PSYC*2360 Chapter 2: The Research Process

Question 1

A process in which the experimenter uses direct and indirect observations or experiences to test a research question is known as what type of approach?

Answer 1

An empirical approach

Question 2

What must be possible to empirically approach answering a question?

Answer 2

It must be possible to make systematic observations

Question 3

T or F: Not everything being studied is directly observable, so some level of inference is needed.

Answer 3

True

Question 4

Once an interesting and empirical research question has been determined, what is the next step?

Answer 4

To see what others have already learned about the topic

Question 5

What is the best source for finding quality information about a question?

Answer 5

Peer-reviewed journal articles

Question 6

What is the process by which scientific experts in the field review and evaluate the quality of research before publication?

Answer 6

Peer review

Question 7

Prior to publication in a research journal, what must be done to a paper?

Answer 7

It must go through the peer-review process

Question 8

What are research reports/ research articles?

Answer 8

A description of an empirical research study, including how data was collected, analyzed, and interpreted

Question 9

What are systematic reviews

Answer 9

A review of literature that synthesizes the research evidence on a topic

Question 10

What are meta-analyses?

Answer 10

A statistical analysis that compares and combines results from multiple studies on the same topic

Question 11

What is a hypothesis?

Answer 11

An educated guess that provides a testable explanation of a phenomenon

Question 12

What is the difference between a one-tailed hypothesis and a two-tailed hypothesis?

Answer 12

• One-tailed: Makes a prediction about the direction of results
• Two-tailed: Does not make predictions concerning the direction of results

Question 13

When a large body of empirical evidence supports a hypothesis, what may that hypothesis eventually become?

Answer 13

A scientific law or theory

Question 14

What is the main difference between a scientific law and a scientific theory?

Answer 14

• Scientific law: Describes some aspect of the world, but makes no assumptions about why it occurs
• Scientific theory: Provides an explanation for some aspect of the world

Question 15

What are four strategies for generating a good hypothesis?

Answer 15

FICC:
- Find the exception to the rule
- Introspection
- Consider matters of degree
- Change the directionality

Question 16

What are four characteristics of a good hypothesis?

Answer 16

FPSH:
- Falsifiability
- Parsimony
- Specificity
- High correspondence with reality

Question 17

What does the principle of parsimony/specificity suggest?

Answer 17

When there are multiple ways of stating something, the most simple and direct way is best

Question 18

Occam’s razor refers to what?

Answer 18

Cutting away of the unnecessary

Question 19

What is the Barum effect?

Answer 19

The tendency for people to believe that general descriptions of personality are highly accurate and tailored specifically for them

Question 20

Which characteristic of a good hypothesis helps overcome the tendency to confirm one’s own ideas?

Answer 20

Falsifiability

Question 21

What are variables?

Answer 21

Elements that are expected to change/vary or that can have several values

Question 22

In experimental studies, which variable is manipulated or controlled by the researcher?

Answer 22

The independent variable

Question 23

In non-experimental studies, what is the independent variable referred to as?

Answer 23

The explanatory or predictor variable

Question 24

In experimental studies, which variable represents the effect, or outcome, of the study?

Answer 24

The dependent variable

Question 25

In non-experimental studies, what is the dependent variable referred to as?

Answer 25

The criterion or response variable

Question 26

What is the difference between a conceptual definition and an operational definition?

Answer 26

• Conceptual definition: Defines a variable in theoretical terms
• Operational definition: Defines how a variable will be used/measured in a study

Question 27

T or F: Operational definitions are developed before conceptual definitions.

Answer 27

False. Conceptual, then operational.

Question 28

In which research design do experimenters control and manipulate the independent variable?

Answer 28

Experimental designs

Question 29

What is the difference between a between-subjects and within-subjects design?

Answer 29

• Between-subjects: Each participant is assessed on only one level of the IV, and is compared with those assessed on different levels
• Within-subjects: Each participant is assessed on each level of the IV and their scores between levels are compared

Question 30

What is a longitudinal design?

Answer 30

The collection of data on participants over a set period of time

Question 31

Are experimental or non-experimental designs more common when attempting to simply describe a phenomenon?

Answer 31

Non-experimental

Question 32

What is pragmatic research?

Answer 32

A sequence of related studies that build directly on a previous study’s findings

Question 33

A detailed series of steps that describe the order in which to administer a study and provides a script for the researcher is known as what?

Answer 33

A research protocol

Question 34

What is involved in obtaining informed consent?

Answer 34

Explaining the expectations, risks, and benefits of participating in a study, then allowing individuals to freely choose whether they want to take part

Question 35

What is debriefing?

Answer 35

An explanation of the purpose of a study and discloser of deception to anyone who just participated

Question 36

What are probabilistic conclusions?

Answer 36

A conclusion based on the probability or likelihood of getting certain results if, in reality, the variables actually have no association

Question 37

T or F: Probabilistic conclusions about the relationship between variables provide absolute associations and truths.

Answer 37

False

Question 38

Where is the best place to learn about new research (conducted within the last few months)?

Answer 38

Conferences

Question 39

What are the two most common formats of conference presentations?

Answer 39

• Research posters
• Paper presentations

Question 40

What is the abstract of an APA style research paper?

Answer 40

A short summary of the entire report that addresses the research topic, methodology, findings, and conclusions

Question 41

What are three key things included in the introduction of an APA style research paper?

Answer 41

• Background literature on the topic
• Justification of the importance for the work
• The hypothesis

Question 42

Which section of an APA style research paper provides details about the sample materials, and procedure of collecting data?

Answer 42

The methods section

Question 43

Which section of an APA style research paper provides information about how hypotheses were tested?

Answer 43

The results section

Question 44

In which section of an APA style research paper does the researcher interpret, explain, and apply the results of a study?

Answer 44

The discussion section

Question 45

In which section of an APA style research paper does the researcher include the strength and weaknesses/limitations of the study?

Answer 45

The discussion section

Question 46

What is the difference between inductive and deductive reasoning?

Answer 46

• Inductive: Involves using specific observations to draw general conclusions or theories
• Deductive: Involves using general conclusions or theories to make or explain specific observations