IB Psych Research Methods

Empirical

uses objective, operational definitions, observable, concrete evidence based on scientific method

operational definitions

defining variables in a specific, measurable way

inter-rater reliability

2+ researchers measure the variables and make similar conclusions

test-retest

same group of participants do the same study and should have similar results

replicable

other researchers who conduct the study should have the same or similar results

Internal (face) validity

are confounding variables controlled for? did the IV cause a change in the DV?

external validity

can the results be generalized?

ecological validity

do results apply to other real-world settings/situations?

construct validity

how well are the ideas (constructs) operationalized?

temporal validity

do the findings still apply today?

demand characteristics

when participants act differently

hawthorne effect

participants act to please the researcher, meet expectations

screw you effect

participants want to purposely mess up the experiment

APA Ethical Guidelines

Informed Consent, Deception (justified), Protect from Risk and Harm, Anonymity/Confidentiality, Debriefing, Freedom from Coercion, Humane treatment of Animals

Target Population

population you want to study

random sample

each member has an equal chance of inclusion

convenience sample

choose participants who are easily available

representative sample

participants have demographics that reflect the population

self-selected sample

participants volunteer to be in the study

generalizability

do the results apply to the population? (external validity)

quantitative

numerical, objective, cause-effect relationship

qualitative

narrative data, stories, descriptions

independent variables

manipulated by the researcher (cause)

dependent variable

measured (the effect)

control group

does not receive the IV

experimental group

receives the IV

Independent Measures Design

participants are assigned to 2 different groups and tested (use random assignment to control for confounding variables)

Repeated Measures Design

same group of participants is used for each condition

Confounding variables

any variable that is uncontrolled for and could affect the IV or DV

random assignment

equal chance of being put into the experimental and control conditions to minimize confounding variables

single-blind design

participants don’t know which group they are in

double-blind design

both participants and researchers don’t know which group they are in

placebo effect

our mind makes the dose - the effect of non-effective treatments due to our beliefs

quasi-experiments

does not use random assignment because it is unethical or impossible; can’t infer cause and effect

Experiments

can determine cause and effect, but low ecological validity and time consuming

Case studies

detailed, allowed researchers to go in-depth with rare phenomena, but not generalizable and may not be ethical

Naturalistic observation

high ecological validity, but low control and cannot determine causation (many confounding variables)

positive correlation

variables move in the same direction

negative correlation

variables move in opposite directions

correlation coefficient

sign tells you positive or negative; the greater the absolute value of the number, the stronger the correlation

ethnocentric

centered around a specific cultural group

androcentric

centered on males

gynocentric

centered on females