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Psych 1X03 > Research Methods > Flashcards

Research Methods Flashcards

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1
Q

Scientific Method

A

1) Theory
2) Hypothesis
3) Research Method
4) Collect Data
5) Analyze Data
6) Report Findings
7) Revise Theories

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2
Q

Paradigm Shift

A

A dramatic change in the way we think

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3
Q

Anecdotal Evidence

A

Evidence gathered from others or self-experience

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4
Q

Independent Variable

A

Manipulated by the scientist

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5
Q

Dependent Variable

A

Observed by the scientist

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6
Q

Control Groups

A
  • Does not receive manipulation

- Help to further manipulate the independent variable while measuring the effects on the dependent variable

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7
Q

Experimental Group

A

Receives a manipulation of the independent variable

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8
Q

Within-Subjects Design

A
  • Manipulating independent variable within each participant to minimize effect of external variables on the dependent variable
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9
Q

Practice Effect

A

Improved performance over the course of an experiment due to becoming more experienced

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10
Q

Between-Subjects Design

A

One group receives experimental manipulation, while the other is the control group

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11
Q

Confounding Variable

A

A variable other than the independent variable that has an effect on the results

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12
Q

Sample

A
  • Members of the population that data is collected from.

- The best sample is a random sample

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13
Q

Random Sample

A
  • Choosing a sample at random from the entire population

- Reduces bias towards a specific group; hard to achieve

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14
Q

Random Assignment

A

Assigning subjects to either the experimental or control group at random to avoid any biases that may cause differences between the groups of subjects

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15
Q

Placebo Effect

A

Effect that occurs when an individual exhibits a response to a treatment that has no related therapeutic effect

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16
Q

Participant Bias

A

When a participant’s actions in an experiment influence the results outside of the manipulations of the experimenter

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17
Q

Blinding

A

When participants do not know whether they belong to the experimental or control group, or which treatment they are receiving

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18
Q

Experimenter Bias

A

Actions made by the experimenter to promote the result they hope to achieve

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19
Q

Double-blind Experiments

A

Experiments in which neither experimenter or participant know which group each participant belongs to

20
Q

Descriptive Statistics

A

Presents information that gives an overall idea of the results of the experiment; mean, median, mode

21
Q

Histograms

A

Visual summarizations of data (pie chart, bar graph…); type of graph used to report the number of times groups of values appear in a data set

22
Q

Frequency Distribution

A

Type of graph illustrating the distribution of how frequently values appear in the data set

23
Q

Normal Distribution

A

A distribution with a characteristic smooth, symmetrical, bell-shaped curve containing a single peak

24
Q

Mean

A

Tells us where a data set is centred; average value of a data set

25
Q

Mode

A

The value that appears most frequently (most common) in the set

26
Q

Median

A

Centre value in a data set when the set is arranged numerically

27
Q

Measures of Variability

A

Reviews the spread and distribution of a data set

28
Q

Standard Deviation

A
  • Measure of the average distance of each point from the mean
  • Smaller spread = smaller SD
  • Larger spread = larger SD
29
Q

Inferential Statistics

A

Allow us to use results from samples to make inferences about overall populations

30
Q

T-test

A

Can be used to compare the difference between the data from the control and experimental groups

31
Q

P-Value

A

Expresses the probability calculated by the t-test

32
Q

Statistical Significance

A

When the difference between two groups is due to some true difference between the properties of the 2 groups and not simply due to random variation

33
Q

Observational Research

A

Observes the effect of variables one is interested in without performing any explicit manipulation; follows the scientific method

34
Q

Correlation

A

Measure of the strength of the relationship between 2 variables; not always meaningful

35
Q

Correlation Coefficient (r)

A 
\+1 = perfect positive correlation.
-1 = perfect negative correlation
0 = no relationship between the 2 variables
36
Q

Operational Definitions

A

Something that can be objectively measured

37
Q

Empiricism

A

Knowledge should be based on actual observation, and not solely reason

38
Q

Inductive Reasoning

A

Allows us to build theories based on various incidents of observed phenomena converging on a hypothesis; facts to theory

39
Q

Deductive Reasoning

A

Allows us to make predictions about certain phenomena based on the claims of a theory; tests theory

40
Q

Simple Correlation

A

Measure of the direction and strength of the relationship between two variables

41
Q

Positive Correlation

A

As the value of one variable increases, the value of the other also increases

42
Q

Negative Correlation

A

Increasing values on one variable are associated with decreasing values on the other

43
Q

Binary Variables

A

Have two possible values

44
Q

Constant Variables

A

One possible value

45
Q

Social Desirability Bias

A

Answering questions in order to appeal to society’s standards

46
Q

Response Sets

A

A tendency to respond to questions in a certain way, regardless of the content

Psych 1X03 (9 decks)

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