Introduction to Research on Happiness

These flashcards cover key terms and concepts from the lecture on research methods in psychology, focusing on the study of happiness.

Paraplegic

A person who has lost the use of their legs.

Operational Definition

A clear definition of a variable that allows it to be measured.

Validity

The degree to which a measurement accurately reflects what it is intended to measure.

Reliability

The consistency of a measurement, yielding the same results under the same conditions.

Correlation

A statistical relationship between two variables, which can be positive, negative, or zero.

Causation

The action of causing something; in research, establishing that one variable causes a change in another.

Independent Variable

The variable that is manipulated in an experiment to observe its effect.

Dependent Variable

The variable that is measured in an experiment to see if it is affected by the independent variable.

Random Assignment

A method of assigning participants to different groups in an experiment such that each participant has an equal chance of being placed in any group.

Sample Size

The number of participants included in a study, which impacts the representativeness and validity of the study's results.

Bias

A systematic error that can affect the validity of research findings.

Perfect Correlation

A correlation coefficient of 1 or -1 that indicates a perfect linear relationship between two variables.

Negative Correlation

A correlation where increases in one variable correspond with decreases in another.

Third Variable Problem

The issue in correlational research where another variable may be responsible for the relationship observed between two other variables.

Experimentation

A research method that allows for the manipulation of one variable to observe its effect on another.

Sample Bias

When certain individuals are either over- or under-represented in a sample, leading to inaccurate conclusions about a population.

Survey Reactivity

The phenomenon where participants answer questions differently based on whether or not they believe they are being observed.