Research Methods in Psychology

These flashcards cover key concepts related to research methods in psychology, including various types of studies and their definitions.

Independent Variable (IV)

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

Dependent Variable (DV)

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

Experimental Group

The group in an experiment that receives the treatment or intervention.

Control Group

The group in an experiment that is not exposed to the treatment and is used for comparison.

Confounding Variables

Variables that can distort the relationship between the independent and dependent variables.

Random Assignment

The process of randomly allocating participants into different groups to minimize bias.

Correlational Research

A research method used to measure and quantify the relationship between variables.

Correlation Coefficient (r)

A statistical measure used to determine the strength and direction of a relationship between two variables.

Self-report Bias

A limitation in surveys where participants may not provide honest or accurate answers.

Hawthorne Effect

When individuals modify their behavior because they are aware they are being observed.

Structured Interviews

Interviews where a fixed list of questions is used.

Semi-Structured Interviews

Interviews that have some structure but do not follow a strict question order.

Unstructured Interviews

Interviews that are participant-driven with questions based on previous responses.

Focus Groups

A special type of semi-structured interview conducted with a group of participants.

Content Analysis

The process of analyzing transcribed text from interviews to find recurring themes.

Case Study

An in-depth investigation of an individual or group that uses various methods of data collection.

Meta Analysis

A research method that involves analyzing previous research studies to draw conclusions.