Psychology Research Methods Flashcards p3

A set of vocabulary flashcards covering psychology research methods, experimental design, descriptive and inferential statistics, and ethical guidelines based on lecture notes.

Basic Research

Builds psychology's knowledge.

Applied Research

Application of existing knowledge in the real world.

Theories

Organized sets of concepts that explain phenomena.

Hypothesis

Prediction of how two or more factors are likely to be related.

Replication

Repetition of the methods used in a previous experiment to see whether the same methods will yield the same results.

Reliability

Consistency or repeatability of results.

Validity

Extent to which an instrument measures or predicts what it is supposed to measure or predict.

Case Study

Examines one person or group in depth, such as the case of Phineas Gage who survived an accident with a large iron rod through his head.

Naturalistic Observation

Describes behavior in its most natural state without interference or intervention.

Survey

Self-report data where questions are influenced by wording; defined as a tool, not a method.

Random Sampling

Gives every member of a population an equal chance of being selected for the sample.

Positive Correlation

Variables move in the same direction, such as when one variable increases and the other also increases.

Negative Correlation

Variables move in opposite directions, such as when one variable increases and the other decreases.

Experiments

Establish cause and effect by manipulating variables.

Independent Variable (IV)

The factor the researcher manipulates in a controlled experiment (the cause).

Dependent Variable (DV)

The behavior or mental process that is measured in an experiment (the effect).

Operational Definition

A description of the specific procedure used to determine the presence of a variable.

Experimenter Bias

Occurs when a researcher's expectations or preferences about the outcome obtained of a study influence the results.

Placebo Effect

Seems to be a real medical treatment, but isn't (e.g., a sugar pill).

Population

All of the individuals in the group to which the study applies.

Experimental Group

The treatment group in an experiment.

Control Group

The comparison group in an experiment that receives no treatment.

Single Blind Procedure

Procedure where participants don't know if they get the treatment or placebo.

Double Blind Procedure

Procedure where neither the researcher nor participants know who received the treatment or placebo.

Descriptive Statistics

Describes sets of data.

Inferential Statistics

Draw conclusions about sets of data.

Random Assignment

Randomly (by chance) assigning participants to the control group or experimental group to help establish cause and effect and eliminate or reduce the impact of specific individual differences/confounding variables.

Confounding Variable

A factor other than the factor being studied that might influence a study's result.

Mean

Average Value.

Median

Middle Value.

Mode

Occurs Most.

Range

Difference between largest & smallest score.

Standard Deviation

How scores vary around the mean score.

Statistical Significance

How likely that a result occurred by chance (with a $p$ value less than $0.05$).

American Psychological Association (APA)

Establishes ethic codes.

Institutional Review Board (IRB)

Reviews proposals for research; approval is needed for an experiment.

Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC)

Ensures that the highest animal welfare standards are maintained.

Informed Consent

Giving all subjects necessary information to decide whether to participate in a study or not.

Debriefing

When the experimenter tells the subject more information about the study's purpose and procedures after the study is completed.