H2 Methods of psychology Flashcards
Definition hypotheses
Prediction about new observations based on theories
How do the types of conclusions that can be drawn differ between experiment and correlational study?
In correlational study researcher does not manipulate any variable, so no conclusion can be drawn on the cause-effect relationship.
How do descriptive studies differ in method and purpose from experiments and correlational studies?
No variables are manipulated, no relationships between variables are assessed.
How do self-report, naturalistic observations and test differ?
Self-report and test: interference with behaviour
Naturalistic en test: more objective
What is the hawthorne effect?
Changes in subject’s behaviour as a result of them knowing that they are being watched
What are the components of a test of statistical significance/ p value?
Variability (SD), Effect size, number of subjects
What is the difference between random variation in behavior and bias, and why is bias the more serious problem?
Bias is not relevant to the research hypothesis.
Can’t be identified or corrected for. Can lead to false conclusions.
What is a biased sample? Give example of biased sample in experimental and descriptive study
Group of subjects that is not representative of the larger population you want to investigate.
Experiment: Let subjects choose own treatment
Descriptive study: e.g. recruting subjects from a newspaper. The group that reads the newspaper is not representative for the general population
What is the difference betwen reliability and validity and how can a lack of validity lead to bias?
Reliability: has to do with measurement error; relates to replicability.
Validity: has to do with bias. Are you measuring what you intent to measure? Bias because of not measuring what you think you are measuring.
How can we assess the validity of a measurement procedure?
By correlating its scores with another measurement that more directly measures the characteristic you want to measure.
What is the observer-expectancy effect or subject-expectancy effect?
What is the best way to prevent it?
Results biased by expectations of observer/researcher or subject, respectively.
Blinding
What is face validity?
Measurement procedure that appears to assess the variable construct that it is supposed to measure has face validity..
What is criterion validity?
A measure that correlates significantly with another, more direct measure of the vairable has criterion validity.
What are 3 ethical concerns in psychological research?
- Person’s right to privacy: ensure anonymity, security of data, subjects don’t have to share whtat they don’t want to share.
- Disconformt/harm: risk of discomfort/harm should be kept to a minimum and should be outweighed by human befefits.
- Deception: common and controversial. Some say it’s intrinsically unethical and undermines possibility of truly obtaining informed consent, while others say that same psychological processes can’t be studied without them.
