Research Designs in Psychology

These flashcards cover the key vocabulary related to research designs in psychology.

Experimental Design

A method used to test if one variable influences another, involving controlled conditions.

Independent Variable (IV)

The variable that is manipulated or controlled by the researcher in an experiment.

Dependent Variable (DV)

The variable that is measured in an experiment to assess the effect of the IV.

Control Group

The group in an experiment that does not receive the treatment or intervention being tested.

Extraneous Variables

Variables other than the IV that may affect the DV, complicating the results.

Single-blind Procedure

An experimental method where participants are unaware of whether they are in the control or experimental group.

Random Assignment

A method used to allocate participants randomly to either the control or experimental group to ensure groups are alike.

Quantitative Observational

A research method used when pre-existing characteristics are present without manipulating the IV.

Pseudoscience

A non-scientific approach that may use misleading or untested theories.

Validity

The accuracy of a measurement; whether it measures what it is supposed to measure.

Reliability

The consistency of a measure or test results over time.

Informed Consent

The process of informing participants about the study's purpose, risks, and their rights before they agree to participate.

Debriefing

The process of informing participants about the study's purpose and results after its conclusion.

Qualitative Research

A research method focused on understanding human behavior through in-depth data collection.

Focus Group

A qualitative research method involving guided discussion among a group of participants.

Delphi Technique

A qualitative method that gathers expert opinions through questionnaires, aiming for consensus.

Confidentiality

A principle ensuring that participants' personal information is kept private.

Observer Bias

A bias that occurs when a researcher's expectations influence the outcome of a study.

Ethics in Psychology

The principles guiding researchers to ensure the welfare and rights of participants are upheld.

Extraneous Variables

Anything other than the independent variable that might influence the dependent variable.

Sample vs Population

A sample is a smaller group drawn from a larger population, the entire group of interest.

Objective Data

Data that is free from bias or personal interpretation.

Subjective Data

Data that can be influenced by personal opinions or interpretations.

Descriptive Statistics

Stats used to summarize and describe the characteristics of a dataset.

Standard Deviation

A measure of dispersion indicating how spread out the values in a dataset are.

Correlational Analysis

A statistical method used to determine if there is a relationship between two variables.

Hypothesis Testing

The process of making and testing predictions in research.