Reseach Methods in Psych Flashcards
Exam 1
What is an in-depth study of one or more individuals who have similarities
Case Study
What are the 3 perks of case studies?
- Allow for in-depth research of rare conditions
- insight for future research
- Can use brain pathology
What is the main disadvantage of case studies?
Hard to generalize (can not assume everyone will be like this)
What research method is to establish a relationship between 2 variables?
Correlation research
What is the r-correlation coefficient?
A value that represents the correlation on a graph between two variables
Is an r-correlation coefficient of -.70 better than .40? Why?
-.70 is closed to -1 than .40 is closer to 1.
What are the 3 weaknesses of correlation studies?
- Correlation does not = causation
- Does not allow for an attribution of causality
- Could be a 3rd variable
What are the 3 strengths of correlation studies?
- More advanced from a case study
- Allows for the study of variables difficult to manipulate
- Easier to do over experiments
What research method is based on the manipulation of the independent variable to observe the effects on a dependent variable?
Research by experiment
What is the difference between an experimental group and a control group?
Experimental receives the stimulus, while the control is given a placebo
Put people in groups in a very random assignment
Random assignment
What are the two perks of random assignment?
- Removes systematic differences between the groups
- Any differences between groups are random
What is the goal of research by experiment?
Hope to be able to prove the IV is what affects the DV
What is the main perk of experimental design?
Better able to attribute causality
What are the two disadvantages of experimental designs?
- Certain variables cannot be manipulated
- Expensive/time consuming
What are things other than the IV that could have caused a change in the DV?
Confounds
If you increase the number of controls, you minimize the _________
Confounds
What is the extent to which you can be sure the IV caused the DV?
Internal validity
What is the extent to which you can be sure the study is generalizable?
External validity
Within group means that________________
everyone is getting the treatment
As you increase internal/external, the other ____________
Decreases
Compares to another group that are the same without the exposure to experimental treatment
Control group
Hoping for a group with similar characteristics
Random assignment
Neither researchers nor participants know who is in the experimental or control group
Double bind
Researcher gives no bias to participants
Experimental bias
Feeling like change when nothing happened
Placebo effect
A psychopathology research method examining the prevalence, distribution, and consequences of disorders in populations.
Epidemiology
Observable characteristics or behaviors of an individual.
Phenotypes
Specific genetic makeup of an individual.
Genotypes
Genetic mechanisms that contribute to the underlying problems causing the symptoms and difficulties experienced by people with psychological disorders.
Endophenotypes
