Chapter 2: The Research Enterprise in Psychology

Question 1

What is the scientific method?

Answer 1

A process of systematic observation, measurement, and experimentation to formulate and test hypotheses

Question 2

What are the five steps of the scientific method?

Answer 2

1. Formulate a hypothesis
2. Design the study
3. Collect the data
4. Analyze the data, and draw conclusions
5. Report the findings

Question 3

What is empirical data?

Answer 3

Evidence that comes from observation, experience, or experimentation

Question 4

What four general goals does the scientific method allow researchers to achieve?

Answer 4

-Describe psychological phenomena
-Predict what will occur
-Control factors that are believed to cause a phenomenon
-Explain why the phenomenon occurs

Question 5

What is a hypothesis?

Answer 5

A specific and testable description of the expected outcome of a study;
A prediction about the results of the experiment

Question 6

What is a variable?

Answer 6

Anything that can change or be changed in an experiment

Question 7

What is a theory?

Answer 7

A coherent explanation or interpretation of facts and observations that have been identified in past studies

Question 8

What is confirmation bias?

Answer 8

The tendency to search for information that supports preconceptions and to ignore or distort contradictory evidence

Question 9

What are operational definitions?

Answer 9

Clear and detailed statements about how you will measure the data collected about the variables

Question 10

What does it mean to replicate a study, and what is needed to do so?

Answer 10

Repeat the original study as closely as possible;
Clear operational definitions

Question 11

What are the three main research methods?

Answer 11

Experiments, correlational studies, and descriptive research

Question 12

What is the only research method for investigating cause-and-effect relationships, and why?

Answer 12

The experimental method;
Because it enables a researcher to manipulate one of the variables and observe the effect of that manipulation on one or more other measured variables

Question 13

What are the criticisms of the experimental method?

Answer 13

For being too artificial to assess behaviors that most people usually exhibit

Question 14

What is the independent variable?

Answer 14

The variable that the experimenter manipulates

Question 15

What is the dependent variable?

Answer 15

The variable that the researchers measure

Question 16

In an experiment, what is the population?

Answer 16

Consists of all individuals who can potentiall participate in the study;
Everyone who can be in a study

Question 17

What is a sample?

Answer 17

A smaller group of the population;
Those who actually participate in the study

Question 18

What is a representative sample?

Answer 18

A sample that has characteristics that are simillar to those in the population

Question 19

What is a sampling bias?

Answer 19

An error in the sampling process that allows some members of a population to be more or less likely than others to be included in a study

Question 20

How do researchers guarantee that a sample is representative?

Answer 20

Using a random sample

Question 21

What is a random sample?

Answer 21

One in which each member of the population has the same chance of getting into the sample as any other member

Question 22

What is stratified sampling?

Answer 22

Subgrounds within the population are equally represented;
And members of those population subgroups have an equal chance of becoming members of the sample

Question 23

What is external validity?

Answer 23

The ability to generalize the results of a study to a larger population

Question 24

What is the experimental group?

Answer 24

Group in which the researchers manipulate the independent variable

Question 25

What is the control group?

Answer 25

The comparison group that doesn’t receive the experimental treatment

Question 26

What is random assignment?

Answer 26

A process that ensures all members of the sample have an equal chance of being placed into either the control or experimental group

Question 27

What do random sampling and random assignment allow researchers to do?

Answer 27

They allow researchers to assume that uncontrolled factors are spread randomly throughout the participants and will not have a systematic effect on the results

Question 28

What is internal validity?

Answer 28

The likelihood that differences in the dependent variable are caused by the independent variable rather than some other factor

Question 29

What are confounding variables?

Answer 29

Extraneous factors that may interfere with the independent variable and therefore have an impact on the outcome of the study

Question 30

What is the placebo effect?

Answer 30

A real response, positive or negative, to an action or substance based solely on expectations, not on the actual properties of the action or substance

Question 31

How do experimenters get rid of the placebo effect?

Answer 31

A single-blind study

Question 32

What is a single-blind study?

Answer 32

In which the participants do not know whether they belong to the control group or the experimental group

Question 33

What eliminates experimenter bias?

Answer 33

Double-blind studies

Question 34

What is an experimenter bias?

Answer 34

An error resulting from the experimenter’s unconscious expectation of results

Question 35

What is a double-blind study?

Answer 35

When neither the experimenter nor the participants know to which group the participants belong

Question 36

When do researchers use correlational studies?

Answer 36

When they wasnt to study questions for which manipulating the independent variable would be unethical

Question 37

What are correlational studies?

Answer 37

Allow researchers to determine if there is a relationship between two variables

Question 38

What are the three types of relationships that can be determined from a correlational study?

Answer 38

Positive relationships, negative relationships, and illusory relationships

Question 39

What happens in a positive correlation?

Answer 39

The independent and depedent variable move together in the same direction;
If one increases, the other increases;
If one decreases, the other also decreases

Question 40

What happens in a negative correlation?

Answer 40

The variables have an inverse relationship

Question 41

What is an illusory correlation?

Answer 41

An expected or suspected relationship that doesn’t empirically exist

Question 42

What are correlational studies useful for?

Answer 42

For making predictions and decisions;
For avoiding unethical experiments that would expose participants to harm

Question 43

How are correlational studies misleading at times?

Answer 43

Because the relationship between the variables, especially which variable is affecting which, can be hard to determine at times

Question 44

What is the third variable problem?

Answer 44

In a correlational study, researchers cannot eliminate the possibility that a third variable causes both of the other variables to increase or decrease

Question 45

What are descriptive research techniques?

Answer 45

They allow researchers to gather information that cannot be obtained using the experimental method but that still uses scientific questions, hypotheses, and careful data

Question 46

What is naturalistic observation?

Answer 46

The observation of human or animal behavior in its natural setting

Question 47

How can there be error with naturalistic observation?

Answer 47

It does not allow the researcher to interact with those being studied, which may lead to erroneous conclusions about why the behavior occurred

Question 48

What is a case study?

Answer 48

In which researchers conduct in-depth studies of either an individual or a group who share a common characteristic

Question 49

What are some flaws with using case studies?

Answer 49

They often cannot be generalized to the larger population;
The results of the case study method may be influenced by the opinions of those conducting the research

Question 50

What is a survery?

Answer 50

In which participants receive a list of questions to answer

Question 51

What are the challenges when it comes to using surveys?

Answer 51

Participation in most survery research is not random;
The wording of the question can have a strong effect on the way people respond

Question 52

How are interviews useful?

Answer 52

They allow researchers to know what participants experienced during a session;
Helps psychologists gain an understanding of a wide variety of topics such as decision-making, emotions, etc.

Question 53

hWhat is a subjective self-report?

Answer 53

When individuals portray an overly positive view of themselves as they want to be viewed

Question 54

What are demand characteristics?

Answer 54

Subtle cues interviewers may convey about their expectations

Question 55

What is the social desirability bias?

Answer 55

When interviewees want to appear kind and empathetic to others

Question 56

What are the two unique challenges using interviews pose?

Answer 56

Leading questions must be avoided;
Participants could be lying