Experimental Lec Flashcards
What is Experimental Psychology?
The study of behavior through controlled experiments, seeking causality among variables.
Define Psychology.
The scientific study of behaviors and mental processes.
What does Science entail?
The systematic study of the natural world through observation, experimentation, and analysis.
What is Methodology in the context of psychology?
The scientific techniques we use to collect and evaluate data.
What is Data?
The facts and figures we gather using scientific methods.
Define Commonsense Psychology.
A nonscientific data gathering.
What does Nonscientific Inference refer to?
The nonscientific use of information to explain or predict behavior.
What is Gambler’s Fallacy?
Where people misuse data to estimate the probability of an event.
Define Stereotyping.
Falsely assuming that specific behaviors cluster together in certain kinds of people.
What is Overconfidence Bias?
Feeling more confident about conclusions than is warranted by available data.
What does Scientific Mentality assume?
That behavior follows a natural order and can be predicted.
What is a Law in scientific terms?
Statements created from exhaustive empirical support; it is absolute.
Define Theory.
A scientific explanation of an observed phenomenon and a way we attempt to explain behavior.
What is Good Thinking critical for?
The scientific method.
What is the Principle of Parsimony?
The simplest useful explanation.
What does the Principle of Modus Tollens allow us to do?
Disprove statements using a single, contrary observation.
What is Replication?
An exact or systematic repetition of a study.
What are the Goals of Psychology?
- Description
- Prediction
- Explanation
- Control
What does Description in psychology involve?
A systematic and unbiased account of observed characteristics of behaviors.
What is Prediction in psychology?
The capability of knowing in advance when certain behaviors would be expected to occur.
Define Explanation in the context of psychology.
Knowledge of the conditions that reliably produce the occurrence of a behavior.
What is Control in psychological research?
The use of scientific knowledge to influence behavior.
What is Applied Research?
Research that addresses real-world problems.
What is Basic Research?
Research that tests theories and explains psychological phenomena.
What does Observation refer to in psychological science?
The systematic noting and recording of events.
Define Measurement in the context of psychology.
Assigns numbers to objects, events, or their characteristics.
What is Experimentation?
The process used to test predictions and establish cause-and-effect relationships.
What are Antecedent Conditions?
Preceding circumstances or events that influence a subsequent event or behavior.
Define Pseudoscience.
Any field of study that appears scientific but lacks a true scientific basis.
What are Research Ethics?
A set of principles guiding researchers to conduct studies responsibly and ethically.
What is the role of an Institutional Review Board (IRB)?
To review research proposals to ensure the safety and ethical treatment of research participants.
What does Risk refer to in research?
The potential for harm or injury to participants as a result of their involvement in a study.
What is considered Minimal Risk in research?
Studies where the probability and magnitude of harm are no greater than those encountered in daily life.
What does ‘At Risk’ mean in the context of research?
Studies that increase the chance of harm compared with not participating.
What is a Risk/Benefit Analysis?
An assessment weighing potential harms against benefits to determine if benefits outweigh risks.
What is Informed Consent?
Participants are fully informed about the study’s purpose, procedures, risks, and benefits.
What is a Consent Form?
A document outlining the details of a study and obtaining participant agreement.
What is the Belmont Report (1979)?
Established three core ethical principles for research involving human subjects.
List the three core ethical principles established by the Belmont Report.
- Respect for Persons
- Beneficence
- Justice
What does Respect for Persons entail?
Individuals have the right of self-determination.
Define Beneficence in research ethics.
Minimizing harm and maximizing potential benefits to participants.
What does Justice in research involve?
Ensuring fairness in participant selection and distribution of benefits and risks.
What is the Common Rule?
U.S. regulations for Institutional Review Boards (IRBs) ensuring research oversight.
What are General Ethical Guidelines in research?
- Beneficence and Nonmaleficence
- Fidelity and Responsibility
- Integrity
- Justice
- Respect for People’s Rights and Dignity
What is Institutional Approval in research?
All research must be reviewed and approved by an IRB or equivalent ethics committee.
What is the significance of Informed Consent?
Participants must provide voluntary, informed consent before participating in research.
When is Deception in Research allowed?
Only if justified by the study’s scientific value.
What is the purpose of Confidentiality & Privacy in research?
To protect participant data and maintain confidentiality.
What is Debriefing in research?
Providing participants with a full explanation of the study after participation.
What does Humane Care and Use of Animals entail?
Research with animals must follow humane treatment standards.
What is Scientific Fraud?
Falsifying or fabricating data, often driven by career pressures.
What is Peer Review?
A process where submitted manuscripts are evaluated by experts before publication.
What is a Hypothesis?
A testable prediction.
List the characteristics of an Experimental Hypothesis.
- Testable
- Falsifiable
- Precise
- Rational
- Parsimonious
What is Inductive Reasoning?
Developing a general hypothesis based on specific observations.
Define Deductive Reasoning.
Starts with a general principle and applies it to specific situations.
What is Serendipity in research?
Finding something valuable while searching for something else.
What is a Windfall Hypothesis?
A research question that arises from an unexpected discovery.
What is Intuition in the context of research?
A researcher’s gut feeling based on subconscious pattern recognition.
What does Manipulation of Variables involve?
Deliberately changing one factor to observe its effect on another.
Define Independent Variable (IV).
The factor a researcher changes in an experiment.
What is a Dependent Variable (DV)?
The factor a researcher observes for changes in response to the independent variable.
What does Control mean in an experiment?
Keeping all other factors constant to prevent outside influences.
What are Extraneous Variables?
Factors other than the independent variable that could influence the dependent variable.
What is Random Assignment?
Participants are randomly assigned to different groups to minimize bias.
Define Random Sampling.
Every element in a population has an equal chance of being chosen.
What is Stratified Random Sampling?
Dividing a population into groups with similar attributes and randomly sampling each group.
What is Cluster Random Sampling?
Dividing a population into clusters and randomly selecting entire clusters for the sample.
Define Systematic Random Sampling.
Selecting every kth element from a population.
What is Reliability in research?
The consistency of research results.
What is Interrater Reliability?
The consistency between different raters.
What is Inter-item Reliability?
The consistency between different items on a test.
Define Test-retest Reliability.
The consistency of results over time.
What is Validity in research?
The accuracy of research; whether a study measures what it claims to measure.
What is Face Validity?
A test looks like it measures what it should.
Define Content Validity.
A test covers all important parts of the concept being measured.
What is Predictive Validity?
The test results can accurately predict future outcomes.
What does Concurrent Validity compare?
Compares test results to other accepted ways of measuring the same thing.
What is Construct Validity?
Confirms the test measures the intended underlying concept.
What are Confounding Variables?
A specific type of extraneous variable that systematically varies with the independent variable.
What is Internal Validity?
The extent to which an experiment accurately establishes a cause-and-effect relationship.
List threats to Internal Validity.
- History
- Maturation
- Testing Effects
- Instrumentation
- Statistical Regression
- Selection Bias
- Attrition
- Experimenter Bias
What is Experimental Design?
The systematic planning of an experiment to test hypotheses.
Define Between-subjects Design.
Participants are assigned to different groups, each experiencing only one level of the independent variable.
What is Two-Group Design?
Dividing participants into two groups: one receiving treatment, the other serving as a control.
What is the Experimental Group Control Group Design?
An experimental structure consisting of an experimental group and a control group.
Define Posttest-Only Control Group Design.
Participants are randomly assigned to groups, with the dependent variable measured only after manipulation.
What is Pretest-Posttest Control Group Design?
Participants are tested before and after an experiment to measure differences.
What is Two-Matched Groups Design?
Matching participants in pairs based on relevant characteristics before random assignment.
What is Multiple-Groups Design?
Extending beyond two groups to test multiple conditions of the independent variable.
Define Solomon Four-Group Design.
Combines pretest-posttest and posttest-only designs to identify potential pretest effects.
What is Within-Subjects Design?
The same participants experience all levels of the independent variable.
What is Repeated-Measures Design?
The most common within-subjects design where participants experience all conditions.
Define Longitudinal Design.
Measures the same participants at multiple time points.
What is Crossover Design?
Participants experience all conditions in different sequences to counterbalance order effects.
What is Concurrent Measures Design?
Participants are exposed to all conditions at the same time.
Define Mixed (In-between) Design.
Incorporates both between-subjects and within-subjects manipulations.
