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Intro to Psychology > Research Methodology > Flashcards

Research Methodology Flashcards

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1
Q

Research

A

A scientific process that involves the careful collection of data

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2
Q

Scientific Method

A

A systematic and dynamic procedure of observing and measuring phenomena, used to achieve the goals of description, prediction, control, and explanation

Involves an interaction among research, theories, and hypotheses

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3
Q

Theory

A

A model of interconnected ideas or concepts that explains what is observed and makes predictions about future events

Based on empirical evidence

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4
Q

Hypothesis

A

A specific, testable predictionc narrower than the theory it is based on

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5
Q

Replication

A

Repetition of a research study to confirm the results

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6
Q

Variable

A

Something in the woerld that can vary and that a researcher can manipulate (change), measure (evaluate), or both

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7
Q

Independent Variable

A

The variable that gets manipulated in a research study

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8
Q

Dependent Variable

A

The variable that gets measured in a research study

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9
Q

Operational Definition

A

A definition that qualifies (describes) and quantifies (measures) a variable so the variable can be understood objectively

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10
Q

Descriptive Research

A

Research methods that involve observing behavior to describe that behavior objectively and systematically

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11
Q

Case Study

A

A descriptive research method that involves the intensive examination of an unusual person or organization

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12
Q

Participant Observation

A

A type of descriptive study in which the researcher is involved in the situation

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13
Q

Naturalistic Observation

A

A type of descriptive study in which the researcher is a passive observer, separated from the situation and nmaking no attempt to change or alter ongoing behavior

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14
Q

Reactivity

A

The phenomenon that occurs when knowledge that one is being observed alters the behavior being observed

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15
Q

Observer Bias

A

Systematic errors in observation that occur because of an observer’s expectations

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16
Q

Experimenter Expectancy Effect

A

Actual change in the behavior of the people or nonhuman animals being observed that is due to the expectations of the observer

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17
Q

Data

A

Measurable outcomes of research studies

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18
Q

Self-Report Methods

A

Methods of data collection in which people are asked to provide information about themselves, such as in surveys or questionnaires

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19
Q

Correlational Studies

A

A research method that describes and predicts how variables are naturally related in the real world, without any attempt by the researcher to alter them or assign causation between them

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20
Q

Positive Correlation

A

A relationship between two variables in which both variables either increase or decrease together

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21
Q

Negative Correlation

A

A relationship between two variables in which one variable increases when the other decreases

22
Q

Zero Correlation

A

A relationship between two variables in which one variable is not predictably related to the other

23
Q

Directionality Problem

A

A problem in correlational studies when the researchers find a relationship between two variables but cannot determine which variable may have caused changes in the other variable

24
Q

Third Variable Problem

A

A problem that occurs when the researcher cannot directly manipulate variables and as a result cannot be confident that another unmeasured variable is not the actual cause of differences in the variable of interest

25
Q

Experiment

A

A research method that tests causal hypotheses by manipulating and measuring variables

26
Q

Experimental Group

A

The participants in an experiment who receive the treatment

27
Q

Control Group

A

The participants in an experiment who receive no intervention or who receive an intervention that is unrelated to the independent variable being tested

28
Q

Confound

A

Anything that affects a dependent variable and that may unintentionally vary between the experimental conditions of a study

29
Q

Population

A

Everyone in the group the experimenter is interested in

30
Q

Sample

A

A subset of a population

31
Q

Random Assignment

A

Placing research participants into the conditions of an experiment in such a way that each participant has an equal chance of being assigned to any level of the independent variable

32
Q

Selection Bias

A

In an experiment, unintended differences between the participants in different groups

33
Q

Culturally Sensitive Research

A

Studies that take into account the role that culture plays in determining thoughts, feelings, and actions

34
Q

Institutional Review Boards (IRBs)

A

Groups of people responsible for reviewing proposed research to ensure that it meets the accepted standards of science and provides for the physical and emotional well-being of research participants

35
Q

Construct Validity

A

The extent to which variables measure what they are supposed to measure

36
Q

External Validity

A

The degree to which the findings of a study can be generalized to other people, settings, or situations

37
Q

Internal Validity

A

The degree to which the effects observed in an experiment are due to the independent variable and not confounds

38
Q

Reliability

A

The degree to which a measure is stable and consistent over time

39
Q

Accuracy

A

The degree to which an experimental measure is free from error

40
Q

Descriptive Statistics

A

Statistics that summarize the data collected in a study

41
Q

Central Tendency

A

A measure that represents the typical response of the behavior of a group as a whole

42
Q

Mean

A

A measure of central tendency that is the arithmetic average of a set of numbers

43
Q

Median

A

A measure of central tendency that is the value in a set of numbers that falls exactly halfway between the lowest and highest values

44
Q

Mode

A

A measure of central tendency that is the most frequent score or value in a set of numbers

45
Q

Variability

A

In a set of numbers, how widely dispersed the values are from each other and from the mean

46
Q

Standard Deviation

A

A statistical measure of how far away each value is, on average, from the mean

47
Q

Scatterplot

A

A graphical depiction of the relationship between two variables

48
Q

Correlation Coefficient

A

A descriptive statistic that indicates the strength of the relationship between two variables

49
Q

Inferential Statistics

A

A set of assumptions and procedures used to evaluate the likelihood that an observed effect is present in the population from which the sample was drawn

50
Q

Meta-Analysis

A

A “study of studies” that combines the findings of multiple studies to arrive at a conclusion

Intro to Psychology (2 decks)

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