Research Methods Flashcards
1
Q
Hindsight bias
A
- The tendancy to believe, after learning an outcome, that we would have predicted it (“I knew it all along”)
- Studies show that people will easily believe an untrue psychological fact and see it as common sense
- Inventions - once created seem obvious
2
Q
Theory
A
- An explanation using an integrated set of principles that organizes observations and predicts behaviors or events
- Links / bridges facts together to deepen principles
- Useful summary to connect dots
- Ex: depression is caused by low-self-esteem
3
Q
Hypothesis
A
- A testable prediction, often implied by a theory
- Specify what results would support the theory
- Can bias observations
- “If…then”
- Will help identify key parts of the experiment
- Ex: People with low self-esteem will score higher on a depression scale
4
Q
Replicate
A
- Repeating the essence of a research study, usually with different participants in different situations, to see whether the basic finding extends to other participants and circumstances
- Similar results = more confidence in the finding’s reliability
5
Q
Correlation
A
- A and B happen at the same time, but it has not been proven that one causes the other to happen
- Positive correlation: variables move in the same direction
- Negative correlation: one variable increases as the other decreases
6
Q
Descriptive research strategies
A
- Good at learning about what behaviors occur and what’s correlated
- Case study
- Natural observation
- Survey
7
Q
Natural observation
- Definition
A
- Observing and recording behavior in naturally occurring situations withour trying to manipulate/control the situation
- Ex: watching chimps in the jungle, video-taping parent-child interaction in different cultures
- Describes behavior, does not explain it
- Snapshots of everyday life without controlling for all factors thatt influence behavior
- Data for correlational research
8
Q
Natural observation
- Strengths
- Weaknesses
A
- Strengths
- Insights on everyday life
- Results more accurately reflect human behavior
- Weaknesses
- People being watched won’t behave naturally
- Might be hard to find results
- Does not explain
9
Q
Case study
A
- An in-depth study of an individual to discover things that may be true to all
- Shows us what can happen and often suggest directions for further study
10
Q
Case study
- Strengths
- Weaknesses
A
- Strengths
- Can go really in depth
- Hard to replicate situations
- Easier than large group
- Weaknesses
- Takes lots of time
- Misleading - unrepresentative info can lead to false generalizations
11
Q
Survey
A
- Gettting self-reported attitudes or behaviors of a particular group, usually by asking questions to a random sample of the group
12
Q
Survey
- Strengths
- Weaknesses
A
- Strengths
- Data from large group
- Easy to do
- Lots of data in short time
- Direct answers
- Weaknesses
- People lie / are not always honest
- Need wording choice with clear intentions
- Needs to be representative and random
13
Q
Wording effects
A
- Sublte changes in the order or wording of questions can have major effects on people’s opinions
- “government censorship” vs “more restrictions”
14
Q
Random sample
A
- A sample that fairly represents a population because each member has an equal chance of participating
- Large is better than small group, random number generator
- Population: all the cases in a group being studied, from which samples may be drawn (the whole group)
15
Q
Representative sample
A
- A sample that fairly represents all members of a population
