Unit 1: Part 2: How is Psychological Research Conducted

Question 1

Anchoring Bias

Answer 1

rely too heavily to the first piece of information we get when making a decisions (can lead to ignoring other factors)

Question 2

Confirmation Bias

Answer 2

seeking out information to confirm our existing beliefs

Question 3

Hindsight Bias

Answer 3

“I knew it all along” phenomenon

Question 4

Operational Definition

Answer 4

a carefully worded statement of the exact procedure used in a research study (needed for replication)

Question 5

Descriptive Methods

Answer 5

describe but do not explain behaviors

Question 6

Purpose of a Case Study

Answer 6

study of one incident or person in depth to see if there is a universal truth that allows us to generalize

Question 7

Strengths of a Case Study

Answer 7

provides a full picture, chronological data, different views on the subject

Question 8

Weaknesses of a Case Study

Answer 8

Time consuming, expensive, occurs after-the-fact, can’t assume causality, might not be able to generalize

Question 9

Purpose of Naturalistic Observation

Answer 9

watching behavior occur naturally without manipulating variable on environment

Question 10

Observer Effect

Answer 10

subject may behave differently if they know they’re being watched

Question 11

Strengths of Naturalistic Observation

Answer 11

authentic data, can’t react to observer’s presence if they don’t know they’re being watched, possibly allows for “real” treatment

Question 12

Weaknesses of Naturalistic Observation

Answer 12

Ethics of informed consent, lack of “control” - observer doesn’t really know what they’re watching for, only descriptions - not explanations

Question 13

Purpose of Surveys

Answer 13

gain self reported attitudes about what people think and have done

Question 14

Steps to a Random Survey

Answer 14

1. Define population
2. Choose your sample size
3. List the population
4. Assign numbers to the units
5. Find random numbers
6. Select your samples

Question 15

Correlation

Answer 15

reveals relationships but does NOT explains them; does NOT equal causation

Question 16

Correlation Coefficient (r)

Answer 16

explains strength and direction of correlation (r = +1.00, r = -1.00, r = 0)

Question 17

Illusory Correlation

Answer 17

the appearance of a relationship that in reality does not exist

Question 18

Experimental Studies

Answer 18

one variable is manipulated to determine its effect on another variable

Question 19

Purpose of an Experiment

Answer 19

used to determine cause and effect

Question 20

Independent Variable

Answer 20

changing

Question 21

Dependent Variable

Answer 21

effected by the change

Question 22

Strengths of Experiments

Answer 22

operationally defined and in-depth; measures cause and effect

Question 23

Weaknesses of Experiments

Answer 23

timeliness, needs replication, working with behavior - confounding variables

Question 24

Confounding Variable

Answer 24

other variables that might affect the DV

Question 25

Control Group

Answer 25

gets the placebo; NOT exposed to the IV

Question 26

Experimental Group

Answer 26

gets the IV; it’s manipulated

Question 27

Placebo Effect

Answer 27

expectation that a substance or action given during the experiment has a real effect

Question 28

Single-Blind

Answer 28

participants do not know which group they’ve been assigned to, but experimenter does

Question 29

Double-Blind

Answer 29

neither participants nor the experimenter know which group participants are in

Question 30

Cross-Sectional

Answer 30

compare differences and similarities among people of different ages at a given time

Question 31

Longitudial Study

Answer 31

a group observed at intervals over an extended period of time

Question 32

Statistics

Answer 32

allow us to measure variables and interpret results

Question 33

Descriptive Statistics

Answer 33

1. Numerical data used to measure and describe characteristics of group/sample
2. Histograms/bar charts
3. Measures of central tendency
4. Measures of Variations

Question 34

Inferential Statistics

Answer 34

1. Numerical data that allows one to DRAW CONCLUSIONS from sample to larger populations
2. statistical significance (“p<=.05)
3. Less than 5% chance probability that the results were due to chance

Question 35

Histogram

Answer 35

shows distribution of variables, qualitative data, bars can’t be reordered

Question 36

Bar Chart

Answer 36

compares variables, categorical data, bars can be reordered

Question 37

Range

Answer 37

variation between the highest and lowest value

Question 38

Standard Deviation

Answer 38

how similar or diverse the scores are from the average; Bell Curve

Question 39

Statistical Significance

Answer 39

how likely it is that an obtained result occurred by chance

Question 40

Coercion (Humans)

Answer 40

participation must be voluntary

Question 41

Informed (Humans)

Answer 41

Consent; must know they are being involved in research

Question 42

Privacy (Humans)

Answer 42

privacy must be protected

Question 43

Risk (Humans)

Answer 43

No significant mental or physical risk

Question 44

Purpose (Animals)

Answer 44

research must answer a specific scientific question

Question 45

Care (Animals)

Answer 45

Animals must be cared for and housed in a human way

Question 46

Acquisition (Animals)

Answer 46

must get animals legally

Question 47

Design (Animals)

Answer 47

must cause the least amount of suffering

Question 48

Debriefing Procedures (Humans)

Answer 48

must inform participants of result of research findings