Research

Question 1

Experiments

Answer 1

designed to determine the causes of behaviour

Question 2

Independent variable

Answer 2

factor that is manipulated in an experiment

Question 2

Dependent variable

Answer 2

factor that is measured. It is the
resulting behaviour or effect. It may change as the
independent variable is manipulated.

Question 3

Researchers conduct an experiment to see if how long a person sleep affects a person’s test scores. What are the independent and dependant variable(s)?

Answer 3

How long you sleep (independent variable) affects your test score (dependent variable).

Question 4

Experimenters want to see if COVID vaccinations will reduce COVID symptoms. What are the independent and dependant variable(s)?

Answer 4

Experimenters want to see if COVID vaccinations
(independent variable) will reduce COVID
symptoms (dependent variable)

Question 5

An experimenter wants to see how violent movies will affect
adolescent aggression. What are the independent and dependant variable(s)?

Answer 5

An experimenter wants to see how violent movies (independent variable) will affect adolescent aggression (dependent variable).
The level of aggression depends on the violent movies.

Question 6

Give an example of an operational definition

Answer 6

Effectiveness of the COVID 19 vaccine in terms of symptoms
may be measured by hospitalizations or ICU admittance.
➢ Type of movie (violent) may be categorized by the ‘movie
ratings’ criteria and aggression may be measured by the
number of reports of violence (hits, punches) to the principal.
➢ Achievement may be quantified by grades.
➢ Antidepression medication effectiveness may be identified
through lower depression rates on a depression scale.

Question 7

Operational Definition

Answer 7

This is a description of a variable, in terms of the specific
process or set of validation tests used to determine its
presence and quantity

Question 8

Experimental or Treatment Group

Answer 8

receives the independent variable or treatment

Question 9

Control Group

Answer 9

does not receive the
independent variable or treatment

Question 10

CONFOUNDING VARIABLES

Answer 10

Undesirable
variables that influence the relationship between
the variables that an experimenter is examining

Question 11

Problem that arises from not using random assignment

Answer 11

Any prior differences between the groups may
affect the outcome of the study

Question 12

quasi-experimental design

Answer 12

is one that looks
a bit like an experimental design but lacks a
key ingredient – random assignment

Question 12

Give an example of a scenario where you might have to use a quasi-experiment

Answer 12

it would be difficult to introduce
an anti-bullying program to only half of the students in the same Social Studies class. However, we could compare two Social
Studies classes: one that was using the anti-bullying program with one that was not. This is not random assignment

Question 13

Natural Experiments or observational studies

Answer 13

do not contain a variable that is being manipulated by the experimenter or random assignment

Question 14

Give an example of where you would have to use a observational study

Answer 14

Individuals who have been in a car accident and those who have not. Car accidents occur naturally, so it would not be ethical to stage
experiments to traumatize subjects in the study

Question 15

Single-Subject Experiment

Answer 15

involves a single case studied over a longer period of time. Here, one individual is exposed to the varying
levels of the independent variable

Question 16

ABA experimental design

Answer 16

The simplest single-subject research design is termed ABA,
where A is the baseline (non-treatment or control) condition
or phase.
B refers to the introduction of the treatment factor. Behaviour
is recorded in both stages.
Then there is a return to A to see, if in fact, it was B that
brought about the change

Question 17

give an example of a single-subject experiment

Answer 17

treating a hyperactive child with a drug.
* Stage A involves recording the child’s behaviour before any
treatment (e.g., how many disruptive events in the classroom each
day).
* Stage B would involve the same measurement after the child has
been treated.
* If B (the treatment) makes a difference, returning to level A (no
treatment) should result in a return of the disruptive behavior. The
basic research design can include a second treatment phase –
ABAB, thereby increasing the reliability and internal validity of the
results

Question 18

List some of the american psychological associations ethical research standards

Answer 18

✓ Protection from Harm
✓ Informed Consent
✓ Confidentiality/Privacy
✓ Debriefing/Knowledge of Results
✓ Deception
✓ In medical ethics, we may also find Beneficial Treatments

Question 19

In Canadian universities what policy is used for ethical experimental design?

Answer 19

Tri-Council Policy Statement: Ethical Conduct for Research Involving Human.

Question 20

correlation

Answer 20

describes the strength of the
relationship between two or more variables

Question 21

variable

Answer 21

any measure, characteristic, or
event that can take on different values

Question 22

range of correlation coefficients

Answer 22

+1.00 to -1.00.
0 means uncorrelated
1 means positive correlation
-1 means negative correlation

Question 23

Correlational research

Answer 23

The researcher does not control the variables

Question 24

positive correlation

Answer 24

as X variable increases, Y variable increases

Question 25

negative correlation

Answer 25

as X variable decreases, Y variable increases

Question 26

Describe an example of correlational research

Answer 26

A researcher wanted to see if depression was related to TV
viewing. Participants were given the Beck Depression Inventory, and a
questionnaire that measured their daily amount of TV
viewing.

Question 27

Zero correlation

Answer 27

There is no relationship between changes in X and changes in Y

Question 28

In correlational research what cant we say?

Answer 28

that one thing caused
another. correlation does not equal causation

Question 29

Consider the following experiment: A researcher wanted to see if depression was related to TV
viewing. Participants were given the Beck Depression Inventory, and a questionnaire that measured their daily amount of TV
viewing. After conducting some statistical analysis, the researcher
discovered that depression and TV viewing were positively
correlated (+.9). That is, as depression increased, TV viewing
increased. What are the three possible relationships between TV and depression?

Answer 29

➢ It is possible, that watching TV causes depression.
➢ It is also possible that depression causes
individuals to watch more TV.
➢ It is also possible that there are other factors that
cause depression (genetic tendencies, trauma,
etc.) and TV viewing (social isolation, etc.)

Question 30

Let’s say a researcher found a significant positive correlation between
corporal punishment and student aggression. That is, as strapping
increases, students’ level of aggression increases. What are some possible explanations?

Answer 30

➢ Strapping causes student aggression.
➢ Student aggression causes teachers to use the strap more.
➢ Alternatively, other factors such as classroom environment or
personal stress could cause both teacher strapping and
student aggression.

Question 31

Longitudinal Designs

Answer 31

usually several months or years

Question 32

Genetic Studies of Genius/ Terman Study of the Gifted

Answer 32

is the oldest and one of the longest running longitudinal studies in the field of psychology. The study was started by Lewis Terman at Stanford University in 1921 to examine the development and characteristics of gifted children into adulthood

Question 33

What are some problems with longitudinal studies

Answer 33

Expensive
Easy to lose participants
The participants that leave might introduce an error (lower class participants might need to move for jobs, etc)
Takes a long time to get results

Question 34

cross-sectional study

Answer 34

examines the relationship
between variables of interest at a single point in
time or over a short period of time

Question 35

What are some problems with cross-sectional studies?

Answer 35

Cannot be used to analyze behavior over a period to time. Does not help determine cause and effect. The timing of the snapshot is not guaranteed to be representative. Findings can be flawed or skewed if there is a conflict of interest with the funding source.