Lecture 02 Methodology

Question 1

Four Potentially Biasing Influences

Answer 1

1. Unrepresentative samples
2. Question order
3. Response options
4. Question wording

Question 2

Framing

Answer 2

The way a question or an issue is posed
- It can influence people’s decisions and expressed opinions
- e.g. 95% vs 5%

Question 3

Experimental Research

Answer 3

Randomly assigning participants to conditions

Question 4

Advantage of Correlational Research (1 answer)

Answer 4

Use real world setting

Question 5

Disadvantage of Correlational Research (1 answer)

Answer 5

Can’t imply a causation

Question 6

Advantage of Experimental Research (1 answer)

Answer 6

Can imply causation by controlling variables and random assignment

Question 7

Disadvantage of Experimental Research (1 answer)

Answer 7

Some variables can’t be studied with experiments

Question 8

Probability Level (p-value)

Answer 8

How likely it is that the results of their experiment OCCURRED by CHANCE and not because of the independent variable or variables

Question 9

Internal Validity

Answer 9

Nothing besides the independent variable can affect the dependent variable

Question 10

How to increase internal validity

Answer 10

• Control extraneous variables
• Random assignment

Question 11

External Validity

Answer 11

The results of a study can be generalized to other situations and to other people

Question 12

Internal and External Validity Trade-off

Answer 12

• Too much control, generalizable?
• Too much like real life, control all extraneous variables?

Question 13

How to Resolve Internal and External Validity Trade-off

Answer 13

not to try to do everything in a single experiment

Question 14

Psychological Realism

Answer 14

The extent to which the psychological processes triggered in an experiment are similar to psychological processes that occur in everyday life

Question 15

Cover Story

Answer 15

A description of the purpose of a study, given to participants, that is different from its true purpose and is used to maintain psychological realism

Question 16

How to Improve External
Validity

Answer 16

Field Experiments
- Participants unaware that they are in an experiment
- Participants more diverse than typical college sample

Question 17

Test of External Validity

Answer 17

Replications

Question 18

Test of Internal Validity

Answer 18

Meta-analysis

Question 19

Basic Research

Answer 19

• To find the best answer to the question of why people behave as they do
• For reasons of intellectual curiosity

Question 20

Applied Research

Answer 20

To solve a particular social problem

Question 21

Cross-Cultural Research: Research conducted with

Answer 21

• Members of different cultures,
• Examine similarity or difference among cultures

Question 22

Evolutionary Theory

Answer 22

A concept developed by Charles Darwin to explain the ways in which animals adapt to their environments

Question 23

Natural Selection

Answer 23

• The process by which heritable traits that promote survival in a particular environment are passed along to future generations
• Organisms with those traits are more likely to produce offspring

Question 24

Evolutionary Psychology

Answer 24

• To explain social behavior in terms of GENETIC factors that have evolved over time according to the principles of natural selection

Question 25

Demand Characteristics

Answer 25

Cues in an experiment that tell the participant what behavior is expected

Question 26

How to Reduce Demand Characteristics

Answer 26

• Standardize their instructions
• Use a computer to present them.

Question 27

Mundane Realism

Answer 27

Degree to which an experiment is superficially similar to everyday situations

Question 28

Experimental Realism

Answer 28

Degree to which an experiment absorbs and involves its participants

Question 29

Types of Reliability

Answer 29

1. Internal: Cronbach’s alpha
2. Inter-rater
3. Test-retest

Question 30

Types of Validity

Answer 30

1. Construct: Known group
2. Criterion-related:
   - Concurrent
   - Predictive
3. Content (IOC)

Question 31

Response sets

Answer 31

A psychological orientation, a readiness to answer in a particular way
- Tendency to say “yes”
- Extreme responding
- Social desirability

Question 32

Scale Development Approaches (2 answers)

Answer 32

1. Rational or Theoretical Approach
2. Empirical Approach

Question 33

3 Evaluations of Personality Measures (3 answers)

Answer 33

1. Reliability
2. Validity
3. Generalizability

Question 34

Sources of Personality Data

Answer 34

1. Self-report data
2. Observer-report data
3. Test data
4. Life-Outcome Data

Question 35

Self-report Data Sources (2 answers)

Answer 35

• Interviews
• Questionnaires

Question 36

Observer-report data (2 answers)

Answer 36

• Naturalistic observation
• Artificial observation

Question 37

Test Data Sources (4 answers)

Answer 37

• Standardized tests
• Mechanical recording devices
• Physiological data
• Projective techniques

Question 38

Life-Outcome Data

Answer 38

• Social clubs
• Medical history
• Driving penalties and fines
• Etc.

Question 39

Research Designs in Personality (5 answers)

Answer 39

• Experimental methods
• Correlational studies
• Case studies
• Multifactor studies

Question 40

How to do Multifactor Studies

Answer 40

• Contingency Tables of multiple predictors
• Interaction effect