Research Methods Flashcards
What is a hypothesis?
A prediction, more specific
What does theory mean?
An explanation for something, more general
What is the scientific method?
scientist conduct research which consists of 5 processes
What is the first step of the scientific method?
Define the problem
- Informal observation and research
What is the second step of the scientific method?
Hypothesis and Theory (create)
What is the third step of the scientific method? What are the 3 components?
Testing hypothesis
1. measurement/observation
2. Sampling
3. Design/data
What is the fourth step of the scientific method?
Analysis/decisions
- determine if the data supports the hypothesis
What is the fifth step of the scientific method?
Dissemination/publication
- present and publish
What is reliability?
The test of measure gives us a consistent result over time or between different raters
What is validity?
The extent to which a concept, conclusion, or measurement is well-founded and likely corresponds accurately to the real world.
What is correlation research?
Studies that measure 2 or more variables and their relationship to one another
What is descriptive research?
The researcher defines a problem and variable of interest but doesn’t make a prediction and doesn’t control or manipulate anything
What are experimental designs?
Has independent and dependent variables, control of outside variables, and equivalent experimental conditions
What is an experimental group?
The group of subjects that are exposed to the variable being tested.
What is a control group?
A group in an experiment that doesn’t receive the variable being tested and is used to compare results to the experimental group
What is an indepenedent variable?
A variable whose variation does NOT depend on that of another
What is a dependent variable?
A variable whose value depends on that of another
What is generalizability (external validity)?
The extent to which the results of a study can be generalized and applied to other populations, situations, and settings beyond the specific context of the research
What is internal validity?
The degree to which a study’s design and methodology can establish cause-and-effect relationships between variables without other factors influencing the results
What is the IRB? What do they do?
Institutional Review Board
- Makes sure experiments are ethical
What does informed consent mean?
A process that involves proving clients with information about psychological services and obtaining their agreement to participate
What is deception?
The act of intentionally misleading someone by giving them false information or withholding the truth (allowed to use as long as it doesn’t hurt someone physically or mentally)
What is debriefing?
The explanation of the purpose of the study following the data collection.
