M&T 1

Question 1

Two primary types of research that differ with respect to the researcher’s primary goal:

Answer 1

1. Basic research
2. Applied research

Question 2

Basic research

Answer 2

Conducted to understand psychological processes without regard for whether or not the knowledge is immediately applicable. Increase knowledge.

Question 3

Applied research

Answer 3

To find solutions for certain problems rather than to enhance general knowledge about psychological processes.

Question 4

Evaluation research

Answer 4

Behavioural research methods to assess the affects of social or institutional programs on behaviour.

Question 5

Three goals for research:

Answer 5

1. Description
2. Prediction
3. Explanation

Question 6

Four important benefits of a background in research:

Answer 6

1. Knowledge about research methods allows people to understand research that is relevant to their professions.
2. A knowledge of research methodology makes one a more intelligent and effective ‘research consumer’ in everyday life.
3. The development of critical thinking.
4. It helps one become an authority, not only on research methodology but also on particular topics.

Question 7

Three criteria for an investigation to be considered scientific:

Answer 7

1. Systematic empiricism
2. Public verification
3. Solvability

Question 8

Empiricism

Answer 8

The practice of relying on observation to draw conclusions about the world.

Question 9

Scientists are in the business of doing two distinct things:

Answer 9

1. Discovering and documenting new phenomena, patterns, and relationships.
2. Develop and evaluate explanations of the phenomena that they see.

Question 10

Theory

Answer 10

A set of propositions that attempts to explain the relationship among a set of concepts.

Question 11

Three factors that determine whether a task-oriented or relationship-oriented leader will be more effective in a particular situation:

Answer 11

1. Quality of the relationship between leader and group members
2. Degree to which the group’s task is structured
3. Leaders power within the group

Question 12

A good theory in psychology:

Answer 12

• Proposes causal relationships, explaining how one + variables cause or lead to particular cognitive, emotional, behavioral, or physiological responses.
• Coherent in the sense of being dear, straight-forward, logical, and consistent.
• Parsimonious, using a few concepts and processes as possible to explain the target phenomenon.
• Generates testable hypotheses that are able to be disconfirmed through research.
• Stimulates other researchers to conduct research to test the theory.
• Solves an existing theoretical question.

Question 13

Model

Answer 13

Describes how concepts are related.

Question 14

Post hoc explanations

Answer 14

Explanations that are made after the fact.

Question 15

A priori

Answer 15

Before collecting the data.

Question 16

Deduction

Answer 16

A process of reasoning from a general proposition (theory) to specific implications of that proposition (hypotheses).

Question 17

Hypothesis

Answer 17

Based on the theory, the researcher hypothesizes that if certain conditions occur, then certain consequences should follow.

Question 18

Induction

Answer 18

Abstracting a hypothesis from a collection of facts.

Question 19

Empirical generalizations

Answer 19

Hypothesis that are based on previously observed patterns of results.

Question 20

Falsification

Answer 20

The potential to be found false.

Question 21

Methodological pluralism

Answer 21

Using many different methods and designs.

Question 22

Strategy of strong inference

Answer 22

Studies that are designed so that, depending on how the results turn out, the data will confirm one of the theories, while disconfirming the other.

Question 23

The two types of definitions used by researchers in their work:

Answer 23

1. Conceptual definitions
2. Operational definition

Question 24

Conceptual definitions

Answer 24

Definition we might find in a dictionary.

Question 25

Operational definition

Answer 25

Defines a concept by specifying precisely how the concept is measured or induced in a particular study.

Question 26

Null finding

Answer 26

Results showing that certain variables are not related to behaviour.

Question 27

File-drawer problem

Answer 27

The failure to publish studies that obtain null findings.

Question 28

Four broad methodological categories that all behavioural research can be classified into:

Answer 28

1. Descriptive research
2. Correlation research
3. Experimental research
4. Quasi-experimental research

Question 29

Descriptive research

Answer 29

Describes the behaviour, thoughts, or feelings of a particular group of individuals.

Question 30

Correlation research

Answer 30

Investigates the relationship among various psychological variables.

Question 31

Experimental research

Answer 31

The researcher manipulates or changes one variable (independent variable) to see whether changes in behaviour (dependent variable) occur as a consequence.

Question 32

Quasi-experimental research

Answer 32

The researcher either studies the effects of some variable or event that occurs naturally or else manipulates an independent variable but does exercise the same control over extraneous factors as in a true experiment.

Question 33

Pseudoscience

Answer 33

Evidence that masquerades as science but that fails to meet one or more of the three criteria of scientific investigation.