Methodology Flashcards
experimental methods
aim to determine cause/effect relationships by manipulating/controlling certain factors/variables
Experimental methods include…
manipulations (independent variable), studied outcome (dependent variable), and control group.
descriptive methods
aim to describe behavior without manipulations
Descriptive methods include…
naturalistic observations, surveys, case studies, and correlational.
Correlation does not…
equal causation.
external validity
extent to which findings of a study can be generalized to other people, settings, and measures
internal validity
extent to which cause/effect relationship established in study cannot be confidently explained by other factors
between-subjects design
makes comparison between groups of participants to determine effect of I.V.
Between-subjects design includes two groups known as…
the experimental and control group
experimental group
group receiving manipulation
control group
treated exactly the same as experimental group without experimental manipulation
Positive of between-subjects designs is…
no practice effect.
Negative of between-subjects design is…
need many participants.
within-subjects design
subjects exposed to all levels of manipulation (I.V.)
Within-subjects design includes…
only one group of participants who all receive same conditions and participants own performance is basis of comparison
Positive of within-subjects design is…
need fewer participants.
Negative of within-subjects design is…
performance potentially influenced by previous experience
mixed design
have characteristics of both Between and Within designs
psychological construct
label for a set of behaviors
operationalize
to determine an indirect method of measuring something that cannot be measured directly
