Intro to Psych Research

Psychodynamic perspective

The unconscious mind drives and childhood/past events make up the unconscious

Biological perspective

Studies the body and the brain, everything is shaped by biological processes

Humanistic perspective

Individuals potential for growth and the role of unique thoughts guide behavior

Behavioral perspective

Deals with observable, measurable aspects of behavior, how environment shapes behavior

Cognitive perspective

Thoughts affect and direct behavior

Sociocultural perspective

Impact of social, ethnic, racial, and religious groups on behavior

Evolutionary perspective

Humans have innate areas in the brain which help them adopt to their environment

Eclectic approach

An approach to psychotherapy that uses techniques from various forms of therapy

Biopsychosocial approach

An integrated approach that incorporates biological, psychological, and social-cultural levels of analysis

Confirmation bias

A tendency to search for information that supports our preconceptions and to ignore contradictory evidence

Hindsight bias

After finding out the results of an experiment, the researcher believes that it was more predictable than it actually wad

Overconfidence

People tend to think they know more than they do, so they predict they will do better than they actually do

Experimental

Cause and effect research, usually has a control group

Case study

Study of an individual/group/event in great depth

Correlation

Examines the relationship between 2 variables (correlation ≠ causation)

Naturalistic observation

Observe in natural setting (no interference with subjects)

Meta-analysis

A study that objectively examines published dates from many studies of the same research topics and puts them together

Hypothesis

The stated conclusion that the researchers think will happen

Falsifiable

Able to be tested using conditions in which the hypothesis could be disproven

Operational definition

A specific and carefully worded statement, so that others can replicate the experiment

Independent variable

Manipulated by researchers, effects the dependent variable

Dependent variable

Measured, effected by the independent variable

Confounding variable

3rd variable, can effect a study, random assignment of subjects can help protect against this

Population

The demographics that are being tested

Representative sample

The group of subjects chosen to be tested to represent the population

Random sampling

A sample that fairly represents a population because each member has an equal chance of inclusion

Convenience sampling

When subjects are picked from an easily accessible group, not representative, limits generalizability

Sampling bias

All individuals were not equally likely to be selected and this do not accurately represent the entire group

Generalizability

The ability to apply a study’s findings to a population

Experimental group

The group of subjects where the independent variable is manipulated

Control group

The group of subjects with out the independent variable or a not manipulated version

Placebo

A fake substance or condition given to a group to see if expectation has an effect

Single-blind

An experimental procedure in which the participants are ignorant to wether they get the treatment or the placebo

Double-blind

Both participants and researchers are ignorant to wether there is a placebo, can prevent bias

Social desirability bias

Bias from people’s responding in ways they presume a researcher expects or wishes

Qualitative research

Any type of info that can be recorded or observed, not numerical and can be in the form of written or verbal communication

Quantitative research

Numerical, measurable data

Replication

Repeating the essence of a research study, usually with different participants in different situations, to see wether the basic findings can be reproduced

Directionality problem (in correlation)

If the variables increase/decrease together they have a direct relationship, if one variable increases while the other decreases, they have an indirect relationship

Third variable problem (in correlation)

Can affect the results of a study

Survey technique

For obtaining the self reported attitudes or behaviors of a particular group, usually by questioning a representative random sample of the group

Wording effect

How language can be used to frame a question/statement that will lead the subject to answer in a certain way

Self-report bias

People don’t accurately report their behaviors

Institutional review

A formal process where the IBR reviews and approves research proposals

Informed consent

Giving potential participants enough information about a study to enabke them to choose whether they wish to participate

Informed assent

Consent given by guardians for their children

Protection from harm

States that researchers should ensure the safety of their participants

Confidentiality

Keeping the participants personal info private

Deception

Misleading participants in a study to obtain better results

Debriefing

The post-experiment explanation of a study including its purpose and any deception to its participants

Research confederates

An individual pretending to be a participant to obtain certain responses

Mean

The average of a distribution, obtained by adding the scores and then dividing by the quantity of scores

Median

The middle score in a distribution

Mode

The most frequently occurring score in a distribution

Range

The difference betweeb the highest and lowest scores in a distribution

Normal curve

A symmetrical, bell shaped curve that describes the distribution of data

Negative skew

Most of the data is to the right, but there are some outliers to the left

Positive skew

Most of the data is to the left, but there are sone outliers to the right

Bimodal distribution

The data has two values that come up the most

Standard deviation

A computed measure of how much scores vary around the mean score

Percentile rank

The percentage of scores that are lower than a given score

Regression towards the mean

The tendancy for extreme or unusual scores or events to fall back towards the average as sample size increases

Scatterplot

A graphed cluster of dots each of which represents the value of two variables, slope suggests the directionality of the relationship

Correlation coefficient

A statistical index of the relationship between two things (from -1.00 to 1.00)

Effect size

The strength of the relationship between two variables, the larger effect size, the more one variable can be explained by the other

Statistical significance

A statistical statement of how likely it is that a result occurred by chance, assuming there is no difference between the populations being studied