Evaluating Research (U1)

Question 1

Bidirectional ambiguity

Answer 1

A limitation of many correlational studies. It is not possible to know if x causes y, y causes x, if they interact to cause behavior, or whether it is just coincidental and no relationship exists.

Question 2

Constructive validity

Answer 2

The degree to which a study consistently measures a variable. For example, if a researcher develops a new questionnaire to evaluate respondents’ levels of aggression, the construct validity of the instrument would be the extent to which it actually assesses aggression as opposed to assertiveness, social dominance, or irritability.

Question 3

Demand characteristics

Answer 3

Cues that may influence or bias participants’ behavior, for example, by suggesting to outcome or response that the experimenter expects or desires.

Question 4

Ecological fallacy

Answer 4

A mistaken conclusion drawn about individuals based on findings from groups to which they belong. For example, if a researcher uses Japanese participants in the sample and assumes that since they are Japanese, they must be collectivistic. The ecological fallacy is controlled for by giving a test to measure the assumed variable.

Question 5

Ecological validity

Answer 5

The degree to which results obtained from research or experimentation are representative of conditions in the wider world. Ecological validity is influenced by the level of control in the environment (hence, ecological).

Question 6

Expectancy effect

Answer 6

When a researcher’s expectations about the findings of the research are inadvertently communicated to participants and influence their responses. This distortion of results arises from participants’ reaction to subtle cues unintentionally given by the researcher – for example, through body movements, gestures, or facial expressions.

Question 7

External validity

Answer 7

The extent to which the results of a study can be generalized beyond the sample that was tested.

Question 8

Extraneous variable

Answer 8

Also known as a confounding variable. A variable that is not under investigation in an experiment but may potentially affect the dependent variable if it is not properly controlled.

Question 9

Fagitude effect

Answer 9

A type of order effect where a participant decreases in performance in later conditions because they are tired or bored with the activity.

Question 10

Interference effect

Answer 10

A type of order effect where the first condition may influence the outcome of the second condition. For example, when giving two sets of words to remember, when a participant remembers a word from the first condition when trying to recall words in the second dependent study.

Question 11

Internal validity

Answer 11

When an experiment was conducted using appropriate controls so that it supports the conclusion that the IV caused observed differences in the DV.

Question 12

Mundane Realism

Answer 12

The participants and the situation studies are representative of everyday life. If a study is highly artificial, it is said to lack mundane realism.

Question 13

Order effects

Answer 13

Differences in research participants’ responses that result from the order in which they participate in the experimental conditions. Examples include fagitude effect, interference effects, or practice effects.

Question 14

Participant attrition

Answer 14

The rate at which participants drop out of a study over time. This often occurs when research has many steps or takes place over a long period of time.

Question 15

Placebo effect

Answer 15

A beneficial effect produced by a placebo drug or treatment, which cannot be attributed to the properties of the placebo itself, and must, therefore, be due to the patient’s belief in that treatment.

Question 16

Practice effect

Answer 16

A type of order effect where a participant improves in performance in later conditions because practice has led to the development of skill or learning.

Question 17

Random error

Answer 17

Error that is due to chance alone.

Question 18

Reactivity

Answer 18

When participants change their behavior due to their awareness of being observed.

Question 19

Reliability

Answer 19

The consistency of a measure - that is, the degree to which a study is free of random error, obtaining the same results across time with the same population.

Question 20

Sampling bias

Answer 20

When a sample is selected in such a way that it is not representative of the population from which it is drawn. When a sample is biased, population validity is decreased.

Question 21

Type I Error

Answer 21

When the research concludes there is a relationship in the population when in fact there is not.

Question 22

Type II Error

Answer 22

When the research concludes there is no relationship in the population when in fact there is one.

Question 23

Validity

Answer 23

The degree to which a tests measures what it claims to measure.

Question 24

Cirvlinear relationship

Answer 24

A type of relationship between wo variables where when one variable increases, so does the other variable, but only up to a certain point, after which one continues to increase.