psychological Research methods

experimental vs non experimental methodology

experimental includes more than 1 person and sets up variables to test, non is just observing

non experimental methods

case study, correlational study, meta-analysis, naturalistic observation

case study

lot of research on one person

correlational study

looks for reaction between two things

meta-analysis

study many different studies on the same topic

naturalistic observation

observing someone without them knowing

generalizability

how results of a study can be applied to other groups

operational definition

a precise measurable description of a concept that is observed or tested in a study

independent vs dependent

independent is changed by researcher, depended is measured and is the outcome

confounding variable

influences 2 variables, causes two things to be linked together

control group vs experimental

control does not change and stays normal, experimental is the variable that is experimented. They are both compared in the end

random assignment in experiment

chance is used to put people into either control or experimental group (equal chance)

single-blind study

students don’t know if they’re in control or experimental group, but researchers do

double-blind study

both researchers and students don’t know who is in what group

social desirability bias

participants mess up data to make themselves look better

quantitative vs qualitative

measured in numbers, measured in words

directionality problem

relationship found between 2 variables, don’t know which causes which, messes up control group since you don’t know which is control variable

difference between informed consent and informed asset

consent means explaining an experiment to get permission, informed means a guardian gives their child permission

ways in which researchers can make sure a study is ethical

get consent, give right to withdraw, make as safe as possible, keep data confident, keep names anonymous, debrief participants

confederate

an actor places into an experiment who pretends to be a normal part of it