Research Methods in IO Psychology (Chap 2)

Question 1

Three goals of psychology

Answer 1

1. describe (job analysis)
2. predict (selection)
3. explain (culture)

Question 2

Three types of scientific research

Answer 2

1. empirical
2. testable / falsifiable
3. rational

Question 3

Eight steps of scientific method

Answer 3

1. state the problem / hypotheses
2. review past research
3. design a study
4. collect data (IMPORTANT in IO)
5. analyze data
6. interpret results
7. revise / replicate (often skipped in IO)
8. implement (applied step)

Question 4

four types of data collected

Answer 4

1. self report
2. test data
3. observer report
4. life data / naturally collected data (data mining)

Question 5

self report (pros and cons)

Answer 5

data given by self - questions, interview, survey

• pros: cheap, time, info only you yourself has
• cons: false report (intentional or unintentional)

Question 6

test data (pros and cons)

Answer 6

data collected through testing - testing situation, validated standard test
- pros: same environment, standardized = compare, decreases biases

Question 7

observer report (pros and cons)

Answer 7

data collected by having someone else observe and report (opposite of self report)

• pros: diff skill set than self (specialist possibly), diff perspective
• cons: setting (hawthorne), BIASES of observer

Question 8

life data / naturally collected data (data mining) (pros and cons)

Answer 8

data collected naturally throughout our lives - attendance, sales, gpa, speeding tickets etc.

• pros: natural, convenient (already there)
• cons: organizations don’t like to give this info out (trust issue), access, confound, limited

Question 9

Meta Analysis (def)

Answer 9

a study that uses data from other empirical studies and combines them to come up with overall conclusions

Question 10

validity (def)

Answer 10

study measures what it is supposed to measure

Question 11

reliability

Answer 11

test retest, internal rater

Question 12

two global design dimensions

Answer 12

1. naturalness of research setting
2. degree of control
   - manipulation of variables
   - confounding variables

• more natural = less control
• more control = less natural
• • tend to be opposites but not always

Question 13

three basic methods used in IO research

Answer 13

1. lab experiment (best)
2. field experiment or quasi experiment
3. field study or non-experimental study (worst)

Question 14

field study / non-experimental study (pros and cons)

Answer 14

survey, observation, correlation studies

• no manipulation
• little control
• pros:
  
  • realistic - more applicable to other situations / natural setting
  • easy / quick / cheap
  • large number of data
• cons:
  
  • bias -> no cause and effect

Question 15

Field experiment / quasi experiment (pros and cons)

Answer 15

• manipulation
• random assignment or random selection (typically don’t have both, sometimes neither) -> natural groups
• pros:
  
  • more natural than lab setting
  • cause and effect (because of manipulation)
  • easier than lab (quick, cheaper, etc)
    
    • > convenience sample
• cons:
  
  • not as easy to replicate as a lab experiment
  • control
    
    • > confounds - cannot assume groups were the same at the beginning of the experiment
    • > study
  • attrition - major issue here (problem in general with all studies)

Question 16

Laboratory (“true”) experiment (pros and cons)

Answer 16

• manipulation
• random assignment
• random selection
• control
• pros:
  
  • determine cause and effect (because of manipulation)
  • replication
  • theory testing
• cons:
  
  • expensive
  • time consuming
  • deception
  • setting (not as naturalistic) = validity