Chapter 2: Approaches to Research (OpenStax Psychology 2e)

Flashcards covering key concepts from the lecture notes on research methods in psychology.

Why is scientific research important in psychology?

Research provides empirical evidence to validate claims, moving beyond intuition; it helps verify findings and establish psychology as a science.

What does empirical research mean?

Research grounded in objective, observable evidence that can be observed repeatedly regardless of who observes.

How does research differ from intuition or belief?

Research relies on evidence and testing, whereas intuition is belief-based without systematic testing.

What is a theory in psychology?

A well-developed set of ideas that explains observed phenomena and guides research.

What is a hypothesis?

A tentative, testable statement about the relationship between two or more variables, often expressed as an if-then statement and falsifiable.

What makes a hypothesis falsifiable?

It can be disproven by empirical testing; there exists an outcome that would show it is incorrect.

What are the main research approaches listed in 2.2 OpenStax?

Clinical/case studies, naturalistic observation, surveys, archival research, and longitudinal and cross-sectional research.

What is a clinical or case study and its limitation?

A study focusing on one individual, offering rich insight but limited generalizability to the broader population.

What is naturalistic observation and a risk?

Observing behavior in its natural setting with minimal interference; risk of observer bias.

Why is Jane Goodall mentioned in naturalistic observation?

She conducted long-term naturalistic observations of chimpanzee behavior.

What are surveys used for in research?

To gather large amounts of data from a sample using various delivery methods (paper, electronic, verbal).

What is archival research?

Using past records or data sets to answer research questions or identify patterns.

What is cross-sectional vs. longitudinal research?

Cross-sectional compares different segments at one time; longitudinal studies the same individuals over time, with possible attrition.

What is a scatterplot used to illustrate?

The strength and direction of correlations between two variables; data points near a straight line indicate a stronger relationship.

What is a correlation coefficient?

A number from -1 to +1 (often r) indicating the strength and direction of a relationship.

What does 'correlation does not imply causation' mean?

A correlation shows a relationship but does not prove one variable causes the other; causality requires experimental design.

What is a confounding variable?

An outside factor that affects both variables, potentially creating a false impression of causality (e.g., temperature affecting ice-cream sales and crime).

What is an independent variable?

The variable manipulated by the experimenter; the main difference between experimental and control groups.

What is a dependent variable?

The variable measured to assess the effect of the manipulation.

What is random assignment and why is it important?

Assigning participants to groups with equal probability to ensure equivalence and support causal conclusions.

What is quasi-experimental design?

A design where the independent variable cannot be manipulated, limiting causal conclusions (e.g., sex).

What is an operational definition?

A clear description of how variables will be measured and manipulated in a study.

What is single-blind vs double-blind study design?

Single-blind: participants don’t know group assignment; researchers may; Double-blind: neither participants nor researchers know group assignments, reducing expectations bias.

What is the placebo effect and how is it controlled?

Participants’ expectations influence outcomes; controlled with a placebo in the control group, often in a double-blind design.

What is the role of the IRB and what is informed consent?

IRB (Institutional Review Board) reviews human-research proposals; informed consent is obtaining voluntary participation after informing about risks, implications, and confidentiality.

What are deception and debriefing in research?

Deception is misleading participants to preserve study integrity; debriefing provides complete information after participation.

What is the IACUC and why is animal research used?

IACUC (Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee) reviews non-human animal research to ensure ethical treatment and minimize pain; animals are used when ethical in humans.

What is reliability and inter-rater reliability?

Reliability is consistency and reproducibility; inter-rater reliability is agreement among observers on how to record events.

What is validity and its relationship to reliability?

Validity is the accuracy of measuring what a test is meant to measure; a valid measure is reliable, but a reliable measure isn’t always valid.

What is replication and peer-reviewed publication?

Replication tests reliability of findings; peer-reviewed publication involves expert evaluation to ensure quality before publication.

What happened with the vaccine-autism research and what issues were involved?

Some early peer-reviewed studies suggested a link, but large-scale follow-up found no association; several original studies were retracted due to conflicts of interest.