Research Methods Flashcards

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1
Q

Basic research

A

Increasing the scientific knowledge base

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2
Q

Applied research

A

Research to find solutions to specific problems

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3
Q

Quantitative data

A

Numerical type data

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4
Q

Qualitative data

A

Non-numerical and descriptive

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5
Q

Descriptive research

A

Describes general or specific behaviors/attributes that are observed and measured
Doesn’t test specific relationships, allows for further study

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6
Q

Case study

A

Observing one or a few individuals in depth, rare phenomena

Provides lots of information and allows for study that would otherwise be unethical

Unrepresentative to average population

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7
Q

Survey method

A

Allows for private information and lots of data on large groups

People don’t always give accurate responses

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8
Q

Wording affect

A

Possible effects on participants caused by the order or choice of words

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9
Q

Self report data

A

Relies on individuals on rapport other symptoms, behaviors, beliefs or attitude

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10
Q

Naturalistic observation

A

Careful observation of animals or people in their natural environment

Allows for direct observation and useful first stage of research

Doesn’t give the researcher a lot of control, no cause or effect conclusions

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11
Q

Laboratory observation

A

Involves and observing behavior in a contrived and control the situation

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12
Q

Observer effect

A

When people know they’re being watched they are less likely to behave naturally

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13
Q

Observer/research bias

A

Observers who are closely involved in the research may skew observations to fit their research expectations

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14
Q

Hawthorne effect

A

Individuals may change their behavior due to attention they are receiving rather than manipulation of variables

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15
Q

Correlational studies

A

Research used to see if two variables are related and make predictions based on the relationship

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16
Q

Correlation is not

A

Causation

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17
Q

Correlation coefficient

A

Statistical measure of the relationship of variables

Close to plus or minus one is strong
Close to zero is weak

18
Q

Scatterplot

A

A data display that shows the relationship between two numerical variables

19
Q

Positive correlation

A

One variable increases so does the other

One variable decreases so does the other

20
Q

Negative correlation

A

A decrease in one variable and an increase in the other variable

21
Q

Illusory correlation

A

Perceived as a relationship but nonexistent the correlation coefficient indicates no correlation

22
Q

Third variable problem

A

Researchers cannot rule out the possibility that a third variable causes both the other variables to increase or decrease

23
Q

Experimental method

A

Establishes a cause-and-effect relationship and allows researchers to control the situation

24
Q

Variable

A

Anything that can change in an experiment

25
Q

Independent variable

A

The factor that the experimenter manipulates

If, treatment

26
Q

Dependent variable

A

The variable that is being measured or tested

Then, outcome

27
Q

Operational definition

A

Definition of the variable in terms of how it is going to be measured, allows replication of the experiment

28
Q

Confounding variable

A

Differences between the experimental groups and they control group other than those resulting from the independent variable

Imperfect experimental control, limits conclusions

29
Q

Population

A

All individuals in the group which the study applies to

30
Q

Confederate

A

Individuals who seem to be participants but are actually part of the research team

31
Q

Representative sample

A

A group that closely matches the characteristics of a full population

Larger, randomly drawn

32
Q

Random sample

A

Select people to participate in the research in a way that everyone in the population has an equal chance of being included

33
Q

Control group

A

No treatment or some kind of treatment with no effects to compare to other factors that might be causing the effect being examined

34
Q

Experimental group

A

Group that is exposed to the independent variable

35
Q

Random assignment

A

All members of a study have an equal chance of being placed in either a control or experimental group

36
Q

Placebo condition

A

Allows researchers to separate the effects on a variable itself from the expectations of the participants

Drug with actual ingredient versus drug without ingredient

37
Q

Single blind studies

A

Participants don’t know which treatment group they are in, decreases bias

38
Q

Double blind study

A

Neither the experimenter or the participants know who is in which group

Eliminate researcher bias

39
Q

Reliability

A

Whether or not an experiment can be repeated

Degree to which an experiment produces similar scores each time is used

40
Q

Validity

A

The experiment is testing when it’s supposed to test