Introduction to Psychological Research Methods Flashcards

A collection of vocabulary terms and definitions covering core research methodology, statistical concepts, types of validity, and experimental ethics discussed in the lecture.

Inter-rater Reliability

The degree of agreement among independent observers or coders on what they read, saw, or interpreted, used to ensure findings are valid and minimize human error or individual bias.

Qualitative Research

A research approach involving open-ended participant responses where researchers identify recurring themes, read through sections of data, and apply descriptive labels or codes.

Coding

The qualitative process of reading participant responses, identifying sections that share a common theme or idea, and labeling them for analysis.

Positive Correlation

A directional relationship between two variables where both variables change in the same direction, meaning as one variable increases or decreases, the other does as well.

Negative Correlation

A directional relationship where two variables are connected in opposing directions, meaning as one variable increases, the other decreases.

Operational Definition

The specific construct and concrete measurement method used to quantify a variable within a study, such as using step counters to operationalize physical activity.

Random Assignment

The procedure of placing participants into different experimental conditions or manipulation levels by chance to prevent systematic bias across groups.

Random Selection

The method of drawing participants from a broader population for a study to ensure the sample accurately represents the larger group.

Generalizability

The extent to which research findings obtained from a specific study sample can be applied to other demographics, situations, and populations.

Triangulation

The practice of using multiple distinct measures or methods to represent a variable, providing greater confidence in the statistics and methodology.

p-value

A statistical output indicating the likelihood that experimental results occurred by chance, where a threshold below $0.05$ is typically required to claim statistical significance.

Internal Validity

The accuracy of a study's internal design, ensuring that the variable manipulation caused the observed outcome without interference from uncontrolled bias or confounding variables.

External Validity

The extent to which the results of a study accurately describe real-world settings, situations, and people outside the research environment.

Effect Size

A statistical metric that quantifies the magnitude or strength of a difference between conditions, rather than just determining whether a difference exists.

Psychological Realism

The degree to which an experimental setup successfully induces the true psychological processes and experiences in participants that researchers intend to study.

Fatigue Factor

A threat to research validity where participants perform poorly or answer inaccurately due to tiredness, boredom, or loss of focus from a lengthy study.

Replication

The process of repeating an experiment with a new sample or under different conditions to determine if original findings remain consistent.

Meta-analysis

A statistical method that combines and analyzes effect sizes across multiple prior studies to establish an overall aggregate finding.

Cross-cultural Research

Research conducted across different cultural contexts or geographical regions to account for cultural variations in how variables express themselves.

Institutional Review Board (IRB)

An administrative committee responsible for approving and monitoring human subject research to ensure ethical standards are met and participant safety is protected.

Informed Consent

An ethical process in which participants are provided essential details about study requirements, confidentiality, and voluntary rights, and must sign an agreement before participating.

Debriefing

A post-study interaction where experimenters inform participants about the true purpose of the research, address any deception used, and provide relevant support or mental health resources.