Exam 1 - Ch. 2

Question 1

Demand characteristics

Answer 1

aspects of an observational setting that cause
people to behave as they think someone else wants or expects

A problem w/ Descriptive studies

E.g. Participant tries to be helpful and gives the answer that they think the experimenter wants

Question 2

Observer bias

Answer 2

Systematic errors in observations that occur because of
an observer’s expectations
-“Expectation influences reality”

Question 3

double-blind observation

Answer 3

The experimental
condition is hidden from both the observer
and the person being observed

Question 4

Variable

Answer 4

Something that can vary

Question 5

Correlational studies

Answer 5

examine how variables are related
-cannot establish casual relationship
described by correlational coefficient “r”

Question 6

Correlation issues

Answer 6

• They do not generalize

- correlation does NOT mean causation (again no strength in creating casual relationships)

Question 7

Directionality problem

Answer 7

There’s an ambiguity in the direction of causality
in a correlational relationship.
(i.e. does variable A cause B, or does variable B cause A)

Question 8

Empiricism

Answer 8

Belief that accurate knowledge can be acquired through observation

Question 9

Scientific method

Answer 9

a procedure for finding facts by using empirical

evidence

Question 10

Theory

Answer 10

hypothetical explanation of a natural phenomenon

Question 11

What makes a good theory?

Answer 11

Falsifiable
Parsimonious (AKA simple)
Supported with Data

Question 12

Occam’s razor

Answer 12

as long as a simple theory describes the data, there is

little need to develop more complex theories

Question 13

Hypothesis

Answer 13

a specific, testable prediction, narrower than the theory it is based on

Question 14

Replication

Answer 14

Doing something again

Question 15

Why is research needed?

Answer 15

Some observations are not possible
• (e.g. germs are too small but they are there)

• Observations are not always reliable or we see things incorrectly
• (e.g. horse galloping)
• Some observations are false
• (e.g. earth appears to be flat)

• People disagree on their observations

Question 16

Problems specific to human research

Answer 16

Complexity : people are complicated

• Variability : people have lots of variations
• Reactivity : People act differently when the know that they are being observed (Hawthorne effect)

Question 17

Hawthorn effect

Answer 17

presence of an observer may alter the behaviour being

observed

Question 18

Descriptive research

Answer 18

involves observing and objectively describing
behaviour

• Describes a phenomenon, may generate predictions
• Researcher does not have control, and cannot provide an explanation for the phenomenon.
• Limited ability to describe behaviour and predict future behaviour

Question 19

Examples of Descriptive research

Answer 19

A) Case study : an examination of a single unusual person or organization
-not generalizable

B) Naturalistic observation: systematic coding of overt behaviour of people in their natural environment
-E.g. hungry shoppers buy more impulse items (Gilbert et al. 2002)

C) Self-reports and interviews : directly asks people about themselves, thoughts, actions and feelings
ex. Surveys, interviews

Question 20

Third variable problem

Answer 20

Instead of variable A producing variable B, it is

possible that a third variable, C, is responsible for both A and B

Question 21

Spurious correlation

Answer 21

A correlational relationship where a connection between two variables that appears causal but is not.
-Due to the 3rd variable problem

Question 22

Controls for 3rd variable issue

Answer 22

Matched sample technique : participants in two groups are identical in terms of a third variable.

Matched pairs technique : each participant is identical to one other participant in terms of a third variable.

*You still can only control one

Question 23

So why use correlation?

Answer 23

• Correlation studies are used for ethical reasons
• Unethical to get people to start smoking or drive while testing
• Correlation allows predictions to be generated

Question 24

Experiment

Answer 24

researcher manipulates (changes) one variable to measure the effect on the second variable
Needed to establish casual effects

Question 25

Independent variable

Answer 25

the variable that gets manipulated

Question 26

Dependent variable

Answer 26

the variable that gets measured

Question 27

Operational definition

Answer 27

qualify (describe) and quantify (measure)

variables so the variables can be understood objectively

Question 28

Instrument

Answer 28

measures the dependent variable

Question 29

What makes a good measurement?

Answer 29

Validity : the measurement is objective.

Reliability : the instrument produces similar measurements every time it measures the same thing

Power : the instrument can detect even small differences in magnitudes of the measurement

Question 30

Between-group design

Answer 30

2 seperate groups

• Experimental group : participants receive treatment
• Comparison (control) group : participants do not receive the treatment

Question 31

Within-group (Repeated measures) design

Answer 31

• Participant acts as their own control

* Each participant receives both treatment and control

Question 32

Confound

Answer 32

anything that affects the DV that may unintentionally vary
between the study’s different experimental conditions

*IN AN EXPERIMENT ONLY