Module 2: Research Methods

Question 1

The steps of the scientific method:

Answer 1

1. Identify the problem
2. Gather Information
3. Generate a hypothesis
4. Design and conduct experiments
5. Analyze data and formulate conclusions
6. Restart the process

Question 2

Descriptive Methods

Answer 2

Any means to capture, record, or otherwise, describe.a group. These methods are concerned with identifying “what is” rather that “why it is”

Question 3

Participant Observation

Answer 3

A research method in which a researcher becomes part of the group under investigation

Question 4

Naturalistic Observation

Answer 4

Observation of behaviour as it happens, without an attempt to manipulate or control the subjects’ natural environment

Question 5

Field Experiments

Answer 5

An experiment that takes place in real world settings in which a researcher manipulates and controls the conditions of the behaviour under observation.

Question 6

What are some disadvantages of naturalistic observation?

Answer 6

1. Researchers lack control over the environment and the many different factors that can affect behaviour, THEREFORE, we may not always be sure of what is influencing behaviour.
2. Researchers’ perspectives and bias may also influence the interpretation of behaviours they find relevant

Question 7

A case study is:

Answer 7

An in-depth analysis of a unique circumstance or individual

Question 8

Example of Case Study:

Answer 8

Phineas Gage, lost his eye as well as his easy going personality when a bar went right through his frontal lobe. This proved that personality changes happened in the frontal lobe of the brain.

Question 9

Surveys are:

Answer 9

A method using questions to collect information on how people think or act.

Question 10

The four types of biases

Answer 10

1. Response Bias
2. Acqueiscent Response Bias
3. Socially Desirable Bias
4. Volunteer Bias

Question 11

Response Bias:

Answer 11

The tendency for people to answer the question the way they feel they are expected to answer or in systematic ways that are otherwise inaccurate.

Question 12

Acqueiscent Response Bias:

Answer 12

The tendency for participants to agree or respond “yes” to all questions regardless of their actual opinions.

Question 13

Socially Desirable Bias:

Answer 13

Participants respond to questions in ways that would be seen as acceptable by others.

Question 14

What is illusory superiority?

Answer 14

The tendency to describe our own behaviour as better than average

Question 15

Volunteer Bias:

Answer 15

A bias whereby only a motivated fraction of a population respond to a survey or participate in research

Question 16

Research Ethics:

Answer 16

A set of principles or standards of behaviour for psychologists to follow in research

Question 17

The Tuskegee Syphilis Study

Answer 17

he Tuskegee syphilis study was intended to follow the natural progression of syphilis, a contagious disease spread primarily through sexual contact. Over 600 African-American men, including 400 known to have already acquired syphilis, were recruited to participate in the study with the promise of free meals, medical treatment for “bad blood” (a generic term for a variety of ailments), and burial insurance (Reverby & Foster, 2010). Unfortunately, the researchers’ only goal was to follow the time course of the disease—they had no intention of treating participants for their “bad blood.” Over the 40-year span of the study, researchers misled participants about the actual purpose of the study and denied them medical treatment, despite numerous medical advances in the treatment of syphilis during this time. This negligence ultimately led to the preventable deaths of hundreds of participants and needlessly contributing to the spread of syphilis.

In 1972, the New York Times released a story about the Tuskegee syphilis study, and the public reacted in shock. Shortly thereafter, the government moved to establish federal ethical principles and guidelines outlining how all researchers should conduct research studies (Heller, 1972).

Question 18

What are the general ethical principle of psychologists?

Answer 18

Principle A: Beneficence and Non-maleficence
Principle B: Fidelity and Responsibility
Principle C: Integrity
Principle D: Justice
Principle E: Respect for People’s Rights and Dignity

Question 19

Principle A: Beneficence and Non-maleficence?

Answer 19

This states that research should strive to do good and avoid experiments that can intentionally harm participants.

Question 20

Principle B: Fidelity and Responsibility?

Answer 20

This principle inspires researchers to maintain that trust. Researcher should remain loyal and faithful.

Question 21

Principle C: Integrity?

Answer 21

This principle states that psychologists should engage in accurate, honest, and non-biased practices in the science, teaching, and practice of psychology

Question 22

Principle D: Justice?

Answer 22

Strives to establish “equality” in the research process

Question 23

Principle E: Respect for People’s Rights and Dignity?

Answer 23

States that each person is valued in the research process and that researchers should take measures to respect and protect participants’ rights, privacy, and welfare.

Question 24

Informed consent:

Answer 24

The process whereby researchers work with participants to describe essential details of the study

Question 25

An example of research deception?

Answer 25

Milgram’s Conformity Experiment

Question 26

When two variables are ____________, the variables change in the same direction. One variable increases and the other increases as well.

Answer 26

positively correlated

Question 27

When variables are negatively correlated, an ________ in one variable leads to a ________ in the other.

Answer 27

Increase, decrease

Question 28

A _______ correlation indicates that there is no apparent relationship between variables.

Answer 28

zero

Question 29

Confounding variable

Answer 29

Other variables that may influence one or both variables that we are measuring, thereby influencing the correlation coefficient

Question 30

Independent Variable:

Answer 30

The variable that the experimenter will manipulate, and it must contain at least two levels.

Question 31

Dependent Variable:

Answer 31

The variable that the experimenter counts or measures.

Question 32

Internal Validity:

Answer 32

The degree to which results may be attributable to the independent variable rather than some other effect of our experiment.

Question 33

External Validity:

Answer 33

The degree to which a result can be applied beyond the scope of the experiment