Research in Social Psychology

Question 1

Define ‘Hindsight bias’

Answer 1

The tendency to exaggerate, after
learning an outcome, one’s ability to have foreseen how something turned out

Question 2

What is hindsight bias as called?

Answer 2

‘I knew it all along’ phenomenon.

Question 3

What are the 2 sciences that social psychology involve? Explain them

Answer 3

Description: careful and reliable observation
Explanation: development of theories that connect and organize observations

Question 4

What are the 2 epistemologies of social psychology

Answer 4

Rationalism – source of knowledge is based on
logical thinking and reasoning ability
Empiricism – source of knowledge is based on
experiences and observations of the events of the
world

Question 5

Define ‘ theory’

Answer 5

An integrated set of principles that explain
and predict observed events

Question 6

Define ‘hypothesis’

Answer 6

A testable proposition that describes a
relationship that may exist between events

Question 7

What are the 3 general types of research?

Answer 7

-Observational method
-Correlational method
-Experimental method

Question 8

Make an example questions/describe of the 3 general research methods

Answer 8

Observational method
-Description: What is the nature of the phenomenon?
Correlational method
-Description: What is the relationship between
variable X and variable Y?
Experimental method
-Causality: Is variable X a cause of variable Y

Question 9

What are the benefits of observational method? List 3 examples

Answer 9

-See behaviour in naturally occurring
environment (high external validity)
-Provides excellent behavioural descriptions
-Rich source of hypothesis

Question 10

What are the problems of observational method? List 3 examples

Answer 10

-Can be biased if a person knows they are
being watched
-Bias from the observer – importance of
interjudge reliability
-Not a source for explanations (only
descriptive)

Question 11

What is the operational definition mean?

Answer 11

the precise specifications of how variables are measured or manipulated

Question 12

Define the operational method

Answer 12

It involves the systematic observation and measurement of behaviour

Question 13

Define the correlational method

Answer 13

It involves systematically measuring the relationship
between two or more variables (e.g., how much one can be predicted from the other)

Question 14

What are the correlation coefficient range that indicate the strength and direction of the relationship

Answer 14

r = -1 to +1

Question 15

What is the main point of the correlation method?

Answer 15

It identifies only whether two variables are associated, and not why they are.

Question 16

What are the 4 benefits of correlation methods?

Answer 16

-Provides data on large groups of people or trends
-Allow prediction (i.e. regression analysis)
-Provides information on influential variables
-Has good external validity (i.e., generalization)

Question 17

What are the 3 problems with the correlational method?

Answer 17

-Does not provide causal explanations
-Some issues with bias (which variables to include)
-Can be difficult to interpret (when multiple
variables)

Question 18

How can wording in questions in avoid bias? Give 3 examples

Answer 18

-Items that may cause the respondent to feel
pressured to respond in a socially desirable way
-Items that are worded in a such a way that it
reveals the experimenter’s bias and may pull for
a particular response
-Items that are just too complex: containing
double-negatives, difficult vocabulary or jargon

Question 19

What is the purpose of experimental method?

Answer 19

A research method in which the investigator
manipulates one or more of the factors
(independent variables) to observe their effect
on some behaviour or mental process
(dependent variable) while holding other
factors constant

Question 20

Define experimental condition(s)

Answer 20

Condition of an experiment that exposes participants
to the treatment

Question 21

Define control condition

Answer 21

Condition of an experiment that contrasts with the
experimental treatment and serves as a comparison
for evaluating the effect of the treatment

Question 22

What are the experimental procedures of the ‘experimental method’? Explain them

Answer 22

Single-blind procedure
-Procedure in which participant does not
know to which condition they are assigned
Double-blind procedure
-Procedure in which both the participant and
the experimenter are ignorant about who has
received which treatment

Question 23

What is the selection of independent variables?

Answer 23

-Variable whose effect is being studied
-Manipulated by the experimenter

Question 24

What is the selection of dependent variables?

Answer 24

-The factor being measured
-The variable the experimenter predicts will be
affected by the independent variable

Question 25

What are the benefits of the experimental method?

Answer 25

-Provides causal interpretations (if well
designed and conducted)
-Allows the researcher to target individual
variables
-High internal validity

Question 26

What are the problems of the experimental method?

Answer 26

-May rely on artificial environments or
manipulations (low external validity)
-Can suffer from bias (importance of
replication)

Question 27

What are the 3 main ways to collect research in the correlational method?

Answer 27

-Surveys (including questionnaires and interviews)
-representative sampling and random sampling
-Directly ask people about their experience, attitudes
or opinions

Question 28

Define was is ethical principles?

Answer 28

Ethical principles of psychologists in the conduct
of research AKA codes of ethics

Question 29

List the 6 ethical principles

Answer 29

-Respect for dignity of persons
-Informed consent
-Minimizing harm
-Freedom to withdraw
-Privacy and confidentiality
-Use of deception (importance of debriefing)

Question 30

slideshow #14 make questions

Question 31

T/F: Correlation does equal causation. Explain

Answer 31

False. The correlational method identifies only
whether two variables are associated, and
not why they are