Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

AP Psychology > Unit II - Research Methods > Flashcards

Unit II - Research Methods Flashcards

You may prefer our related Brainscape-certified flashcards:
AP® Psychology flashcards Psychology 101 flashcards GRE® Psychology flashcards
1
Q

What are science based answers?

A

Repetition of statements makes them easier to remember… and more…TRUE seeming.

Research helps us overturn popular ideas.

Just because we’ve heard something many times, it doesn’t mean it is true.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What is the hindsight bias?

A

The tendency to believe, after learning an outcome, that we would have foreseen it

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Give an example of hindsight bias

A

“We knew it all along”

Outcome determines the bias

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What is overconfidence?

A

The tendency to think we know more than we do

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Give an example of overconfidence

A

British expert group claiming to never need the telephone

Computers will forever stay heavy

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

What is perceived order in random events

A

Random sequences don’t look random

In our natural eagerness to make sense of an unpredictable world, we are prone to perceive patterns.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Give an example of perceived order in random events

A

Rolling a dice

Flipping a coin

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

What are the three roadblocks to critical thinking?

A

Hindsight bias
Overconfidence
Perceiving patterns in random events

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Why use the scientific method?

A

Used to support scientific attitude

Self-correcting process using observation and analysis
to evaluate ideas

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

What is a theory?

A

an explanation using
an integrated set of principles
that organizes observations and
predicts behaviors or events

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

If we observe over and over that a classmate who gets plenty of sleep is usually the one with the right answer…

Then a theory based on this observation is

A

Sleep must improve memory

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

What is a hypothesis?

A

Testable prediction often implied by a theory

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

To test our theory of sleep’s effects on memory,

The hypothesis would be…

A

when sleep deprived, people will

remember less from the day before.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Theory vs hypothesis

A

Theory uses our observation to explain behavior while hypothesis uses predictions about behavior that can be tested

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

“Rat is always right”

Research

A

The results of our experiment will
either support our theory or
lead us to revise or reject it.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

What is an operational definition?

A

A carefully worded statement of
the exact procedures (operations)
used in a research study.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

Create an operational definition for “human intelligence”

A

Human intelligence is the score a person achieve on an IQ test

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

After creating an operational definition, …

A

The variable would then need to be quantified

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

Why is an operational definition important?

A

REPLICATION

is CONFIRMATION

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

How can we test hypotheses and refine theories?

CDE

A

Descriptive method
Correlational method
Experimental method

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

What are three descriptive methods?

CNS

A

Case studies
Naturalistic observation
Surveys & interviews

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

What is a case study?

A

A descriptive technique in which one individual

or group is studied in depth in the hope of revealing universal principles.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

Give examples of case studies.

A

One individual
Patient H.M.
Little Hans
Genie (the feral child)

One group
University of Tennessee women’s basketball team
Prison inmates in a group therapy study

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

What are strengths of case study?

A

Allow for examination of rare or unusual behavior.

Provide a large amount of qualitative data.

Suggest directions
for further study.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
Q

What are weaknesses of case studies?

A

Atypical case studies can be misleading.

Results from one study may not be generalizable to the larger group.

Cannot determine cause and effect.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
26
Q

What is a naturalistic observation?

A 
A descriptive technique of observing
and recording behavior in
naturally occurring situations
without trying to manipulate or
control the situation.
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
27
Q

Give examples of naturalistic observation.

A

Watching chimpanzees in the jungle
Tracking conversations in college students
Counting positive and negative words in Twitter messages

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
28
Q

What are the strengths of naturalistic observations?

A

Subjects behave “normally” outside of a lab setting.

Data collection is unobtrusive (doesn’t disturb the subject).

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
29
Q

What are the weaknesses of naturalistic observations?

A

Independent variable cannot be isolated.

Cannot determine cause and effect.

Observations by researchers may be subjective.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
30
Q

What is a survey?

A

A descriptive technique for obtaining the self-reported attitudes or behaviors of a particular group, usually by questioning a representative, random sample of the group

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
31
Q

Give an example of survey.

A

68% of all humans say that religion is important in their daily lives.

1 in 5 people across 22 countries report believing that alien beings have come to Earth and now walk among us disguised as humans.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
32
Q

What are strengths of the survey method?

A

able to take a “quick pulse” of people’s beliefs, behaviors or opinions

able to include many cases

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
33
Q

What are the weaknesses of the survey method?

A

response bias
wording effects can skew the outcomes
acquiring a random sample is difficult
cannot determine cause and effect

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
34
Q

How does wording effects impact targeted audience?

A

“Do you support aid to the needy?”
vs
“Do you support welfare?”
first statement more favored

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
35
Q

Sampling bias occur when…

A

The sample surveyed is not representative of the population based on location and demographics

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
36
Q

What is a population?

A

All those in a group being studied from which samples may be drawn

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
37
Q

What is a random sample?

A 
A sample that
fairly represents a population
because each member 
has an
equal chance 
of inclusion.
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
38
Q

What is a correlation between two things?

A

a measure of the extent to which two factors vary together, and how well either factor predicts the other.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
39
Q

Give examples of correlations.

A

Smoking and lung cancer

GPA and study skills

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
40
Q

What is a positive correlation?

A

Two sets of data tend to rise or fall together
r = .01 to +1.0
One variable increases as the other variable also increases

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
41
Q

What is a negative correlation?

A

One set of data rises while the other falls
r = -.01 to -1.0.
One variable increases as the other variable decreases or vice versa

42
Q

Give an example of positive correlation.

A

College graduation and income levels

43
Q

Give an example of negative correlation.

A

Age and amount of nightly sleep

44
Q

How do we measure correlations?

A

correlation coefficient: a statistical index of the relationship between two variables.

45
Q

What is a scatterplot?

A

A graphed cluster of dots, each of which represents the values of two variables

46
Q

What is important to remember about correlation coefficients?

A

A correlation coefficient, which can range
from -1.0 to +1.0
reveals the extent to which two things relate.

The closer the score gets to +1 or -1, the
stronger the correlation.

47
Q

What are illusory correlations?

A

Perceiving a relationship where none exists.

Or perceiving a stronger-than-actual relationship.

48
Q

What is regression to the mean?

A

The tendency for extreme scores or events to fall back toward the average.

49
Q

Give an example of illusory correlations.

A

A sports fan wears a blue jersey the day her team wins and she decides to wear that blue jersey on game days from now on although the jersey had no impact on the score.

50
Q

Give an example of regression to the mean.

A

A student scores much lower than normal on an exam. On future exams, the student’s scores return to their average.

51
Q

How do correlations help us to predict events?

A

Self esteem correlates negatively with and therefore predict depression. Lower the self esteem the greater risk for depression.

52
Q

Correlation does not imply or prove causation.

A

Although mental illness correlates with smoking, one variable does not implies or prove the other.

53
Q

How can experiments establish cause and effect?

A

Researchers are able to isolate the effects of one or more factors by manipulating the factors of interest and holding constant other factors

54
Q

What is an example of an experiment that shows cause and effect?

A

Does breast feeding lead to smarter children?

55
Q

What is the experimental group?

A

Those who receive the treatment

56
Q

What is the control group?

A

Those who do not receive the treatment

57
Q

What is random assignment?

A 
Assigning participants 
to experimental and
control groups 
by chance, thus
minimizing preexisting differences
between the different groups.
58
Q

Why does random assignment help establish cause and effect?

A

In order to control confounding variables, experimenters randomly assign subjects to the experimental
and
control group.

59
Q

What is random sampling?

A

Choosing a representative sample of the population being studied.

Allows the results to be generalized to the population as a whole

60
Q

What is random assignment?

A

Assigning the participants to the experimental or control group by chance.

Minimizes pre-existing differences between the two groups.

61
Q

What is a single blind experiment?

A

The participants in the study are uninformed about the treatment, if any, they are receiving.

Controls for subject response bias and placebo effect.

62
Q

What is a double blind experiment?

A

The participants and the researcher are uninformed about which group receives the treatment and which does not.

Controls for experimenter and subject bias as well as placebo effect.

63
Q

What is a placebo?

A

an inert treatment…like a pill without any medication inside.

64
Q

What is the placebo effect?

A

The placebo effect causes experimental results simply from expectations or assumptions that medication is being taken.

65
Q

Give an example of placebo effect.

A

Athletes have run faster when given a supposed performance-enhancing drug.
(McClung & Collins, 2007)

66
Q

What is an independent variable?

A

In an experiment, the factor that is manipulated; the variable whose effect is being studied.

Only given to experimental group

67
Q

What is a dependent variable?

A

In an experiment, the
outcome that is measured; the variable that may
change when the independent variable is manipulated.

Measured in both group

68
Q

What is a confounding variable?

A

A factor
other than the factor being studied
that might influence a study’s results

A variable cannot be confounding if it occurs
to the same degree in both groups.

69
Q

How to prevent confounding variables

A

Random assignment

70
Q

Give examples of confounding variables.

A 
Age
IQ
Ethnicity
Sex
Political beliefs
71
Q

What is experimental validity?

A

The extent to which a
test or experiment measures or
predicts what it is supposed to.

72
Q

Give an example of experimental validity.

A

if you take a driving test and pass it, we should expect to see accurate driving skills from you.

The driving test would be considered a valid measure of your ability to drive.

73
Q

How to decide which research design to use

HDVR

A

Generate a testable hypothesis
Consider the best research design
Measure the variables
Interpret the results

74
Q

How can simplified laboratory conditions illuminate every day life?

A

specific findings

theoretical principles

75
Q

Why do psychologists study animals?

FTS

A

Fascinating to study

Teach us about humans

Simpler systems

76
Q

What ethical guidelines safeguard animal research subjects?

A 
Reasonable housing conditions
Socialization
Humane and healthy care
Minimal discomfort
Screen research proposals
Inspected labs
77
Q

How have animals benefited from animal research?

A

Enrich animal environments
Reducing “learned helplessness” of captivity
Giving animals more choices

78
Q

What ethical guidelines safeguard human research participants?
(CIDPW)

A 
Informed consent
Protection from harm
Debriefing
Right to withdraw
Confidential
79
Q

What is consent?

A

Willingness to participate in an experiment

80
Q

What is informed consent?

A

Willingness to participate in an experiment after being informed of possible harm

81
Q

What is debriefing necessary?

A

Deception- some experiments have true purposes that can’t be exposed

Participants debriefed at end of experiment about true purpose

82
Q

How does values affect psychology?

A

Psychologists’ values influence their choice of research topics, their theories, observations, their labels for behavior, and their professional advice.

Applications of psychology’s principles have been used mainly in the service of humanity.

83
Q

Why do we need statistics?

A

Tools that allow researchers to measure variables/interpret results

STATISTICAL LITERACY

84
Q

What is descriptive statistics?

A

Numerical data used to measure/describe characteristics of groups

Mean, median, mode, range, SD

85
Q

What is the mean?

A

The mathematical average of a set of numbers. Add the scores and divide by the number (N) of scores.

86
Q

What is the median?

A

The middle score in a distribution. Arrange scores from highest to lowest with half of the data above and half below this number.

87
Q

What is the mode?

A

The most frequently occurring data point in a distribution.

88
Q

Why is mean not always the best descriptor of data?

A

Outliers can skew the data making it deceptive

89
Q

What is a skewed distribution?

A

Most of the data fall on one side with few data point on the other

90
Q

How does an outlier skew a distribution?

A

When one data point is extremely different from the others, this is called an outlier and can skew the results.

91
Q

Median is a better descriptor of data when…

A

mean is impacted by outliers

92
Q

How is the range used as a measure of variation?

A

Knowing the variation of data helps use predict future events

93
Q

What is the range?

A

the difference between the highest and lowest scores in a distribution.

94
Q

What is the standard deviation?

A

Computed measure of how much data vary around the mean score

95
Q

How is the standard deviation used as a measure of variation?

A

Shows whether scores are packed together or dispersed

96
Q

How to calculate standard deviation

A

Calculate the mean

For each data point: subtract the mean and square the result.

Calculate the mean of all the squared differences.

Take the square root of the sum.

97
Q

What is a normal distribution?

A

a symmetrical, bell-shaped curve that describes the distribution of many types of data; most scores fall near the mean and fewer and fewer near the extremes

98
Q

What are characteristics of normal distribution?

68-95-99 Rule

A

~68% of scores fall 1 standard deviation from the mean

~95% of scores fall 2 standard deviations from the mean

~99% of scores fall 3 standard deviations from the mean

99
Q

What are inferential statistics?

A

Numerical data that allow one to generalize—
to infer from sample data the
probability of something being
true of a population.

100
Q

When can results be generalized to the population at large?

RLS

A

Representative sample

Low variability

More cases with similar results

101
Q

What does statistical significance mean?

A

How likely it is that a result occurred by chance

Reported as a p value
less than 0.05 means that it is 95% likely the results did not occur by chance

AP Psychology (14 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2024 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions