Research Methods Flashcards
Descriptive non-experimental design
Looks for information about the variables
No hypothesis
Low control of variance
Low causality
Correlational non-experimental design
Usually have a hypothesis suggesting two or more things are related
Low control of variance
Low causality (slightly higher than descriptive non-experimental)
Quasi-experimental design
Most common kind
Usually involves some kind of variable that you can’t control/manipulate (age, where you live, natural disasters, etc)
Higher control of variance
Higher causality
Experimental design
You manipulate the variables
Highest control of variance
Highest causality
Norm of reciprocity
People should provide benefits to those who benefit them
You want to help someone who helped you
What makes a good theory?
Overarching explanation for phenomena
Testable and falsifiable
Leads to multiple predictions
Research Question
A question we will attempt to answer; should be based in theory
Independent variables are the ones hypothesized to cause an outcome
Conceptual Variables
Abstract and general
Researcher thinks up or conceptualizes this variable
What the research truly wants to measure
Example: Amount of studying
Operational Definitions
Specific procedure for manipulating or measuring a conceptual variable (ex: Time in minutes that I spend reading my psychology textbook)
Confound
An outside influence (variable) that influences both the IV and the DV (You need to control for these)
Alternative Hypothesis
If your prediction is correct
People will be more likely to ___ when they ___ compared to when they ___
Null Hypothesis
If your prediction is wrong
The independent variable will not impact the dependent variable
WEIRD Samples (Try to avoid)
Western/White
Educated
Industrialized
Rich
Democratic
Convenience Sampling
Selecting individuals for a sample that are easily accessible
Construct Validity
Does the measure actually assess what we think it does?
