Exam 2

Question 1

experimental design

Answer 1

a type of study where an independent variable is manipulated AND an outcome is measured WHILE extraneous variables are controlled

Question 2

nonexperimental design

Answer 2

an outcome is measured BUT lacks either/both:
- manipulation of an independent variable
- a dependent variable is measured (e.g. random assignment of participants to conditions or orders of conditions)

Question 3

descriptive design

Answer 3

gathers information about a group of people

Question 4

descriptive claims

Answer 4

• surveys/polls
• behavioral observations

Question 5

limitations of behavioral observations

Answer 5

• observer effects (observer can change participants’ behavior to match their expectations)
• reactivity (some people change their behavior when they know they are being watched)

Question 6

how can we counteract limitations of observer effects/reactivity

Answer 6

observer effects:
1. trained observers
2. masked design/blind design (observers do not know to which conditions the participants have been assigned, they are not aware of what the study is about)

reactivity:
1. blend in
2. wait
3. measure the behavior’s results instead of the actual behavior

Question 7

validity

Answer 7

how well does the data represent the way things actually are?

Question 8

construct validity

Answer 8

how well a construct is operationalized- does the operational and conceptual definition match? (e.g. mental health and mental health tally)

Question 9

statistical validity

Answer 9

the extent to which the author’s interpretations of the data are reasonable and accurate

Question 10

internal validity

Answer 10

the accuracy of the relationship between variables

Question 11

external validity

Answer 11

generalizability, how well the results of a study represent the population

Question 12

association design

Answer 12

aims to see if there is a statistical relationship between two variables

Question 13

correlation claims