Research Methods Flashcards
The scientific study of behavior and mental processes
Psychology
A research perspective who explains how the brain, nervous system, and other physiological mechanisms produce behavior and mental process
Biological Perspective
A research perspective who explains how mental processes such as perception, memory, and problem solving work and impact behavior
Cognitive Perspective
A research perspective who explains how external environmental events condition observable behavior
Behavioral perspective
A research perspective who explains how other people and cultural context impact behavior and mental processes
Sociocultural perspective
Research methods whose main purpose is to provide objective and detailed descriptions of behavior and mental processes
descriptive methods
A descriptive research method in which the behavior of interest is observed in the laboratory
Laboratory Observation
A descriptive research method in which the researchers study behavior in its natural context
Naturalistic observation
A descriptive research method in which the observer becomes part of the group being observed
Participant Observation
A descriptive study that includes an intensive study of one person and allow an intensive examination of a single case
Case Study
A descriptive research method in which the researcher uses questionnaires and interviews to collect information about the behavior, beliefs, and attitudes of particular groups of people
Survey Research
An entire group of individual persons, objects, or items from which samples may be drawn
Population
The subset of the population chosen by the investigator for study
Sample
A technique to get a representative sample of a population by ensuring each individual has an equal opportunity to be in the sample
Random Sampling
A research study in which two variables are measured to determine how they are related or how well either one predicts the other
Correlational Study
Any factor than can have more than one value
Variable
A statistic that tells us the type and strength of the relationship between two variables
Correlation Coefficient
A direct relationship between two variables
Positive Correlation
An inverse relationship between two variables
Negative Correlation
A number between 0.0 and 1.0 that represents the strength of the correlation with 1.0 being the maximum strength
Absolute value of the correlation coefficient
A graphed cluster of dots, each of which represents the values of two variables
Scatterplot
An explanation of a correlation between two variables in terms of another third variable that could possibly be responsible for the observed relationship
Third-Variable Problem
A correlation in which the variables are related through their relationship with one or more other variables but not through a causal mechanism
Spurious Correlation
A control measure where participants are randomly assigned in groups to equalize participant characteristics
Random Assignment
The variable that is the hypothesized cause and is therefore manipulated
Independent Variable
The variable that is to by directly affected by the manipulation of the independent variable
Dependent Variable
The group exposed to the independent variable
Experimental Group
The group that is not exposed to the independent variable
Control Group
A description of what actions and operations will be used to measure the dependent variables and manipulate the independent variables
Operational Definition
Improvement resulting from the mere expectation of improvement
Placebo Effect
A harmless pill, medicine, or procedure prescribed for a psychological benefit rather than physiological effect
Placebo
Statistical analyses that allow researchers to draw conclusions about the results of a study by determining the probability that the results are due to random variation (chance). The results are statistically significant if this probability is .05 or less.
Inferential Statistical Analyses
an experimental procedure in which both the research participants and the research staff are ignorant (blind) about whether the research participants have received the treatment or a placebo
Double-Blind Procedure
a statistical procedure for analyzing the results of multiple studies to reach an overall conclusion
Meta-Analysis
statistics that describe the results of a research study in a concise fashion
Descriptive Statistics
A depiction, in a table or figure, of the number of participants receiving each score for a variable
Frequency Distribution
the average extent that the scores vary from the mean for a distribution of scores
Standard Deviation
A frequency distribution that is shaped like a bell. About 68 percent of the scores fall within 1 standard deviation of the mean, about 95 percent within 2 standard deviations of the mean, and over 99 percent within 3 standard deviations of the mean.
Normal Distribution
the percentage of scores below a specific score in a distribution of scores
Percentile Rank
the tendency to believe, after learning an outcome, that one would have foreseen it
Hindsight Bias
