Research Methods in Psychology Flashcards
Theory
A systematic way of organizing and explaining observations, which includes a set of propositions or statements about the relationship among various phenomena.
Hypothesis
A tentative belief about the relationship between two or more variables.
Variable
Any phenomena that can differ or vary from one situation to another or from one person to another
Continuous variable
A variable that can be places on a continuum
Categorical variable
Any variable that can be placed into categories
Standardized procedures
Expose the participants in the study to as similar procedures as possible.
Population
A larger group to whom research findings should be applicable - all the information that we are interested in
Sample
A subset of the population, ideally representative
Representative
Similar enough to other members of the population so that conclusions can be made from the sample, that are likely to be true of the population.
Participants (or subjects)
Individuals who provide informed consent to participate in a study.
Generalisability
The applicability of the findings to the entire population
Sampling bias
Sample is not representative of the population for a varied amount of reasons
Valid
- Employ methods that convincingly test the hypothesis. 2. Conditions must be able to be replicated outside of the lab (external validity)
Internal validity
The validity of the design itself.
Measure
A concrete way of assessing a variable - bringing an abstract concept down to earth.
Reliability
The measures ability to produce consistent results.
Retest reliability
The tendency of a test to yield relatively similar scores for the same individual over time.
Internal consistency
Several ways of asking the question yield similar results.
Interrater reliability
If two different interviewers rate an individual on the same dimension, both should give the person similar scores.
Validity
The measures ability to asses the variable it is supposed to asses.
Validation
Demonstrating that a measure consistently relates to some objective criterion or to other measures that have already demonstrated their validity.
Error
A discrepancy between that phenomena as it is measured and the phenomena as it really is.
Scientific approach
Empirical methods to gain knowledge - this is the form that the study of psychology takes.
Description
Summarizing the data is a research to make events and their relationships easy to understand.
Prediction
Using the data from research to be able to predict what will happen in the future under that same circumstances.
Understanding
Identifying why that prediction will happen
Experimental research
Manipulation of some aspect of the study (IV) to examine the impact on the way to participants respond.
Independent variable
A variable that is manipulated - outside the participants control.
Conditions
Different possible variations of the independent variable.
Operationalising
Turning an abstract concept into a concrete variable. - making it applicable to every day life.
Control group
Not exposed to the experimental manipulation rather exposed to a neutral condition.
Demand characteristics
The ways participants perceptions of the researchers goals influence their response.
Blind studies
Participants ans sometimes researchers are kept unaware of the to important aspects of the study.
Placebo effect
Believing that a treatment is effective can sometimes prove as effective as the drug itself.
Single blind study
Participants are kept blind to crucial parts of the study.
Double blind study
Both participants and researchers are kept blind to the crucial elements of the study.
Confounding variable
Affects both the IV and the DV - producing effects that are confusing and confounding - the effects of the IV are compromised making causal conclusions impossible.
Descriptive statistics
Describing findings that summarises their essential features.
Inferential statistics
Drawing inference from a sample to a population as a whole.
Quasi-experimental design
Share the logic of experimental design though do not exert as much control over the variables - used when the study is impractical.
Descriptive research
Describe phenomena as they exist rather than manipulate variables.
Case study
An in depth observation of one person or small group of individuals.
Researcher bias (Observer bias)
Systematic errors in measurement related to the researcher seeing what they expect to see - related to case study method.
Naturalistic observation
An in depth observation of a phenomena is its natural setting.
Survey research
Asking questions of a large sample of people usually about their attitudes and behaviors.
Interviews
The asking of questions to a standard format usually to a larger sample
Questionnaires
Participants fill out themselves.
Random sample
The arbitrary selection of a sample from a population.
Stratified random sample
The random sampling of individuals from categories or strata.
Correlational research
Attempts to determine the degree to which two variables are related.
Correlate
The extent to which being high or low in one variable predicts being high or low in another variable.
Correlation coefficient
The extent to which the variables are related
Positive correlation
More of this means more of that.
Negative correlation
More of this means less of that
Correlation matrix
A table presenting the correlations of a number of variables.
Electroencephalogram (EEG)
Measures electrical activity towards the surface of the brain.
Neuroimaging techniques
Use computer programs to convert data taken from brain scanning devices into visual images of the brain.
Computerized axial tomography (CT scan or CAT scan)
Rotates an x-ray tube around a patients head taking x-ray images that are then a computer combines those into a composite visual image.
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
Neuroimaging technique that produces similar results without x-ray.
Positron emission tomography (PET)
Injection of small amounts of radioactive glucose that is tagged to into the bloodstream - the computer then shows the images of the areas that are tagged.
Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI)
The use of MRI whilst completing various tasks.
Informed consent
Participants understand the purpose of the investigation and the nature of the treatments - including what they will be expected to do.
Deception
Sometimes it is necessary to not fully explain the conditions of an experiment - Must be informed when the study is over.
Critical thinking
Carefully examining and analyzing information to judge its value as well as considering other views and explanations before accepting truthfullness of that information.
Open-mindedness
Considering all sides of an issue
Objectivity
An impartial and disinterested approach.
Skepticism
Always questioning assumptions or conclusions and analyzing whether the evidence presented supports the results.
Straw man approach
Deliberately attacking another argument in order to strengthen your own.
Appeals to popularity
The fallacy that a popular and widespread argument is true.
Appeals to authority
The fallacy that an argument must be true given the authority of the person making it.
Arguments directed to the person
Strengthening your own argument by attacking the author of another argument.
Context of discovery
Phenomena are observed, hypotheses framed, theories built.
Context of justification
Hypotheses are tested empirically.
