Research Flashcards
(100 cards)
What is considered the most valuable type of research?
The experiment, used to discover cause-and-effect relationships, is considered the most valuable type of research because it controls treatment conditions and uses randomization to eliminate extraneous variables.
(c)
What does parsimony mean in the context of experiments?
Parsimony means interpreting the results in the simplest way possible, preferring the least complex explanation for findings in research.
(a)
What does Occam’s Razor suggest about experimental results?
Occam’s Razor suggests that experimenters should interpret results in the simplest manner possible, known as the principle of parsimony or economy.
(a)
What indicates an experiment is confounded or flawed?
An experiment is confounded or flawed if it includes extraneous variables that the experimenter did not control, affecting the validity of the results.
(c)
How is the concept of parsimony related to Occam’s Razor in research?
Parsimony is synonymous with Occam’s Razor, both suggesting that the simplest explanation of experimental results is preferred.
(d)
When is an experiment said to be confounded?
An experiment is confounded when undesirable, uncontrolled variables are introduced, potentially contaminating the results.
(a)
What do IV and DV stand for in experimental terminology?
IV stands for Independent Variable, which is manipulated by the researcher, and DV stands for Dependent Variable, which is the outcome or effect measured in the experiment.
(a)
In an experiment testing biofeedback’s effect on board exam scores, what are the IV and DV?
The IV is the biofeedback training, and the DV is the board exam score.
(c)
What is the variable you manipulate/control in an experiment?
The variable you manipulate/control in an experiment is the IV, or Independent Variable.
(d)
What groups are needed for a formal experiment in counseling education?
A control group and an experimental group are needed, where the experimental group receives the intervention and the control group does not.
(c)
What does the experimental group receive in the context of the biofeedback experiment?
The experimental group receives the manipulated Independent Variable (IV), which is the biofeedback training.
(c)
Who is most closely related to hypothesis testing?
R. A. Fisher is most closely related to hypothesis testing, pioneering methods to test educated guesses in experimental research.
(d)
What does the null hypothesis suggest in an experiment testing the effect of biofeedback on exam scores?
The null hypothesis suggests that biofeedback will not improve board exam scores, predicting no significant difference due to the intervention.
(c)
What does the experimental hypothesis suggest in the biofeedback and board exam experiment?
The experimental hypothesis suggests that biofeedback would raise board exam scores.
(a)
What statistical tool is necessary to compare the control group to the experimental group?
A test of significance, such as a t-test, is necessary to determine if differences between the control and experimental group scores are statistically significant and not due to chance.
(d)
What does the letter P represent in relation to a test of significance?
The letter P represents probability, specifically the probability that the observed differences in an experiment are due to chance.
(c)
What is the accepted probability level in social science research?
The accepted probability level in social science research is usually .05 or less.
(a)
What does P = .05 signify in experimental research?
P = .05 signifies there is only a 5% chance that the difference observed between the control and experimental groups is due to chance.
(b)
What is the implication of P = .05 in terms of experimental repeatability?
P = .05 implies that differences are real and the experimenter will obtain the same results 95 times out of 100.
(a)
Which significance level best rules out chance factors in a study?
A significance level of P = .001 best rules out chance factors, indicating only a 0.1% probability that results are due to chance.
(c)
What are Type I and Type II errors called respectively?
Type I and Type II errors are called alpha and beta errors respectively.
When does a Type I error occur?
A Type I error occurs when you reject the null hypothesis when it is actually true.
What is a Type II error?
A Type II error, also known as a beta error, occurs when you accept the null hypothesis when it is false.
What type of error is made if experimental results incorrectly indicate that biofeedback raises board exam scores?
A Type I error is made, as the null hypothesis that biofeedback does not affect scores is incorrectly rejected.