Lesson 3: Scientific Methodology

non-experimental methods include…

case studies, naturalistic observations, and surveys

non-experimental methods allow researches to…

gather data but not to make casual inferences

experimental methods allow researchers to…

establish casual explanations for observed phenomena

population

all those in a group being studied, from which random samples may be drawn

sampling bias

flawed sampling process that produces an unrepresentative sample

random sample

sample that fairly represents a population because each member has an equal chance of inclusion

self-report bias

bias that results when people report their behavior inaccurately

falsifiability

possibility that an idea, a hypothesis, or a theory can be disproven by observation or experiment

case study

in-depth analysis of individuals or small groups

naturalistic observation

non-experimental technique in which one individual or group is studied in the hope of revealing universal principles

peer reviewers

scientific experts who evaluate a research article’s theory, originality, and accuracy

replication

repeating the essence of a research study, usually with different participants in different situations, to see whether the basic finding can be reproduced

operational definition

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

hypothesis

testable prediction, often implied by a theory

social desirability bias

bias that results from people responding in ways they presume a researcher expects or wishes

theory

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

survey

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

non-experimental method

way of studying subjects that involves observing and describing behavior

scientific method

self-correcting process for evaluating ideas with observation and analysis

metacognition

having awareness of one’s own mental or learning processes