Psych Module 2

Scientific Method

System of gathering data so that bias and error are reduced

Hypothesis

Tentative explanation of a phenomenon based on observations

Naturalistic Observation

The study of people or animals in their natural environment

Observer Effect

Tendency of people or animals to behave differently when they know they are being observed

Observer Bias

Tendency of the observer to only see what they expect to see

Laboratory Method

Method of conducting research in a controlled environment

Case Study

Study of one individual in great detail

Survey Method

Method of conducting research in the form of interviews

Representative Sample

Randomly selected sample of subjects from a larger population of subjects

Population

The entire group of people or animals the researcher in interested in

Correlation

The measure of the relationship between two variables

Correlation Coefficiant

A number derived from the formula for measuring a correlation and indicating the strength and direction of a correlation

Experiment

A manipulation of a variable to see if corresponding changes in behavior result; determines cause and effect relationships

Operational Definition

Definition of a variable of interest that allows it to be measured

Informed Consent

Permission from a person to participate in an experiment after the risks and purpose of the experiment have been explained

Independent Variable

The variable that is manipulated by the experimenter

Dependent Variable

Represents the response or behavior of the subjects in the experiment

Confounding Variable

Variable that may unintentionally influence the dependent variable

Experimental Group

Subjects who are subjected to the independent variable

Control Group

Subjects who are not subjected to the independent variable. May receive placebo treatment

Random Assignment

Assigning subjects to experimental and control groups randomly so that every subject has an equal chance of being in either group

Placebo Effect

Phenomenon in which the expectations of a group influence their behavior

Experimenter Effect

Tendency for the experimenter’s expectations for a study to unintentionally influence the results of the study

Double-Blind Experiment

Study in which neither the experimenter nor the subject know if the subjects are in the control group or the experimental group

Steps of the scientific method

1. Formulate a question

2. Come up with a hypothesis

3. Test the hypothesis

What is the result in the scientific method?

The dependent variable

Is it more difficult to do research on animals or humans?

Humans

What are the ethical guidelines when using human subjects?

Informed consent. They must know the risks and explicitly agree.

Can animals be used in research?

Yes, but there are very specific ethical guidelines that must be followed in every experiment and it must be approved by a board of people.