Exam 2 - cumulative from exam 1

Question 1

Goals of behavioral research:

Answer 1

Description of Behavior
Prediction of Behavior
Determining the Causes of Behavior
Explanation of Behavior
(not in textbook): altering/changing behavior

Question 2

Hypotheses vs. Predictions:

Answer 2

Hypothesis: A tentative (or possible) answer to a research question. Can be tested in a variety of ways, across many studies.

• ex: Distraction is related to decision making. Distraction impairs decision making.

Prediction: An educated guess that comes after the hypothesis. Tied to a specific study.

• ex: People will make poorer financial decisions when distracted by advertisements.

Question 3

External validity:

Answer 3

How well the results of a study generalize to other populations and settings

Question 4

Internal validity:

Answer 4

How well we can rely on the results of an experiment being from the manipulation of the IV rather than to a confounding variable. (“Our ability to accurately infer causal relationship”)

Question 5

Principles of experimental design:

Answer 5

Posttest-Only Design: WORST kind of design (very low construct validity)

Pretest-Posttest Design: Measure the DV before introducing the IV and then measure the DV again after IV is introduced