PSYC 330 Exam 2 Flashcards
What is validity?
An indication of accuracy in terms of the extent to which a research conclusion corresponds with reality
Validity assesses the quality of the research process and the accuracy of the results.
What is internal validity?
Extent to which a study provides evidence of a cause-effect relationship between the IV and DV
It concerns the logic of the relationship between DV and IV.
What threatens internal validity?
Confounding variables
High internal validity means the IV caused the DV to change.
Define extraneous variable.
Any variable in a study other than the IV that could influence the DV
Example: eye color.
What is construct validity?
Extent to which the results support the theory behind the research
It assesses generalizability from specific operations to theoretical constructs.
What is a manipulation check?
Aspect of an experiment designed to ensure that variables have changed as intended
Example: the Beck Anxiety Inventory.
What is external validity?
Extent to which results generalize to other situations or people
It relates to ecological validity.
What is statistical conclusion validity?
Extent to which data are shown to be the result of cause-effect relationships rather than accident
It involves the appropriate use of inferential statistics.
What is power in research?
The probability of rejecting the null hypothesis when it is false
Lack of power may lead to erroneous conclusions.
What is effect size?
Strength of the relationship between the IV and DV
It helps establish whether a significant result is of practical importance.
What is ambiguous temporal precedence?
Uncertainty about which variable is the cause and which is the effect
Often occurs in correlational studies.
What is selection bias?
A confound that occurs due to non-equivalent groups resulting from biased subject assignment
It threatens internal validity.
What is compensatory equalization?
When group A demands and receives treatment that group B receives
It can threaten internal validity.
What is participant expectancy?
When participants alter their behavior based on what they think the experimenter wants
It can affect construct validity.
What is good-subject tendency?
Tendency of experimental participants to act according to what they think the experimenter wants
It can bias results.
What is evaluation apprehension?
Tendency of participants to behave in a socially desirable manner
It can influence participant responses.
What is a control group?
Subjects in an experiment who do not receive treatment
They are like the experimental group in every respect except for the treatment.
What is a within-subjects experiment?
Research design in which each subject experiences every condition of the experiment
It contrasts with between-subjects design.
What is random assignment?
An unbiased assignment process giving each subject an equal chance of being placed in every condition
It helps control for confounding variables.
What are nuisance variables?
Conditions in an experiment that cannot easily be removed and are treated as a second IV for control
They differ from confounding variables.
What is replication in research?
Repeating an experiment to see if the results will be the same
There are two types: direct and systematic replication.
What is a direct replication?
Repeating essentially the identical experiment to obtain the same results
It aims to confirm the original findings.
What is a systematic replication?
When a researcher tests a theory by conducting a different experiment based on the original
It checks if the original theory holds under different conditions.
What is the relationship between internal and external validity?
Increasing internal validity often decreases external validity and vice versa
Too much control can lead to artificiality.
What is the logic of a between-groups design?
Groups alike, manipulate IV, resulting differences must be due to the IV
It establishes a causal relationship.
What is a control condition?
A condition in a within-subjects design experiment without experimental manipulation
It serves as a baseline for comparison.
What happens to external validity when a study is highly controlled?
It becomes less ‘real-worldly’.
A highly controlled study may limit generalizability to real-world situations.
What is meant by ‘restricting range of variability’ in a study?
Limiting the subjects to a specific range, e.g., only participants with IQs between 100-110.
This can affect the generalizability of the findings.
What is the purpose of conducting a pilot study before the actual study?
To pretest and modify study design and procedures.
A pilot study helps identify potential issues before the main study.
What does random assignment of subjects to groups ensure?
All subjects have an equal chance of being assigned to each group.
This is a powerful control method for between-subjects designs.
Describe the process of matching subjects between groups.
Measure participants on a variable, list them by score, and randomly assign pairs to groups.
This ensures equivalence on that variable.
What is a within-subjects research design?
All subjects receive all levels of the independent variable, with comparisons made within subjects.
This design can reduce individual differences.
What are the advantages of a within-subjects design?
- Requires fewer subjects
- Largely eliminates individual difference problems
However, it may have disadvantages like participant attrition.
What are potential disadvantages of a within-subjects design?
- Participant attrition
- Time-related problems
- Order-effect problems
These issues can lower internal validity.
What characterizes non-experimental research?
It lacks manipulation and assignment, focusing on observation.
Non-experimental research often sacrifices control for data collection.
What is qualitative research primarily concerned with?
How people make meaning out of the world.
It often seeks to explore correlations among variables.
What is observational research?
A method where researchers observe and record behavior without intervention.
It can be naturalistic or involve participant observation.
Define naturalistic observation.
Observational research of subjects in their natural environment, minimizing disturbance.
It emphasizes nonreactive measures.
What is archival research?
A method that examines existing records to obtain data and test hypotheses.
It often faces limitations due to data collection purposes.
What is a case study?
An exploratory study of an existing situation to create and test hypotheses.
It often combines observational and archival methodologies.
What is the hermeneutic approach?
An interpretation of the meaning behind behavior.
It focuses on understanding rather than explaining.
What is manifest content in content analysis?
The objective measurement of frequency of words, phrases, or actions in a text or photo.
It focuses on observable elements.
What is latent content in content analysis?
Themes or meanings interpreted by the researcher from a text or photo.
It goes beyond surface-level analysis.
What are the main functions of surveys?
- Gather scientific information
- Assess public opinion
- Determine effects of events on behavior
Surveys can also dispel myths.
What should be considered when designing a questionnaire?
- Determine the purpose
- Types of questions
- Write items clearly
- Avoid bias
- Ensure mutual exclusivity and exhaustiveness
Clear design helps reduce response errors.
What is social desirability in survey responses?
The tendency for respondents to answer in a way that will be viewed favorably by others.
This can lead to biased results.
What is a visual analogue scale?
A question format where respondents mark a line between minimum and maximum values for a statement.
This allows for nuanced responses.
What is a Likert scale?
A rating scale that asks respondents to indicate the extent of their agreement or disagreement with a statement.
It is commonly used in surveys.
What is a haphazard sample?
A population subgroup selected using hit-or-miss methods.
This method lacks systematic selection.
What is a purposive sample?
A nonrandom sample chosen for specific characteristics.
This method aims for targeted sampling.
Define probability sampling.
Each member of the population has a specific probability of being chosen for the sample.
This method relies on random selection.
What is a simple random sample?
A group chosen from the population where every member has an equal chance of selection.
Random number tables can be used for selection.
What is stratified random sampling?
A random sample that includes sub-samples in predetermined proportions from the population.
This ensures representation of different groups.
What is convenience sampling?
A nonprobability sampling method where subjects are selected based on accessibility.
This method has a higher risk of bias.
What are some ways to increase the veracity of survey responses?
- Include social desirability scale
- Ensure anonymity
- Repeat questions
- Look for response consistency
- Measure completion time
These strategies help enhance data accuracy.
