Scientific Research Designs and Ethics in Psychological Research

A collection of flashcards covering essential vocabulary and concepts related to scientific research designs and ethics in psychological research.

Research Design

A set of methods that allows a hypothesis to be tested.

Qualitative Research

Research that involves examining an issue or behavior without performing numerical measurements.

Quantitative Research

Research that involves using numerical measurements and/or statistics to examine an issue or behavior.

Case Study

An in-depth report about the details of a specific case.

Naturalistic Observation

A method where psychologists unobtrusively observe and record behavior as it occurs in natural settings.

Self-Reporting

A method in which responses are provided directly by the participants through interviews, surveys, etc.

Correlational Research

Research that measures the degree of association between two or more variables.

Illusory Correlation

A relationship that exists only in the mind, not in reality.

Third Variable Problem

The possibility that a third, unmeasured variable is responsible for the correlation between two variables.

Experimental Research

Designs that can provide strong evidence for cause-and-effect relationships.

Random Assignment

A technique for dividing samples into groups, ensuring that participants have an equal chance of being placed in any condition.

Confounding Variables

Variables that are outside the researcher’s control and might provide alternative explanations for the results.

Independent Variable

The variable manipulated by the experimenter to distinguish between groups.

Dependent Variable

The observation or measurement recorded during the experiment and compared across groups.

Between-Subjects Design

An experimental design that compares the performance of participants in different groups.

Within-Subjects Design

An experimental design where the same participants respond to all types of stimuli.

Experimental Group

The group that receives a treatment or stimuli targeting a specific behavior.

Control Group

The group that does not receive the treatment, serving as a baseline for comparison.

Quasi-Experimental Research

A research technique where groups are compared based on predetermined characteristics.

Converging Operations

A perspective in research where a hypothesis is supported by various investigation designs.

Research Ethics Board (REB)

A committee that protects human research participants by weighing risks against benefits.

Informed Consent

Participants are informed about the study's purpose, tasks, and risks, and agree to participate without pressure.

Deception

Misleading or partially informing participants about the true nature of the study.

Debriefing

The process of explaining the true nature of the study to participants after it concludes.

Anonymity

Data collected during research cannot be connected to individual participants.

Confidentiality

Researchers cannot share specific data that can identify participants, and must keep records secure.

Ethical Standards for Animal Research

Guidelines that ensure humane treatment, housing, and care of laboratory animals.