Question 16

Descriptive statistics

Answer 16

when numbers are used to describe or summarize your data

Question 17

Inferential statistics

Answer 17

performed to infer something about our sample to our population

Question 18

Psychological measures should be _______ and _______

Answer 18

reliable, valid

Question 19

What are the two types of reliability for psychological measures?

Answer 19

1) Test-retest- test results should not change much if at all when experimenting with a relatively constant variable

2) Interrater- have agreement between raters (ex. Olympics)

Question 20

Internal validity

Answer 20

degree to which you can draw a cause and effect relationship

Question 21

External validity

Answer 21

degree to which one set of results can be applied to other situations

Question 22

What are ways to reduce bias in a study?

Answer 22

anonymity, confidentiality, use of single-blind or double-blind study

Question 23

What are some types of participant (subject) biases?

Answer 23

1) Reactivity: a participant will change their behavior because they know they are being observed

2) Socially desirable responding: when participants in a study want to come across in a certain way

3) Stereotype threat: pressure to conform to stereotypes

4) Placebo effects: improvement with fake treatment

Question 24

What is a type of researcher bias?

Answer 24

Demand characteristics: subtle cues given by the researcher as to their expectations for participants

Question 25

What are the objectives of the Institutional Review Board (IRB)?

Answer 25

weigh potential risks vs. benefits of research, ensure volunteers are able to give informed consent

Question 26

What is protocol?

Answer 26

an application that researchers must fill out if their study will require human participants that has to be approved before it can be conducted

Question 27

What are the three guidelines created for participant safety as a result of the Belmont report?

Answer 27

1) Respect for persons: recognition of personal dignity and autonomy of individuals

2) Beneficence: protecting persons from harm by maximizing anticipated benefits and minimizing risks or harm

3) Justice: fair selection of all participants

Question 28

What potential risks should be weighed against the benefits of a study?

Answer 28

physiological, cognitive/emotional, and social

Question 29

Informed consent

Answer 29

potential volunteer must be informed (know the purpose, nature of stimuli, tasks, potential risks involved in a study) and give consent without pressure

Question 30

Welfare of animals in research

Answer 30

If study requires pain or discomfort, pain is justified by the potential benefits of the research