WS13: Revision Flashcards
What’s the difference b/w describing and explaining events?
One is describing a rship b/w variables and the other is attempting to infer causality
6 stages of research process
- Finding a research idea
- From theory to hypothesis
- Defining & operationalising variables
- Identifying participants
- Research strategies (types of research)
- Research designs (b/w & within subject)
Describe the correlational research strategy
Examining the rship b/w 2 or more variables (strength/rship)
Describe the experimental strategy
Examining cause-effect relations using manipulation, measurement, comparison & control
Describe the quasi-experimental method
Typically compares grps/conditions defined by a non-manipulated variable e.g. Gender
What is a hypothesis?
- A statement that describes or explains a rship b/w or among variables
- a proposal to be tested or evaluated
What is a research hypothesis?
- a specific testable prediction
- refers to a specific situation or event that can be directly observed
What are the 4 aspects of a research hypothesis?
- Logical: flows from & and is consistent with past theory & research
- testable: all variables observable/measurable
- refutable: can be demonstrated to be wrong
- positive: proposes a rship or a difference b/w variables as opposed to no rship
What is meant by internal validity?
The extent to which a study produces a single, unambiguous explanation for the rship b/w 2 variables
What is meant by external validity?
The extent to which we can generalize factors outside of our study
What is an extraneous variable?
Any variable in a study other that the variables being studied
What is a confounding variable?
An extraneous variable that changes systematically along with the IV & has the potential to influence the DV
What do you need to consider for cause and effect relationships?
- manipulation: manipulating a variable to create 2 or more treatment conditions
- measurement: measuring scores in each treatment condition
- comparison: comparing treatment condition scores
- control: controlling other variables that may influence the 2 variables being examined
What is meant by the directionality problem is correlational research?
A & B correlate: A causes B or B causes A
What is meant by the third-variable problem in correlational research?
A & B correlate: relation caused by C.
Don’t forget triangular diagram
What is meant by holding constant?
Standardizing an extraneous variable across all treatment conditions (eg same time of day)
What is meant by matching?
Balancing levels of the variable across treatment conditions
What is meant by randomization and random assignment?
Disrupting systematic relationships between variables; equal chance of assignment per condition
What is meant by control group
A condition that involves no-treatment/placebo
What is meant by manipulation check?
A measure used to assess the effect of the manipulation
