Unit 2

Question 1

What are the five general steps in a scientific investigation? (5)

Answer 1

1. Formulate a testable hypothesis
2. Design the study
3. Collect the data
4. Analyze the data
5. Report the findings

Question 2

What are two advantages of the scientific method? (2)

Answer 2

1. Clarity and precision yield better results, for both replicability and validity and reliability
2. Minimizes errors which again makes data more reliable

Question 3

What are the elements of experimental research? (5)

Answer 3

1. independent variable
2. Dependent variable
3. Experimental group
4. Control group
5. Extraneous variables

Question 4

What are the advantages of experimental research?

Answer 4

-permits conclusions about cause and effect

Question 5

What are the two disadvantages of experimental research? (2)

Answer 5

1. Manipulations and control often make experiments artificial
2. Practicalities and ethics make much research undoable

Question 6

What makes something a description/correlational research method?

Answer 6

-researchers cannot manipulate the variables under study, thus no cause and effect

Question 7

What is correlation? Describe the two types. (3)

Answer 7

-correlation exists when two variables are related to each other
Positive correlation: when one variable increases, the other does too
Negative correlation: when one variable increases the other decreases

Question 8

What are three examples of correlational descriptive methods? (3)

Answer 8

-naturalistic observation
-case study
-survey

Question 9

What is an advantage of descriptive/correlational research?

Answer 9

-broadens the things psychologists can study

Question 10

What is a disadvantage of descriptive research?

Answer 10

-cannot demonstrate causation, just correlation

Question 11

What are four common flaws in research? (4)

Answer 11

-sampling bias
-placebo effects
-distortions in self-report data
-experimenter bias

Question 12

What is sampling bias?

Answer 12

-when a sample is not representative of its population

Question 13

What is the placebo effect?

Answer 13

-when participants expectations lead them to experience some change, even though they receive empty or fake treatment

Question 14

What are distortions in self-report data?

Answer 14

-social desirability bias and halo effects, when participants give verbal accounts of their behavior

Question 15

What is the social desirability bias?

Answer 15

-individuals answer questions in a way they believe will be viewed favorably by others, rather than how they truly feel or behave

Question 16

What is the halo effect?

Answer 16

-where an observer’s overall impression of a person, company, or product influences their judgments about specific traits or characteristics of that entity

Question 17

What is experimenters bias?

Answer 17

-when a researcher’s expectations or preferences about the outcome of a study influence the results obtained

Question 18

What is the purpose of random assignment?

Answer 18

-Researchers can be reasonably confident that the groups will be similar in most ways if they randomly assign participants

Question 19

What are response sets?

Answer 19

-patterns in how people answer questions, like saying yes when surveys ask I enjoy outdoor activities or I prefer to stay indoors simultaneously

Question 20

What is between-subject design?

Answer 20

-When comparisons are made between two different groups of subjects

Question 21

What is within subject design?

Answer 21

-When participants serve as their own control group

Question 22

What are descriptive statistics?

Answer 22

-summarizing and describing data in a straightforward manner

Question 23

What are inferential statistics?

Answer 23

-to make inferences or generalizations about a population based on a sample of data

Question 24

What are central tendency measurements?

Answer 24

-mean, median, and mode

Question 25

What are variability measurements?

Answer 25

-standard deviation