Key Concepts in Research Psychology

These flashcards cover essential terminology and concepts related to research methods in psychology, emphasizing definitions and examples.

Empiricism

A method of gaining knowledge through observation and experience.

Rationalism

The theory that reason rather than experience is the foundation of certainty in knowledge.

Tenacity

Holding onto beliefs regardless of evidence or rationality.

Intuition

Understanding something instinctively, without the need for conscious reasoning.

Authority

Believing information based on the credibility of the source rather than evidence.

Parsimony

Simplifying explanations by choosing the simplest one that requires the least assumptions.

Falsifiability

The principle that a claim must be able to be disproven to be considered scientific.

Physical Determinism

The assumption that behavior is determined by physical causes.

Idol of the Tribe

A belief that humans have based on common beliefs rather than objective truth.

Idol of the Cave

Personal biases that influence one's perception of truth.

Utilitarianism

The doctrine that actions are right if they benefit the majority.

Principle of Rights

The ethical notion that individual rights should not be violated for the sake of greater good.

Institutional Review Board (IRB)

A committee that reviews research proposals to ensure ethical standards are met.

Informed Consent

A process for getting permission before conducting a healthcare intervention on a person.

Deception by Commission

Intentionally misleading participants about the true nature of the study.

Debriefing

An explanation of the study's purpose and methods after the experiment is completed.

Speciesism

The assumption of human superiority leading to the exploitation of other species.

Independent Variable (IV)

The variable that is manipulated to observe its effect.

Dependent Variable (DV)

The variable that is measured to see if it is affected by the IV.

Operational Definition

Defining a concept in measurable terms.

Nominal Scale

A scale where data can be categorized but not ordered.

Ordinal Scale

A scale that provides a rank order among items.

Interval Scale

A scale with ordered categories that have equal distances between them.

Ratio Scale

A scale that has a true zero point, allowing for the comparison of absolute magnitudes.

Reliability

The consistency of a measure across time or different observers.

Validity

The degree to which a tool measures what it is intended to measure.

Naturalistic Observation

Observing behavior in its natural context without interference.

Case Study

An in-depth analysis of an individual case or situation.

Survey Design

A research method that involves gathering information from participants through questionnaires.

Archival Design

Research that uses existing records or data to investigate a research query.

Correlational Design

A study that explores the relationship between two variables.

Quasi-Experiment

A type of research that compares groups without random assignment.

Third Variable Problem

An issue that arises when an external factor influences both the independent and dependent variables, clouding the results.

External Validity

The extent to which results can be generalized beyond the study context.

Volunteerism (Sampling Bias)

A bias that occurs when only individuals who willingly participate are included in a study.

True Experiment

An experiment that involves random assignment to groups to test the effects of an independent variable.

Random Assignment

A method used in experimental research to ensure that every participant has an equal chance of being assigned to any group.

Internal Validity

The extent to which the results of an experiment can confidently be attributed to the effects of the independent variable.

Confound

A factor other than the independent variable that might produce an effect in an experiment.

Between-Subjects Design

An experimental design where different groups are used for each condition.

Within-Subjects (Repeated Measures) Design

A research design in which the same participants are used in all conditions.

Single-N Design (ABA Reversal)

A type of case study that examines the effects of a treatment by alternating between baseline and treatment.

Placebo Effect

A beneficial effect produced by a placebo drug or treatment that arises from the patient's expectations.

Double-Blind Procedure

An experimental procedure in which neither the participants nor the researchers know which participants are receiving the treatment.

Maturation

Changes that occur in participants over time that can affect research outcomes.