Research Methods Flashcards
Hindsight Bias
The tendency for people to exaggerate how much they could have predicted an outcome after knowing that it occurred
Observational method
when a researcher observes people and systematically records measurements or impressions of their behavior
Ethnography
The attempt to understand a group or culture by observing it from the inside without imposing preconceived notions they might have.
Interjudge/Interrater Reliability
The level of agreement between two or more people who independently observe and code (organize) a set of data (observational method)
Archival Analysis
Observational method in which the researcher examines accumulated documents (archives). This includes diaries, magazines, and/or newspapers.
Surveys
Research in which a representative sample of people are asked questions about their attributes or behavior
Random Selection
A way of ensuring a sample of people is representative of a population by giving everyone in the population an equal change of being selected for the sample.
Primary Research Designs
Correlational design, Experimental design, Meta-analysis
Correlational Method
when two or more variables are measured and the relationship between them (i.e. how much can be predicted from the other) is assessed
Positive correlation
the increased value of one variable is associated with the increases in the value of another variable
Negative correlation
Increases in the value of one variable is associated with the decrease in value of the other variable.
Experimental Method
When the researcher randomly assigns participants to different conditions and ensures these conditions are identical except for the independent variable.
Deterministic Causation
If A then always B
Probabilistic causation
If A then more likely B
(smoking makes lung cancer more likely)
Independent Variable
the variable researchers vary to see if it has a causal effect
Dependent Variable
the variable researcher measure to see if it is affected by the independent variable
Internal Validity
Making sure nothing besides the independent variable can affect the dependent variable. (Accomplished by controlling all extraneous variable and by randomly assigning people to different experimental conditions)
Random Assignment
A process ensuring all participants have an equal change of taking part in any condition
External Validity
The extent to which the results of a study can be generalized to other situations and to other people
Mundane Realisim
The extent to which an experiment is similar to real-life situations
Psychological Realism
The extent to which the psychological processes triggered in an experiment are similar to the psychological processes that occur in everyday life
Replication
Repeating a study, often with different subject populations or in different settings.
Meta-Analysis
A statistical technique that averages the results of two or more studies to see if the effect of an independent variable is reliable
Field experiments
same design as a laboratory experiment except it is conducted in real-life settings (external validity of such experiments is high)
Deception
Misleading participants about the true purpose of a study or the events that will actually traspire
