Lesson 4 - Research Methods Flashcards
The plan for testing the hypothesis. Affected by the question addressed, by the hypothesis, and by practical considerations
Research Design
The extent to which the result of the study can be attributed to the independent variable
Internal Validity
The extent to which the results of the study can be generalized or applied outside the immediate study
External Validity
Any factor occurring in a study that makes the results uninterpretable because a variable other than the IV may also affect the DV
Confounding Variable
The process of assigning people to different research groups in such a way that each person has an equal chance of being placed in any group
Randomization
A mathematical calculation about the difference between groups
Statistical significance
Whether or not the difference was meaningful for those affected
Clinical Significance
The tendency to see all participants as one homogenous group
Patient Uniformity Myth
Investigating intensively one or more individuals who display the behavioral and physical patterns
Case Study Method
A statistical relationship between 2 variables
Correlation
Means that great strength or quantity in one variable is associated with great strength or quantity in the other variable
Positive correlation
The study of the incidence, distribution, and consequence of a particular problem or set of problems in one or more populations
Epidemiology
Involves manipulation of an IV and the observation of its effects
Experiment
Behavior changes as a result of a person’s expectation of change rather than as a results of any manipulation by an experimenter
Placebo Effect
A variant of the placebo control group procedure. Not only are the participants in the study unaware of what group they are in or what treatment they are given, but so are the researchers or therapist providing treatment
Double-blind control
The researcher gives different treatment to 2 or more comparable groups of people with a particular disorder and can then assess how or whether each treatment helped the people who received it
Comparative Treatment Research
This method involves the systematic study of individuals under a variety of experimental conditions
Single-Case experimental designs
A strategy used in single case experimental design where a behavior is measured several times instead of once before you change the independent variable and once afterward
Repeated Measurement
A strategy used in single case experimental design where a researcher tries to determine whether the independent variable is responsible for changes in behavior
Withdrawal design
Finding whether a disorder has a genetic component
basic genetic epidemiology
researcher explore the nature of the genetic influences by seeing how genetics affect aspects of the disorder
advanced genetic epidemiology
Finding out where the gene or genes are located in the genome
Gene finding
Examining what these genes do and how they interact with the environment to create the symptoms associated with psychological disorders
Molecular genetics
Scientist simply examine a behavioral pattern or emotional trait in the context of the family
Family Studies
Scientists identify adoptees who have a particular behavioral pattern or psychological disorder and attempt to locate first-degree relatives who were raised in different family setting
Adoption studies
When a family disorder is studied, other inherited characteristics are assessed at the same time
genetic linkage analysis
Also uses genetic markers; Compares markers to people without the disorder
Association studies
Researchers take a cross section of a population across the different age groups and compare them on some characteristics
Cross-sectional design
Rather than looking at different groups of people of differing ages, researchers follow one group over time and assess change in its member directly
Longitudinal designs
A research participants formal agreement to cooperate in a study following full disclosure of the nature of the research and the participant’s role in it
Informed Consent
Research in university and medical settings must be approved by an _________________
Institutional Review Board
