Research Methods- Exam Review 1

The Nature of Science, research strategies

SECTION 1: Scientific tactics/strategies

What is the ‘art of persuasion’?

The process of appealing to one’s emotions (think: the job of a defense attorney)

(also: Freud’s theory of catharsis- releasing unconscious emotions causes peace)

What is confirmation bias?

Falsely viewing new information as an extension of your personal beliefs

What is a bias blind spot?

The belief that you are not susceptible to personal bias

(or: “being biased about being biased”)

What is the availability heuristic?

The tendency to make claims or assumptions based on the information that first comes to mind.

What is present/present bias?

The tendency to ONLY notice what is present and ignore absences

SECTION 2: Variables and Research Claims

What are some qualities of a ‘good theory’?

• Must be generative

• Unambiguously testable (falsifiable!)

• Precise

• Simple

What is the Base Rate Fallacy?

In a certain study: when “central groups” DO NOT reflect the entire population

What is a conceptual variable (or construct)?

An abstract construct/metric (e.g. aggression, understanding, happiness)

What pretense is required to measure a conceptual variable?

A set of rules, or operations (e.g. a 5-item scale, brain scan, # of behaviors)

What are some types of observationalization?

• Self-report

• Observational reports

• Physiological tests (ex. brain scans)

What is a measured variable?

A variable that has a preexisting value in the world

What is a manipulated variable?

A variable whose value is determined by the researcher

What is a variable?

A metric that can take one of several values (e.g. age)

What is a level?

A particular “off-shoot” value of a variable (e.g. 18 years of age)

What are the three claims (of types) of variables?

1.) Frequency

2.) Association

3.) Causal

What is a frequency claim?

A claim that describes the value of a single variable (univariate!)

(Example: “What is the average GPA of Psych students at WSU?)

What is an association claim?

Claims in which one level of a variable is associated with the value of another (the “linking of variables!)

(e.g.: “Americans without college degrees live shorter lives.”)

What is a causal claim?

A claim in which variables have an effect on each other