Unit 1- Research Methods Flashcards
Descriptive Research Methods
Describes data
Case Study
Extremely rare. Focuses on one person and goes in depth
Naturalistic Observation
Observing and recording behavior in naturally occurring situations without medaling or changing anything
Survey
Obtaining self reported behavior via questionnaire
Correlation Research Method
Predicts data. Collects a set of facts and organizes it into 2+ categories to find relations.
Positive Correlation
When data varies in the same direction
Negative Correlation
When data varies in different directions
Third Variable
An uncontrolled factor creates a false casualty
Illusionary Correlation
Perception of a relationship when there is not one
Experimental Research Method
Trying to isolate cause and effect
Experimental Group
Receives treatment
Control Group
Does not receive treatment
Double Blind
When both researchers and participants don’t know who’s in either group
Single Blind
When only the Psychologists know which group is control and which is experimental
Random Assignment
When participants are randomly assigned to either group. (number generator or from a hat, etc)
Placebo
A fake treatment
Placebo Effect
Based on expectations alone, thinking you got medicine and feeling better when you didn’t get medicine.
Independent Variables
The factors being manipulated
Dependent Variables
The factors that change depending on the independent variable. (being measured)
Confounding Variables
Outside factors affecting a study’s results
Operational Definition
Specifically defining the variables and how they will be measured
Meta Analysis
Combining and analyzing data from many sources in one research study
Empirical Evidence
Relies on experimental objective (EX: guess the animal)
Hindsight Bias
Thinking information is less surprising once you already know the information
Overconfidence
Thinking you know more than you do
Replication
Recreating a research study by testing the same idea with different participants and situations to see if the results are the same
Sampling Bias
Chosen sample doesn’t represent the entire population
Experimenter Bias
Researcher unintentionally influences results of the study
Social Desirability
Participants fudge their answers to seem more socially accepted
Self Report Bias
Data collected via personal accounts
