Research Methods

Question 1

Basic Research

Answer 1

research for the sake of science

Question 2

Applied Research

Answer 2

research for a practical application

Question 3

Translational Research

Answer 3

rewriting publications from scientific journals so they’re accessible to the general public

Question 4

Hindsight Bias

Answer 4

belief that and outcome was foreseeable (“knew it all along” effect)

Question 5

Hypothesis

Answer 5

a prediction based on a testable theory

Question 6

Variable

Answer 6

any property whose values can vary across individuals or over time

Question 7

Continuous Variable

Answer 7

a variable with a continuous numerical value

Question 8

Categorical Variable

Answer 8

variations that can fit into categories

Question 9

Operationalized

Answer 9

a description of a property in concrete measurable terms

Question 10

Correlational Designs

Answer 10

going out into the world to measure how closely two variable vary together or how well you can predict a change in one variable from observing a change in another variable
*measured with a predictor and an outcome

Question 11

Positive Correlation

Answer 11

both variables either increase or decrease together

Question 12

Negative Correlation

Answer 12

one variable increases when the other decreases

Question 13

Zero Correlation

Answer 13

one variable is not predictable related to the other

Question 14

What does a correlation coefficient closer to 1 indicate?

Answer 14

a strong positive correlation

Question 15

What does a correlation coefficient closer to -1 indicate?

Answer 15

a strong negative correlation

Question 16

Correlational Design Drawbacks

Answer 16

-issues of directionality (does A cause B or vice versa?)
-third variable can influence results
-correlation cannot infer causation

Question 17

Correlational Design Benefits

Answer 17

-can sometimes be more ethical
establishing relationship can inspire experiments

Question 18

Experimental Designs

Answer 18

manipulating an X variable to show its effect on the Y variable

Question 19

Random Assignment

Answer 19

assigning participants randomly to experimental conditions

Question 20

Why is random assignment important?

Answer 20

increases there chance that characteristics are equally distributed across the groups

Question 21

Population

Answer 21

everyone in the group the experimenter is interested in

Question 22

Sample

Answer 22

a subset of the population

Question 23

Convenience Sampling

Answer 23

the sample consists of people who are conveniently available for the study

Question 24

Experimental Designs Drawbacks

Answer 24

-certain topics may be impractical or unethical to test
-highly controlled lab settings can make generalization of finding to the real world more difficult

Question 25

Experimental Designs Benefits

Answer 25

-if done well, you can infer causation
-precise control over variables can eliminate alternative explantations

Question 26

Experimenter Bias

Answer 26

the experimenters expectations influence the outcome of the study
*experimenter might see what they want to are treat participants differently
*solution: double blind, scripts

Question 27

Demand Characteristics

Answer 27

participants form an interpretation of the experimenter’s purpose and subconsciously change their behavior to fit the interpretation

Question 28

Hawthorne Effect

Answer 28

changing behavior when you know you’re being watched

Question 29

Converging Operations

Answer 29

a research strategy where a variety of research strategies are used

Question 30

Replication

Answer 30

the process of repeating a study and finding a similar outcome each time

Question 31

Placebo Effect

Answer 31

knowledge of receiving treatment affects behavior
*solution: blind treatment