Experimental Psychology Midterms Flashcards
The degree of relationship between 2 traits, behaviors, or events
Correlation
What are the purposes when measuring correlation?
- To explore behaviors that are not yet understood
- To study observable characteristics that can take on different values
- To make predictions about behaviors
Which levels of measurement can correlation be applied to?
Interval to Ratio level
This is the coefficient that results from a statistical measure of correlation
Pearson Product Moment Correlation
The statistical formulas for this type of correlation use a General Linear Model
Simple Correlation
What are the 4 things correlation can determine?
- Direction of relationship
- Strength of relationship
- Coefficient of determination
- Scatterplot
What is the difference between a negative and positive relationship?
Positive means as variable 1 increases, variable 2 also increases. Negative means as variable 1 increases, variable 2 decreases or vice versa
True or False: the nearer the r is to 1, the weaker the relationship
False
This is determined by r squared, it is the proportion of shared common variance between 2 variables
Coefficient of Determination
This is a graphic representation of the relationship between 2 variables
Scatterplot
True or False: a perfect correlation also indicates a causal relationship
False
True or False: the regression line goes through most points on the graph
True
This is the estimate of a score on one of the measured behaviors based on the score from the other
Linear Regression
This is the mathematical equation that best describes the linear relationship between 2 scores
Regression Line
This tests the relationship between 3 or more predictor variables with a criterion variable
Multiple Correlation
This predicts the scores of criterion variables based on one variable from scores on sets of other predictor variables
Multiple Regression
True or False: multiple regression only requires 1 predictor variable
False, it requires at least 2
This shows the weight or degree of influence of each predictor variable
Beta Weights
This is a multiple regression design where subjects are measured on several related behaviors and causal sequences for these behaviors are established
Path Analysis
This multiple regression design measures several related characteristics on two separate points in time. It is based on correlation
Cross-lagged Panel Design
These are study designs that resemble but are not classified as experimental designs
Quasi-experimental Designs
True or False: random assignment is recommended for quasi-experimental studies
False, it is not possible to do random assignment
What is the level of internal validity of quasi-experimental designs?
Low Internal Validity
If experimental designs are based on controlled treatments, quasi designs are based on?
Pre-existing conditions/naturally occurring events
If both quasi designs and correlation study different groups of subjects, how do they differ from each other?
Quasi designs focus on studying how results change over time in the same group, while correlation studies relationships and associations between them
This is a quasi-experimental design where subjects are grouped based on characteristics that already exist (i.e race, education)
Ex Post Facto Studies
In Ex Post Facto studies, experimenters can control who belong to the treatment groups
False
Why do quasi designs have low internal validity?
- No control over variables and antecedent conditions
- Difficult to establish which preexisting conditions caused the results
- Subject to the complex conditions in real life
This is a design where intact groups are studied and often they are differing in number
Non-equivalent Groups Design
How can the internal validity of a non-equivalent groups design be increased?
Make treatment groups as equal as possible
This design measures the same participants throughout time and studies how they change and develop
Longitudinal Design
This study measures different subject groups who are ate different stages in life
Cross-sectional Studies
This is a measurement of behavior before and after a treatment/intervention
Pretest/Posttest Design
This a 4-group design that aims to track changes with different application of pretest/treatment/posttest
Solomon 4-group Design
This is a statement about a predicted relationship between at least 2 variables
Hypothesis
What is the difference between a null and alternative hypothesis?
A null hypothesis is a prediction that an effect will not occur, while an alternative hypothesis states that an effect will be present
Why is there a need for null hypotheses?
Since we cannot prove an experimental hypothesis using statistics, we can reject the null one instead to support the experimental hypothesis
What is the difference between a directional and non-directional hypothesis?
Directional states that an effect will occur with the direction of that effect, while non-directional states that an effect will occur without specifying the direction
What is the difference between a synthetic and non-synthetic statement?
Synthetic statement is one that can be true or false, while a non-synthetic one is always true or always false, or contradictory
Aside from synthetic statements, what are the other characteristics of experimental hypotheses?
- Testable
- Falsifiable
- Parsimonious
- Fruitful
- Positive
In the hypothesis “If a, then b” , what are a and b?
Propositional variables
This approach to forming a hypotheses is when reasoning is based on specific cases to general principles
Inductive Model
This approach to forming a hypothesis is when reasoning is from theory to predict specific data or instances
Deductive Model
These variables are the antecedent conditions that we intentionally manipulate in experiments
Independent Variable (DV)
True or False: there only needs to be 1 level/form of IV in an experiment
False, there needs to be at least 2 levels
What are the types of IVs?
- Environmental (colors, music, temperature)
- Task IVs
- Psychological States
- Set of Instructions
- Psychological Interventions
These variables are the ones expected to change because of the experimental treatment
Dependent Variable (DV)
What are some methods of measuring the DV?
- Accuracy
- Reaction Time
- Duration
- Frequency
- Intensity
- Presence/Absence
- Type of response
This variable definition is precise and specific, including procedures and measurement
Operational Definition
This variable definition is the commonly accepted one, based on theories or existing literature
Conceptual Definition
This kind of operational definition describes exactly the specific behaviors recorded and how they were scored
Measured Operational Definition
This kind of operational definition described the steps that were followed to set up the value of the IV
Experimental Operational Definition
This is an aspect of reliability that emphasizes the similarity of results when measurement procedures are applied in more than one experiment
Consistency and Dependability
This aspect of reliability emphasizes the consistency of ratings/scores from different observers
Interrater Reliability
This aspect of reliability emphasizes the consistency of the scores of the same participant taken at different times
Test-Retest Reliability
This aspect of reliability refers to the extent to which different parts of the questionnaire, test or other instrument assesses the same variable with consistent results
Interitem Reliability
This is an aspect of validity that refers to how evident the variable that is being measured is from the instrument
Face Validity
This is an aspect of validity that refers to how accurately test items represent the components of the construct being studied
Content Validity
This is an aspect of validity that refers to how accurately the test predicts the behavior we are trying to measure
Predictive Validity
This is an aspect of validity that refers to how scores on the measuring instrument correlates with another known standard for the variable being studied
Concurrent Validity
This is an aspect of validity that refers to how well the operational definition of the variables matches the conceptual definition
Construct Validity
These are variables other than the IV or DV that can influence results if not controlled
Extraneous Variables
This is a threat to internal validity where external events may influence participants’ scores in one treatment differently than in another treatment
History Threat
This is a threat to internal validity where internal changes (physical or psychological) in participants that occur during the study might affect their scores
Maturation Threat
This is a threat to internal validity where participants become familiar with the measure and remember responses in subsequent testing
Testing Effects
This is a threat to internal validity which is due to changes in the measurement instrument or measuring procedure
Instrumentation Threat
This is a threat to internal validity where participants selected on the basis of extreme scores on one measurement tend to be less extreme on a second measurement
Statistical Regression Threat
This is a threat to internal validity that occurs when subjects were not randomly assigned to the different conditions of an experiment
Selection Threat
This is a threat to internal validity where participants drop out during an experiment due to different reasons
Subject Mortality Threat
This is an extraneous variable that affects the environment of the testing conditions and need to be controlled
Physical Variables
This is a technique in controlling physical variables where it is completely removed
Elimination
This is a technique in controlling physical variables where they are set to be the same in all treatment conditions
Constancy of Conditions
This is a technique in controlling physical variables where the effects are distributed across different treatment conditions
Balancing
A type of extraneous variable that comes from the interaction between participants and experimenters that can affect results
Social Variables
This phenomenon is when participants behave in a way they believe is expected of them
The “good subject” phenomenon
This is a false explanation to disguise the actual research hypothesis to control demand characteristics
Cover Stories
This is an aspect of extraneous social variables where the experimenter’s expectations affect their role in the experiment
Experimenter Bias
How can experimenter bias be controlled?
- Remain consistent with the standardized procedure
- Minimal contact between experimenter and participant
This is a method to control experimenter bias where neither the participants and experimenters know which treatment condition the participant is receiving
Double Blind Experiment
This is an extraneous variable that comes from the different personal characteristics of experimenters and volunteer subjects
Personality Variables
This is an extraneous variable that comes from the experimental procedure created within the experimental setting
Context Variables
This is a type of design where subjects are randomly placed in each of 2 treatment conditions by random
Two independent-groups design
A type of two independent groups design where there is one group with a treatment condition and the other without
Experimental-Control Groups Design
A type of two independent groups design where two groups are exposed to two different values or levels of the IV
Two-Experimental-Groups Design
This is a type of design where there are 2 treatment conditions and subjects are matched based on a subject variable thought to be highly related to the DV
Two matched-group design
A type of design where there are more than 2 groups of subject and each group is run through different treatment conditions
Multiple groups design
A method of assigning subjects where a table is used in an unbiased way
Random Number Table
A method of assigning subjects where treatment blocks are created to assign the treatment
Block Randomization
