Psych 209: Chapter 12 Vocab

Question 1

Naturalistic Observation

Answer 1

Descriptive research method in which the behavior of people or animals is studied as it occurs in everyday life

Question 2

Participant Observation

Answer 2

Descriptive research method in which the behavior of people is studied as it occurs in its everyday natural environment and the researcher becomes apart of the group being observed

Question 3

Observer Bias

Answer 3

Can occur when preconceived ideas held by the researcher affect the nature of the observations made

Question 4

Behavior Checklists

Answer 4

Lists of behaviors with predefined operational definitions that researchers are trained to use in an observational study

Question 5

Interobserver Reliability

Answer 5

The degree of agreement between two or more observers of the same event

Question 6

Time Sampling

Answer 6

A procedure in observational research in which behavior is sampled only during predefined times

Question 7

Event Sampling

Answer 7

A procedure in observational research in which only certain types of behaviors occurring under precisely defined conditions are sampled

Question 8

Reactivity

Answer 8

Occurs when participants’ behavior is influenced by the knowledge that they are being observed and their behavior is being recorded in some fashion

Question 9

Unobtrusive Measures

Answer 9

Any measure of behavior that can be recorded without participants knowing that their behavior has been observed

Question 10

Convenience Sample

Answer 10

A non-probability sample in which the researcher requests volunteer from a group of people who meet the general requirement of the study; used in most psychological research, except when specific estimates of population values need to be made

Question 11

Population

Answer 11

All the members of an identifiable group

Question 12

Sample

Answer 12

Some portion or subset of a population

Question 13

Probability Sampling

Answer 13

Method of selecting research participants according to some systematic sampling procedure

• simple random sample
• stratified sample
• cluster sample

Question 14

Representative

Answer 14

A sample with characteristics that math those same attributes as they exist in the population

Question 15

Biased Sample

Answer 15

a sample that is not representative of the population

Question 16

Self-Selection

Answer 16

In surveys, when the sample is composed of only those who voluntarily choose to respond, the result can be a biased sample

Question 17

Simple Random Sample

Answer 17

A probability sample in which each member of a population has an equal chance of being selected as a member of the sample

Question 18

Stratified Sample

Answer 18

A probability sample that is random, with the restriction that important subgroups are proportionately represented in the sample

Question 19

Quota Sample

Answer 19

A non-probability sample in which the proportions of some subgroups in the sample are the same as those subgroup proportions in the popoulation

Question 20

Cluster Sampling

Answer 20

A probability sample that randomly selects clusters of people having some feature in common and tests all people within the selected clusted

Question 21

Interview Survey

Answer 21

A survey method in which the researcher interviews a participant face to face; allows for more in-depth surveying

Question 22

Phone Surveying

Answer 22

A survey method in which the researcher asks questions over the phone

Question 23

Sugging

Answer 23

Selling Under the Guise of Survey

A marketing strategy in which an attempt to sell a product is made by disguising the sales pitch with what appears to be a legitimate survey

Question 24

Electronic Survey

Answer 24

Any survey research that is conducted over the internet; can be a survet sent by email or survey posted on a website

Question 25

Written Survey

Answer 25

A survey method in which the researcher creates a written questionnaire that is willed out by participants

Question 26

Nonresponse Bias

Answer 26

Occurs in survey research when those who return surveys differ in some systematic fashion from those who don’t respond

Question 27

Social Desirability Bias

Answer 27

A type of response bias in survey research; occurs when people respond to a question by trying to put themselves in a favorable light

Question 28

Open-Ended Question

Answer 28

A type of question found on surveys the requires a narrative response, rather than a “yes” or “no”

Question 29

Closed Question

Answer 29

A type of question found on surveys that can be answer “yes” or “no” or by marking a point on a scale

Question 30

Response Acquiesence

Answer 30

A response set in which a participant has tendency to respond positively to survey questions, all else being equal

Question 31

DK alternative

Answer 31

In survey research, when assessing levels of participant knowledge, this is an alternative that means “don’t know”

Question 32

Demographic Information

Answer 32

Any data that can serve to classify or identify individuals

Question 33

Double-Barreled Question

Answer 33

In a survey, a question or statement that asks or states two different things in a single item

Question 34

Leading Questions

Answer 34

In a survey, a question that is asked in such a way that the answer desired by the questioner is clear

Question 35

Sample Frame

Answer 35

List of individuals from whom the sample will be drawn; with cluster sampling, a list of groups from which a sample of group will be selected