Chapter Two

Question 1

Describe the scientific method and steps of doing research

Answer 1

1. Form a testable hypothesis
2. Select the research method and design the study
3. Collect the data
4. Analyze the data and draw conclusions
5. Report the findings

Question 2

What is the operational definition

Answer 2

Describes the actions or operations that will be used to measure or control a variable

Question 3

Explain the difference between correlational and experimental design

Answer 3

• experimental manipulates one variable to conclude a cause and effect about another variable
• correlational seeks to identify a relationship between two variables, which does not conclude anything about cause and effect

Question 4

What is correlational research

Answer 4

• examines how variables are naturally related in the real world
• a correlation occurs when there is a relationship/association between variables

Question 5

What are the methods of correlational research

Answer 5

• surveys
• Naturalistic observation
• Case studies

Question 6

Explain why correlation is not causal

Answer 6

• does not equal causation
• directionality problem
• third variable problem

Question 7

Positive correlation vs negative correlation

Answer 7

• positive= two variables change together in the same direction
• negative= two variables change together in opposite directions

Question 8

What is the directionality problem in correlational research

Answer 8

You don’t know which variable causes which

Question 9

What is the third variable problem in correlational research

Answer 9

An outside variable causes both variables to change

Question 10

What are surveys

Answer 10

Interviews to gather information

Question 11

What is naturalistic observation

Answer 11

Careful observation of behavior without intervening

Question 12

What are case studies

Answer 12

An in depth investigation of an individual subject

Question 13

What is experimental research

Answer 13

• the investigator manipulates a variable under carefully controlled decisions
• observes whether any changes occur in a second variable as a result

Question 14

What are the pros and cons of experimental research

Answer 14

• PRO: permits conclusions about cause and effect relationships between variables
• CON: experiments are often artificial and cannot be used to answer some questions due to ethical concerns

Question 15

Independent vs dependent variable

Answer 15

• independent— manipulated

- dependent- changes

Question 16

Experimental vs control group

Answer 16

• experimental is given special treatment

- control is not given special treatment

Question 17

What is the extraneous variable

Answer 17

Any variables other than the IV that seem to unintentionally influence the DV

Question 18

What is random assignment

Answer 18

All subjects have an equal chance of being assigned to any group in the study

Question 19

What is the sampling bias

Answer 19

A sample is not representative of the population

Question 20

What is placebo effect

Answer 20

Participants’ expectations lead them to experience some change even though they don’t receive the treatment

Question 21

Social desirability bias

Answer 21

Participants tend to give socially approved answers to questions about themselves

Question 22

What is the halo effect

Answer 22

Someone’s overall impression of a person spills over to influence more specific behavior ratings

Question 23

What is experimenter bias and what solves it

Answer 23

Experimenter’s expectations about the outcome of a study unintentionally influence the research procedure or the behavior of participants; solved by double blind procedure

Question 24

What is the double blind procedure

Answer 24

Neither subjects nor experimenters know which subjects are in which group