Chapter 4 - Research Methods

Question 1

Explain:

Descriptive Research

Answer 1

Data collection that does not interfere with how data arises in the real world, such as observing animals from afar.

Question 2

Explain:

Correlation Research

Answer 2

Uses Descriptive Research methods to determine relationship between variables, surveys etc.

Question 3

Explain:

Observational Research

Answer 3

Category of research which both descriptive and correlation research fall under. Research witch involves no interference with the studied environment.

Question 4

Explain:

Experimental Research

Answer 4

Research involving manipulation of environment and variables to isolate the relationship between selected variables.

Question 5

Explain:

Naturalistic Observation

Answer 5

Recording of behaviour in real world settings without manipulating the setting, have high external validity. Must reduce Reactivity. Cannot lead to causal inference

Question 6

Explain:

External Validity

Answer 6

A measure to which extent findings in research can be generalized to the whole real world population.

Question 7

Explain:

Reactivity

Answer 7

The change in behaviour of an observed sample in response to the introduction of an observer.

Question 8

Explain:

Case Study

Answer 8

A research design that examines one (or a few) persons in depth over an extended period. Mainly useful for existence proofs. Provides useful information as to rare phenomena. Highly subjective, relies on indirect assessments.

Question 9

Explain:

Existence Proofs

Answer 9

The proof that a specific phenomena exists in the real world.

Question 10

Explain:

Surveys & Self-Reports

Answer 10

Using questionnaires or interview to gather information on a sample or population. Responses can be influenced by researcher, assumption that studied individual understands the questions, assumption that individual tested has insight into themselves.

Question 11

Explain:

Reliability

Answer 11

Consistency of measurement

Question 12

Explain:

Test-retest Reliability

Answer 12

When the same test is re-administered it should produce identical results.

Question 13

Explain:

Interobserver Reliability

Answer 13

Multiple people should draw the same conclusions from a given set of data cultivated from research.

Question 14

Explain:

Validity

Answer 14

The extent which a measure actually measures what it purports to measure.

Question 15

Explain:

Correlation Coefficient

Answer 15

A measure that states the strength of the relationship between two variables.

Question 16

Explain:

Illusory Correlation

Answer 16

Perception of a statistical association between two variables where none exists.

Question 17

Explain:

Confirmation Bias

Answer 17

The tendency to seek out information that supports our hypothesis and deny/ignore, or distort information that contradicts it.

Question 18

Explain:

Availability Heuristic

Answer 18

When you estimate the likelihood of an occurrence based on the ease which it comes to mind.

Question 19

Explain:

Error Bar

Answer 19

An addition to bar charts to demonstrate the confidence interval of the probable population mean

Question 20

Explain:

Statistical Significance

Answer 20

When p < 0.05

Means that data collected is good

Question 21

State:

Hazards in Experimental Design

Answer 21

• Don’t confuse random sampling and random assignment
• Careful of confounding variables - variables that have reasonable suspicion to influence results.
• Placebo Effect
• Experimenter Expectancy Effect - Experimenter can influence results based off of their own expectancy for the results themselves.
• Demand Characteristics - test subjects can change their answers based off of what they expect the objective of the research to be.