MODULE 5: Conducting Psychological Research Flashcards
—systematic inquiry aimed at the discovery of new knowledge
—is a central ingredient of the scientific method in psychology
Research
existing data, such as census documents, college records, and newspaper clippings, are examined to test a hypothesis.
Archival research
which an investigator simply observes some naturally occurring behavior and does not make a change in the situation.
Naturalistic observation
a sample of people chosen to represent a larger pop- ulation are asked a series of questions about their behavior, thoughts, or attitudes.
Survey research
is an in-depth, intensive inves- tigation of a single individual or a small group.
Case study
Behaviors, events, or other characteristics that can change, or vary, in some way.
Variables
Research in which the relationship between two sets of variables is examined to deter- mine whether they are associated, or “correlated.”
Correlational research
indicates that as the value of one variable increases, we can predict that the value of the other variable will also increase.
Positive correlation
tells us that as the value of one variable increases, the value of the other decreases.
Negative correlation
The investigation of the relationship between two (or more) variables by deliberately producing a change in one variable in a situation and observing the effects of that change on other aspects of the situation.
Experiment
The change that an experimenter deliberately produces in a situation.
Experimental manipulation
The manipulation imple- mented by the experimenter.
Treatment
Any group participating in an experiment that receives a treatment.
Experimental group
A group participating in an experiment that receives no treatment.
Control group
The variable that is manipulated by an experimenter.
Independent variable
The variable that is measured in an experiment. It is expected to change as a result of the experimenter’s manipulation of the in- dependent variable.
Dependent variable
A procedure in which participants are as- signed to different experimental groups or “conditions” on the basis of chance and chance alone.
Random assignment to condition
Meaningful re- sults that make it possible for research- ers to feel confident that they have confirmed their hypotheses.
Significant outcome
Researcher observes a previously existing situation but does not make a change in the situation.
Descriptive and correlational research
Examines existing data to confirm hypothesis.
Archival research
A sample is chosen to represent a larger population and asked a series of questions.
Survey research
Observation of naturally occurring behavior, without making a change in the situation.
Naturalistic observation
Intensive investigation of an individual or small group.
Case study
Investigator produces a change in one variable to observe the effects of that change on other variables.
Experimental research
Indicates that the findings are statistically meaningful, making it possible for researchers to feel confident that they have confirmed their hypotheses.
Significant outcome
Research that is repeated, sometimes using other proce- dures, settings, and groups of partici- pants, to increase confidence in prior findings.
Replicated research
