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Psyc 345 > Research Methods > Flashcards

Research Methods Flashcards

1
Q

Why are experiments harder to do in psychology?

A

Because people (unlike animals) think, anticipate, and remember.

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2
Q

What are some of the methodologies to study psychology?

A

Field studies, surveys/questionnaires (most common), archival data, lab experiments (best/only way to study cause and effect).

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3
Q

What are the 6 steps in doing research?

A

Step 1: Questions of interest, and literature review
Step 2: Testable hypothesis, operationally defined
Step 3: Research method, choose participants, collect data
Step 4: Analyze data, accept or reject the hypothesis
Step 5: Seek scientific review, publish, replicate
Step 6: Build theory

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4
Q

What are some of the issues associated with step 1?

A

We rarely have grand ideas, are mostly building off someone elses ideas or building off of our own (psychology research is like bricks in the wall, one piece at a time)

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5
Q

Why do we need to operationally define things?

A

Because often in psych, there are multiple testable hypotheses associated with research questions-operationally definitions help with this.

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6
Q

What are some other important aspects of step 3 when we define our research method and choose participants?

A

Controls and confounds.

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7
Q

What is the reason that we shouldn’t have “pet” theories in psych and why peer review is important?

A

Because pet theories create bias, peer review helps work around this bias.

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8
Q

What is the replication crisis (step 5)

A

When trying to replicate studies from the 60s-70s, we are finding conflicting results.

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9
Q

Where can we find hypotheses?

A

From previous research and theories

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10
Q

What is a hypothesis?

A

Explanation of why an event/outcome occurs-ideintifies underlying causes of event/phenomenon

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11
Q

What are theories?

A

Organized set of principles used to explain observved phenomena (built up over-time).

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12
Q

What are the 3 criteria of theories?

A

Simplicity, comprehensiveness, generativity

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13
Q

What kind of theory do we prefer? All encompassing or mini?

A

Mini

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14
Q

What is basic research?

A

Goal is to increase understanding of human behaviour (grants typically don’t like this). Tests a specific hypothesis from a specific theory.

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15
Q

What is applied research?

A

Goal is to enlarge our understanding of naturally occuring events-find solutions to practical problems

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16
Q

What was Albert Bandura’s social learning theory?

A

We learn from observing the behaviours of others and the outcomes of that

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17
Q

What are conceptual variables versus operational definitions?

A

Conceptual: Abstract or general variables
Operational: states specifically how conceptual variables will be manipulated/measured.

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18
Q

What is the reliability?

A

The consistency of a measurement

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19
Q

What is test-retest reliability?

A

Consistency of a measurement overtime (do you get different results per test?)

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20
Q

What is interrater reliability?

A

Consistency across judges (2 types: have someone else fill out your inventory about themselves, OR have a friend fill it out about you)

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21
Q

What is validity?

A

Refers to the accuracy of a measurement. Should reflect the desired underlying psychological process (IQ test should measure intelligence, not impulsivity).

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22
Q

What are descriptive research designs?

A

Case studies, naturalistic observations, surveys

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23
Q

What is the purpose of a descriptive research design?

A

To observe, collect, and record data

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24
Q

What are some advantages of descriptive research designs?

A

Develop early ideas, measure actual behaviour, easier to collect data

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25
Q

What are some disadvantages of descriptive research designs?

A

Little/no control over variables, bias, cannot explain cause and effect

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26
Q

What is experimental research?

A

Involves manipulation and control of variables

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27
Q

What is the purpose of experimental research?

A

To find cause and effect

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28
Q

What is an advantage of experimental research?

A

Precise control

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29
Q

What are the disadvantages of experimental research?

A

Ethics, limits to what we can test

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30
Q

What is correlational research?

A

2 or more variables are measured, assess the relationship between these variables.

31
Q

What is the correlation coefficient?

A

Describes the linear relationship between two variables (goes from -1 to positive 1).

32
Q

What are some advantages to correlational research?

A

Study associations of naturally occuring variables that cannot be manipulated, examine difficult/unethical phenomena, freedom in settings of variables (lab versus mall or airport survey)

33
Q

What are some disadvantages to correlational research?

A

Correlation is NOT CAUSATION

34
Q

What is a survey?

A

When a representative sample of people are asked questions about their attitudes or behaviours.

35
Q

Why are representative samples important?

A

For generalizing!

36
Q

What is random sampling?

A

Every person in a particular population has exactly the same probability of being in a study

37
Q

What are some examples of skewed/non-representative data?

A

Dewey versus Truman, Clinton versus Trump, and Nenshi (2017)

38
Q

How are political examples of non-representative data a double-edged sword?

A

Because results from the surveys spur people to vote more for the candidate said to lose

39
Q

What are some issues with survey research?

A

Assumes people are willing to report on their own behaviour/beliefs etc, social desirability, wording effect

40
Q

What is social desirability?

A

Responding in a way that portrays oneself in a positive light (masking feelings, controversial attitudes)

41
Q

What is the wording effect?

A

When the wording of a statement impacts responses-prompting, options left out, poor wording, double barrelled questions, leading questions

42
Q

What is naturalistic observation?

A

Careful observation of behaviours in natural (or) lab setting. No manipulation/control of variables. Are externally valid

43
Q

What is the observer effect?

A

When being observed (or observing someone else) affects behaviour (Hawthorne, Clever Hans)

44
Q

Who was Clever Hans?

A

A counting horse-watched owner for cues as to when to stop counting.

45
Q

What is archival research?

A

Examining existing records for a new research purpose

46
Q

What is an example of archival research?

A

The Flynn Effect (IQ increases over the years)

47
Q

What are some of the problems with archival research?

A

Certain behaviours are difficult to observe, longitudinal (40-50% of the sample is lost on 3rd test period), incomplete data, wanting to do more than describe a behaviour

48
Q

What is random assignment?

A

All participants have an equal chance of being assigned 1 or 2 groups.

49
Q

What is a between-subjects design?

A

When only half the participants receive the manipulation (the other half is the control)

50
Q

What is a within subjects design?

A

All participants receive all levels of manipulation

51
Q

What are extraneous variables?

A

Any variable other than the IV that affects the DV

52
Q

What are nuisance variables?

A

Influences on the DV that affect all groups equally-makes it harder to see an effect

53
Q

What are confounds?

A

Influences on the DV that systematically differ between conditions (renders findings meaningless)

54
Q

What are some examples of extraneous variables?

A

Time of day, delivery of information, setting, temperature.

55
Q

What is the placebo effect?

A

Improvement from the mere expectation of improvement

56
Q

What is an expectancy effect?

A

When the experimenters expectation influences the outcome

57
Q

What are demand characteristics?

A

Cues participants pick up on that make them behave differently.

58
Q

What is a double-blind experiment?

A

Neither the researcher nor the participant knows what group they’re in. Can help to remove the experimenter from certain steps

59
Q

What is internal validity?

A

Extent to which research yields clear causal info- caused the effects obtained on the dependent variable.

60
Q

What is one of the main threats to internal validity?

A

Extraneous variables (confounds in particular)

61
Q

What is external validity?

A

The extent to which results can be generalized

62
Q

What are field experiments?

A

Experiments conducted in the real world

63
Q

What are some advantages and disadvantages to field experiments?

A

Advantage-people act naturally

Disadvantage- Less control

64
Q

What is experimental realism and how do we keep it real?

A

When people become more comfortable due to the situation feeling real in an experiment. Achieve this through cover stories.

65
Q

What is mundane realism?

A

If it looks and feels like the real world

66
Q

What are single factor experiments?

A

Simple designs, ask one question, usually with a yes or no answer.

67
Q

What are multi-factor experiments?

A

More than one independent variable. Can be main effects-effect of each IV, or interaction effects-effects of one IV on another.

68
Q

What is deception?

A

Providing participants with false info

69
Q

Why would we use deception?

A

To add realism

70
Q

What are confederates and why would we use them?

A

People who act like participants. Use them to help with expectancy effects, and also to study conforming

71
Q

What must you pass in order to have ethical clearance?

A

REB (research ethics board)

72
Q

What are some things that ensure a study is ethical?

A

No harm to participants, informed consent, know what you’re getting into, avoid deception IF Possible, debriefing, education, dehoaxing, desensitizing.

73
Q

What is an advantage of survey research?

A

Can ask questions about things that are too unethical to be tested in a lab

Psyc 345 (6 decks)

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