Causality and Research Methods Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards covering core concepts of causality, research methodological controls, correlations, and causal models.

Causality

A relationship between two variables (events) where one variable (event) causes or directly leads to or produces another variable (the effect).

Manipulation of IV

A methodological control where the researcher intentionally changes one independent variable (the cause) to observe its effect.

Random Assignment

A methodological control where participants are randomly placed in groups (e.g., control vs. experimental).

Controlling Extraneous Variables

The methodological control of regulating factors that could influence the dependent variable.

Placebo Effects

Inert treatments that mimic active treatments, used as controls in treatment studies.

Double-Blind Procedures

A methodological procedure where neither participants nor researchers know group assignment in order to prevent bias.

Ethical Constraints

Moral boundaries in research that prevent studying concepts through direct experimentation, such as depriving people of food, love, or socialization, or inducing trauma or depression.

Correlation

A relationship between variables where changes in one are associated with changes in another, which does not imply causation.

Bidirectional Ambiguity

A condition in correlational observations where it is unclear which variable causes the other, or if the relationship is reversed (e.g., social media use and depression).

Third Variable Problem

A situation where an unmeasured third factor might influence both variables in a correlation (e.g., heat affecting both ice cream sales and drowning rates).

Linear Causality

A type of causality ($A \rightarrow B$) where one factor directly causes a change in another (e.g., less sleep causing poorer memory recall).

Domino Causality

A type of causality ($A \rightarrow B \rightarrow C \rightarrow D$) where one factor starts a chain of effects, with intermediate steps leading to the final outcome.

Cyclical Causality

A type of causality ($A \leftrightarrow B$) where two or more factors continually influence each other, creating a feedback loop.

Experimental Control

The holding constant of potential confounding variables (such as testing/studying time, room conditions, and participant characteristics) to help establish causal relationships.

Correlational Studies

Research designs that provide insight into associations between variables to suggest what should be studied to attempt to determine causation.