Exam 1 Psychology 150

Question 1

basic research

Answer 1

• Often occurs in university laboratories
• Focuses on collecting data to support/refute theories
• Goal: to gather knowledge for the sake of knowledge

Question 2

Applied Research

Answer 2

• Often occurs in natural settings outside the lab
• Focuses on changing behaviors and outcomes
• Goal: address specific problems

Question 3

descriptive research methods

Answer 3

• Type of investigation psychologists use to explore a phenomenon
• Useful for studying new or unexplored topics
• LIMITATION: cannot determine cause-and-effect relationships between variables

Question 4

Naturalistic Observation

Answer 4

• Studies participants in their natural environment through systematic observation
• Researcher must not to disturb the participants or environment.
• Observer bias: Errors in the recording of observations, the result of a researcher’s value system, expectations, or attitudes

Question 5

Case Study

Answer 5

• A detailed examination of an individual or small group, often gathering information multiple ways
• Especially helpful for rare or understudied phenomenon
• Case studies are isolated examples – must be cautious about making generalizations.

Question 6

Survey Method

Answer 6

• Uses questionnaires or interviews to gather data
• Allows researchers to gather a lot of data quickly
• Researchers must be mindful of
• Wording of the questions which may lead to response bias
• Participant honesty
• Skims the surface — doesn’t help us understand why people respond the way they do
• Low response rates may lead to a non-representative sample

Question 7

correlations(correlation coefficients)

Answer 7

• A type of descriptive research examining the relationships among variables.
• Correlation : An association or relationship between two (or more) variables (can be positive or negative)
• Correlation coefficient: The statistical measure (symbolized as r) indicates strength and direction of the relationship between two variables

Question 8

experimental method

Answer 8

A type of research that manipulates a variable of interest (independent variable) to uncover cause-and-effect relationships

Question 9

double blind

Answer 9

Type of study in which neither the researchers who are administering the independent variable nor the participants know what type of treatment is being given

Helps manage participant expectations

Question 10

Experimental Group

Answer 10

The members of an experiment who are exposed to the treatment variable or manipulation by the researcher; represents the treatment group

Question 11

Control Group

Answer 11

The participants in an experiment who are not exposed to the treatment variable; this is the comparison group

Question 12

Experimenter bias

Answer 12

Researchers’ expectations that influence the outcome of a study

Question 13

placebo

Answer 13

An inert substance given to members of the control group; the fake treatment has no benefit, but is administered as if it did.

Question 14

Critical thinking

Answer 14

• Involves weighing different pieces of evidence, evaluating them, determining their contributions
• Disciplined thinking that is clear, rational, open-minded, and informed by evidence

Question 15

Variables

Answer 15

• Collecting and analyzing data
• Studying other variables
• Measurable characteristics that can vary over time or across people