Research Methods

Question 1

set of assumptions, rules, and procedures scientists use to conduct research.

Answer 1

Scientific Method

Question 2

the specific method a researcher uses to collect, analyze, and interpret data. psychologists use 3 major types: descriptive, correlational, and experimental.

Answer 2

Research Design

Question 3

research that describes what is occurring at a particular point in time.

Answer 3

Descriptive Research

Question 4

research designed to discover relationships among variables and to allow the prediction of future events from present knowledge.

Answer 4

Correlational Research

Question 5

research in which a researcher manipulates one or more variables to see their effects.

Answer 5

Experimental Research

Question 6

(Descriptive Research)
descriptive records of a small set of individuals (one person/single small grp)—their experiences and behavior.
Adv: conducted for people with unusual/abnormal experiences.
Disadv: time-consuming & expensive, not every exp is transferrable to other individuals in similar situations.

Answer 6

Case Study

Question 7

(Descriptive Research)
observation and recording of behavior that occurs in everyday settings. (researcher has no control over the environment.

Answer 7

Naturalistic Observation

Question 8

(Descriptive Research)
conducted in a setting created by the researcher. (researcher can manipulate the aspects of the situation. however, participants are aware they are being watched meaning their behavior has no guarantee of being generalized to the real world.

Answer 8

Laboratory Observation

Question 9

(Descriptive Research)
measure administered thru verbal or written questionnaire to get a picture of the beliefs or behaviors or a sample of people.

Answer 9

Survey

Question 10

People chosen to participate in a study

Answer 10

Sample

Question 11

All the people the research is based on

Answer 11

Population

Question 12

Problem when respondents lie to make themselves look good to other people.

Answer 12

Social Desirability

Question 13

includes the same percentage of males, females, age groups, ethnic groups, and socio-economic groups as the larger population

Answer 13

Representative Sample

Question 14

(Descriptive Research)
directly questioning the participants.
adv: this solves the problem of misinterpreting the questions posed on surveys. the questions can be explained as well as the responses.
disadv: time consuming and expensive, participants can also lie

Answer 14

Interviews

Question 15

(Descriptive Research)
record of psychophysiological data: heart rate, hormone levels, or brain activity) to help explain development.

Answer 15

Psychophysiological Assessment

Question 16

(Descriptive Research)
analyzing existing info (has been collected) to uncover attitudes, practices, or preferences.

Answer 16

Secondary/Content Analysis

Question 17

(Correlational Research)
symbolized by the letter r. most common statistical measure of the strength of linear relationships among variables.

Answer 17

Pearson Correlation Coefficient

Question 18

Variable A Increases - Variable B Increases (vice-versa)

Answer 18

Positive Correlation

Question 19

Variable A Decreases - Variable B Increases (vice-versa)

Answer 19

Negative Correlation

Question 20

variable that is not part of the research hypothesis but produces the observed correlation between them (not included but could have affected the conclusion)

Answer 20

Third Variable

Question 21

specific statements about the relationships between variables

Answer 21

Hypotheses

Question 22

anything that changes in value

Answer 22

Variable

Question 23

variable that is manipulated by researcher

Answer 23

Independent Variable

Question 24

measured variable that is affected by the experimental manipulation

Answer 24

Dependent Variable

Question 25

group the receives the treatment under investigation

Answer 25

Experimental Group

Question 26

group that does not receive treatment, used as comparison.

Answer 26

Control Group

Question 27

variables that are not part of the experiment but could accidentally affect the groups along with the results.

Answer 27

Extraneous Variables