Methods

Question 1

5 steps of research

Answer 1

Hypothesize, Operationalize, Measure, Evaluate, Revise/Replicate (H.O.M.E.R)

Question 1

Theory

Answer 1

A general question about a topic of interest

Question 2

Hypothesize

Answer 2

Coming up with a testable prediction about the conditions under which an event will occur

Question 3

Observational method

Answer 3

Used to describe the nature of a phenomenon (Y)
* Questions:
* What is Y?
* What happened to Y when X is set at a certain level?
* Does Y exist?

Question 4

3 main study designs

Answer 4

Observational, Correlational, Experimental (O.C.E)

Question 5

Correlational method

Answer 5

Examines the association between two variables
-Questions:
-How does Y change when X changes?
-Is Y associated with/related to X?
-Can you predict Y by knowing what X is?

Question 6

Experimental method

Answer 6

Manipulate one variable to see the effect on another variable
-Questions:
-When X is systematically manipulated, what effect does this have on Y?
-Does X cause Y?

Question 7

Experimental group

Answer 7

The group that receives/experiences/has the manipulated/changing/dependent variable

Question 8

Control group

Answer 8

The group that receives/experiences/has no abnormal or studyable variable

Question 9

Independent variable (A.K.A: IV or X)

Answer 9

The variable that is manipulated to observe its effect on DV

Question 10

Dependent variable (A.K.A: DV or Y)

Answer 10

The variable that is measured to see if it was influenced by IV

Question 11

Random Assignment

Answer 11

Each participant in your study has to have an equal chance of being in any condition
(-This way you make sure that the only difference between the different conditions is the IV
-Ensures participants in the random groups share roughly the same characteristics
-Accomplished by coin flipping, random number tables, packet shuffling etc.)

Question 12

Representative sampling

Answer 12

A sample that closely matches the characteristics of its population as a whole

Question 13

Random sampling

Answer 13

A sample that randomly selected people from a population

Question 14

Internal validity

Answer 14

-Have you adequately controlled alternative explanations (third variables) for your effect?
-Can you be sure that X actually caused Y?

Question 15

External Validity

Answer 15

-Would your findings hold up with variations in the situation, different participants, different types of manipulations, etc.?
-External validity has to do with generalizability

Question 16

Construct Validity

Answer 16

Do you operationalization really represent your conceptualizations?

Question 17

Generalizability

Answer 17

Findings can be generalized to the larger population

Question 18

Mundane Realism

Answer 18

The extent to which an experiment is similar to real life situations

Question 19

Psychological Realism

Answer 19

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

Question 20

Research Ethics

Answer 20

All scientist have a responsibility to be ethical and test participants fairly
Minimizing risk:
-Clear all studies with an institutional review board
-Reduce undue or irreversible stress
-Ask for participants’ informed consent
-Guarantee participants’ confidentiality
-Allow participants to leave the study at any time
-Debrief participants at the conclusion of the study
-Explain purpose of the study
-Explain any deception involved
-Remove any negative psychological effects

Question 21

Conceptualization

Answer 21

Defining and specifying the key concepts in research to avoid misinterpretation

Question 22

Operationalization

Answer 22

Deciding and defining how something will be tested