PSYCH 2030 WEEK 2 Flashcards
Internal Validity
Internal validity refers to how confident we can be that the changes observed in the dependent variable are genuinely caused by the manipulation of the independent variable, rather than by other factors.
External Validity
External validity is about how much we can say the results of a study apply to other people and situations, not just the ones in the study itself.
Testability
Testability is about whether we can check if an idea or hypothesis is true or false through scientific investigation.
Confound / Confounding variable
something in a research study that messes up the results because its effects get mixed up with the effects of the things the study is looking at.
Control Group
A control group is a bunch of people who are treated the same as the main group in a study, but they don’t get the special treatment being tested.
Randomization
Randomization is a method of assigning individuals to different research groups, ensuring that each person has an equal chance of being in any group.
Analogue Models
Approaches to research that use subjects who are similar to clinical clients, allowing replication of a clinical problem under controlled conditions
Generalizability
The extent to which research results apply to a range of individuals not included in the study
Statistical Significance
Statistical significance means that the results we see in research are probably not just because of luck; they’re likely meaningful and not random.
Clinical Significance
Clinical significance means that the results of research are actually important and useful in real life, showing how they can help with real-world problems or issues.
Effect Size
Effect size is a number that tells us how big a difference or relationship is in a study—helping us see if it’s important in a practical way.
The patient uniformity myth
The patient uniformity myth is the mistaken belief that everyone within a group is essentially the same, disregarding the fact that individuals within the group can actually be quite different from each other.
Epidemiology
Epidemiology is a research field that focuses on studying how common and widespread diseases or health-related issues are within populations.
Correlation coefficient
The correlation coefficient is a number that tells us how strongly two things are related. It ranges from -1 to 1. A positive correlation (closer to 1) means as one thing goes up, the other tends to go up too. A negative correlation (closer to -1) means as one thing goes up, the other tends to go down. A correlation near 0 means there’s little to no relationship.
Treatment outcome research
Studying how well different treatments work for people’s health problems
Double-Blind Control
Procedure in outcome studies that prevents bias by ensuring that neither subjects nor the providers of the experimental treatment know who is receiving treatment and who is receiving placebo
Comparative Treatment Research
Figuring out which treatment works best by comparing different ones to see which helps people the most.
Single-Case Experimental Designs
Single-case experimental designs involve closely studying the behavior of one individual, testing the impact of an intervention, like a new therapy or strategy, to see if it causes positive changes, although the findings might not apply to others.
Repeated measurement
Checking how things change over time by measuring them more than just once or twice, but at different times to see patterns.
Variability
Variability refers to the extent of change or fluctuations observed in a phenomenon over a period of time.
Trend
Trend refers to the direction of change in a behavior, indicating whether it is increasing or decreasing over time.
Withdrawl Design
Trying out a treatment, then stopping it to see if the behavior changes back, helping figure out if the treatment really works.
Baseline
The starting point or original measurement of something before any changes are made or treatments are given.
Multiple Baseline
Checking if something works by trying it out at different times or in different situations, one after the other, and seeing if it helps each time.
Phenotypes
The visible traits or behaviors of a person.
Genotypes
The genetic makeup of a person, showing which genes they have inherited.
Human genome project
The Human Genome Project is an ongoing scientific effort to create a detailed map of all human genes, aiming to understand and sequence the entire human genome.
Endophenotypes
Traits or behaviors that are more internal and not as obvious.
Family Studies
Researching how traits or behaviors run in families to understand if they’re influenced by genetics.
Proband
a person serving as the starting point for the genetic study of a family
Adoption Studies
In adoption studies, the focus is on studying first-degree relatives who are raised in different families and environments. If these relatives share common characteristics, such as a disorder, it suggests that those characteristics likely have a genetic component.
Genetic linkage analysis
Matching up the patterns of a disorder with certain genes to figure out where those genes are located.
Genetic markers
Traits that are linked to certain genes and help researchers find those genes.
Association studies
Comparing groups of people with and without a certain disorder to see if there are any genetic markers that are more common in one group than the other.
Cross-sectional design
Looking at people of different ages at the same time to see how they’re different.
Cohorts
Different age groups of people in a research study.
Cohort effect
People of different ages also having different experiences and values.
Retrospective information
Looking back at past records or memories to get data, but it might not always be accurate.
Longitudinal designs
Studying the same people or group over a long time to see how things change.
Cross-generational effect
How differences between generations can affect research results.
Informed consent
Making sure people know all about a research study before they agree to take part in it.
Sequential design
Combination of the cross-sectional and longitudinal research methods involving repeated study of different ages over time
