Research Enterprise in Psychology Flashcards

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1
Q

Anecdotal Evidence

A

Personal accounts of specific events. Normally taken with a grain of salt as it can be biased most of the time.

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2
Q

Case Study

A

In depth research of a subject. This uses a variety of data collection techniques.
They are prone to experimenter bias

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3
Q

Confounding of Variables

A

Two variables that are linked together in a way that makes it difficult to distinguish between each of their effects

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4
Q

Control Group

A

A group of participants who receive no special treatment in a study.

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5
Q

Correlation

A

Two variables which are related to each other

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6
Q

Correlation Coefficient

A

Indicates the direction of the relationship (positive or negative) and how strongly the two are related

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7
Q

Data Collection Techniques

A

Techniques for making observations

Eg// questionnaire, interview, direct observation etc.

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8
Q

Dependent Variable

A

The variable that is influenced by the independent variable.

Eg// Peoples reactions to different dosages of medication

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9
Q

Descriptive Statistics

A

Used to organize and summarize data

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10
Q

Double blind Procedure

A

A research technique where in an experiment, neither the subjects nor the experimenter know who is in the control or experimental group. This reduces experimenter bias.

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11
Q

Ethical Guidelines

A

People involved in experiments must be protected in some ways. These guidelines protect participants dignity, privacy, and human rights. This also ensures that there is no gender, racial or cultural bias.

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12
Q

Experiment

A

Research method where researcher manipulates a variable under controlled conditions and observes changes made by other variables.

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13
Q

Experimental Group

A

A group of subjects who are being exposed to special treatment.

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14
Q

Experimental Research

A

Produces conclusions based on precise research that is able to eliminate or diminish the influence of extraneous variables.

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15
Q

Experimenter Bias

A

An experimenter intentionally or intentionally influencing the results of the study based on interactions with participants.

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16
Q

Extraneous Variables

A

Variable other than the independent and dependent variable that influence a study.
eg// personal strengths/weaknesses.

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17
Q

Fear and Sexual Attraction

A

Fear can be relabeled as sexual attraction.

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18
Q

Frequency Distribution

A

An arrangement of scores indicating the frequency of each score or group of scores.

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19
Q

Frequency Polygon

A

Line figure used to present data from a frequency distribution.

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20
Q

Hypothesis

A

Tentative statement about the relationship between two or more variables

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21
Q

Independent Variable

A

A variable that influences the dependent variable. Nothing influences this variable.

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22
Q

Inferential Statistics

A

Used to interpret data and draw conclusions

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23
Q

Internet-mediated Research

A

Studies where data is collected through online research such as questionnaires and surveys.

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24
Q

Journal

A

Published scientific material that is specific to a defined topic.

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25
Q

Mean

A

Average

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26
Q

Median

A

Exactly the middle

27
Q

Mode

A

Most common

28
Q

Meta-Analysis

A

Takes results from different studies that have all asked the same question to get an estimate of the size and consistency of the effect the variables have.

29
Q

Naturalistic Observation

A

Researcher observes changes in behaviour without interfering with the subject.

30
Q

Negatively Skewed Observation

A

In which the data is skewed toward the high end of the scale

31
Q

Positively Skewed Observation

A

In which the data is skewed toward the low end of the scale.

32
Q

Normal Distribution

A

Symmetrical bell curve that shows patterns in human characteristics and how they are dispersed throughout the human population.

33
Q

Operational Definition

A

Actions or measures that will be taken in order to control variables in experiments

34
Q

Participants/Subjects

A

A group or people or a single person participating in a study

35
Q

Percentile Score

A

The percentage of people who score below or at a specific score.

36
Q

Placebo Effects

A

Participants experience a change even though they’ve been given fake or faulty treatment

37
Q

Random Assignment

A

Participants are sorted into control and experimental groups randomly

38
Q

Reactivity

A

Participants behaviour is influenced by the experimenter

39
Q

Replication

A

Rerun of an experiment to limit the amount of errors and confirm facts

40
Q

Research Methods

A

Different ways to collect, store and analyze data in experimental research.

41
Q

Response Set

A

Tendency to respond to questions in a similar way even though they are unrelated

42
Q

Sample

A

A small portion of the population taken for testing

43
Q

Population

A

Large amount of people or animals from which the sample is taken

44
Q

Sampling Bias

A

A sample does not correctly represent the population

45
Q

Social Desirability Bias

A

The tendency to answer questions in ways that make one appear more socially desirable

46
Q

Statistical Significance

A

When the probability of the observations simply being a chance happening is very low.

47
Q

Statistics

A

Organizing numerical data

48
Q

Survey

A

Questionnaire about a participants behvaiour

49
Q

Standard Deviation

A

A range that is set around the mean value.

50
Q

Variablility

A

Highlights how the scores in a data set vary from each other and the mean

51
Q

Theory

A

Set of ideas used to explain an observation

52
Q

Variables

A

Observable behaviours, conditions, events or characteristics that are controlled in a study

53
Q

Arthur Aron

A

Conducted the experiment about fear and sexual desire.

Brought upon the belief that certain emotions can be relabeled as others

54
Q

Donald Dutton

A

Worked with Arthur Aron on the study relating fear to sexual attraction.

55
Q

David Wolfe

A

Studies teens at risk for relationship abuse.

Found links between abusive relationships and history of maltreatment

56
Q

Robert Rosenthal

A

Researched about experimenter bias and discovered that through subtle nonverbal communication, experimenters were able to influence the participants behaviour.

57
Q

Neal Miller

A

Advocate for animal research in an ethical way

58
Q

Stanley Schatcher

A

Theorized that environmental cues can disguise physical arousal as other emotions
eg// fear or sexual arousal?

59
Q

3 Goals of the Scientific Enterprise

A
  1. Measurement + Description
    - develop techniques that make it possible to describe behaviour
  2. Understanding + Prediction
    - understand events once reasoning is explained
  3. Application + Control
    - applies research to practical problems in school,s businesses and hospitals
60
Q

5 Steps to Scientific Investigation

A
  1. Formulate testable hypothesis
  2. Select research method and design study
  3. Collect data
  4. Analyze data and draw conclusions
  5. Report findings
61
Q

What are 2 advantages to the scientific approach?

A
  1. precision + clarity

2. relative intolerance of error

62
Q

Why is it sometimes advantageous to study an experimental group that also works as their own control?

A

It eliminates extraneous variables such as personal ability and weaknesses.

63
Q

Positive Correlation

A

2 variables that relate to each other in the same direction

64
Q

Negative Correlation

A

2 variables that relate to each other in different directions