Psychology Research Methods Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards covering core psychological research concepts, goals of science, theoretical frameworks, operational definitions, and study designs based on the lecture transcript.

Four Goals of Science

The core objectives in scientific psychology: to describe what happens, predict when it occurs, control what causes it to happen, and explain why it happens.

Self-Report

A data collection method in which participants provide information about themselves, carrying the risk that respondents may not tell the truth.

Theory

An interconnected set of ideas or concepts used to explain a particular problem or question, account for prior observations, and make predictions about future events.

Falsifiable

A key characteristic of a good theory, meaning it is designed such that data can be collected to either support or refute it.

Hypothesis

A specific, testable prediction derived from a broader theory about what will occur under specific conditions.

Operational Definition

A precise description specifying exactly how a broad concept or variable is either measured or manipulated in a study.

Experiment

A study design that controls for alternative explanations to demonstrate a direct cause-and-effect relationship between variables.

Reactivity

A downside of observational research where individuals alter or change their behavior simply because they know they are being observed.

Participant Observation

A descriptive research method in which the researcher physically experiences or actively participates in the environment being studied, which carries the risk of losing objectivity.

Case Study

An extensive, in-depth examination of a single individual, small group, or specific instance to understand a phenomenon.

Correlational Study

A research design that examines whether two variables are related to one another, but cannot establish a cause-and-effect relationship.