unit 1b: research methods

Question 1

hindsight bias

Answer 1

the tendency to believe, after learning an outcome, that one would have foreseen it

Question 2

overconfidence

Answer 2

the tendency to think we know more than we do

Question 3

perceiving order in random events

Answer 3

due to our inherent need to organize, we tend to make order out of random events

Question 4

critical thinking

Answer 4

thinking that does not blindluy accept arguments and conclusions

Question 5

replicate

Answer 5

repeat the essence of a research study to see whether the basic findings extent to other participants & circumstances

Question 6

operational definition

Answer 6

a statement describing the exact procedures or methods used in a study

Question 7

descriptive test methods

Answer 7

to describe behaviors and test hypothesis. 3 types: case study, naturalistic observation, surveys

Question 8

case study method

Answer 8

an in-depth investigation on an individual or small group. provides detailed analysis but some cases may be atypical and too generalized

Question 9

naturalistic observation method

Answer 9

the study of behavior in naturally occurring situations without manipulation or control by the observer. the best way of getting descriptive data but doesn’t explain behavior

Question 10

survey method

Answer 10

search method that involves giving people questionnaires or interviews. provides a broad view of large groups but can have sampling errors or poorly phased questions

Question 11

cross-sectional studies

Answer 11

people of different ages are compared with one another

Question 12

longitudinal studies

Answer 12

the same people are retested and restudied over a long period

Question 13

positive correlation

Answer 13

indicates two variables moving in the same direction (ex. + and +, - and -)

Question 14

negative correlation

Answer 14

indicates two variables moving in opposite direction (ex. + and -, - and +)

Question 15

correlation strength

Answer 15

strongest correlation is closer to 1 (positive or negative)

Question 16

illusory correlations

Answer 16

the perception of a relationship where none exists

Question 17

experimental method

Answer 17

the only method of study that allows one to conclude a cause and effect relationship

Question 18

experimental group

Answer 18

the group that receives the experimental treatment (the independent variable)

Question 19

control group

Answer 19

the group that receives no treatment (no independent variable)

Question 20

random assignment

Answer 20

the procedure of placing subjects into the control & experimental groups entirely by chance. used to control individual differences between subjects. if not randomly assigned, it is not a true experiment

Question 21

single blind

Answer 21

experiment procedure in which only the participants are unaware of the experimental treatment

Question 22

double blind

Answer 22

both experimenters and participants are unaware of the experimental treatment, manipulation, or drug administered. prevents experimenter bias

Question 23

placebo

Answer 23

substance or treatment which is designed to have no therapeutic value

Question 24

placebo effect

Answer 24

remarkable phenomenon in which a placebo can sometimes improve a patient’s condition simply because the person has the expectation that it will be helpful

Question 25

independent variable

Answer 25

the variable manipulated/being tested

Question 26

dependent variale

Answer 26

the outcome that is emasured

Question 27

confounding/extraneous variable

Answer 27

any variable other than the independent variable that influences the dependent variable

Question 28

ethical guidelines for human participants in experiments

Answer 28

1. protect from physical or emotional harm
2. keep participants’ information confidential
3. obtain participant’s informed consent
4. fully debrief