Lecture 6: Methods in Psychology

A vocabulary flashcard highlighting a key term from the lecture on Methods in Psychology.

The idea of tentative conclusions

Science never proves only supports theories

Overt Behaviour

Directly Observable actions

Physiological Measures

Body responses reflecting mental state (ex. increased heart rate)

Psychological Tests

Standardized test (IQ test)

Power (Sensitivity)

Detect true changes

Demand Characteristics

Cues that make people act in expected ways (smiling more when told study is about hapiness)

Social Desirability Bias

Changing answers to look good (underreporting how much junk food you eat)

Naturalistic Observation

Watching people in their natural habitat

Double Blind

Both participant and researcher unaware of condition (who gets placebo or drug)

Operational Definition

A way to measure something abstract based off a sign (how happy someone is based off how much they smile)

Construct Validity

How well your measurement actually measures what you’re trying to study (stress test actually reflecting stress)

Observer Bias

Researchers’ expectations cause them to misjudge something (expecting “smart” rats to finish task faster)

If a personality test gives the same result twice, what property is shown?

Reliability

Privacy

Letting participants respond alone or anonymously

Control

Using tests outside a persons control to reduce bias (measuring pupil dilation instead of self-report questionnaire to test stress)

Unawareness

Keeping participant unaware of goal of study