Psychology Research Methods - Chapter 1

Journalism

News and commentary published or broadcast in the popular media and produced for a general audience.

Replication

The process of conducting a study again to test whether the result is consistent.

Reflexivity

A process in which researchers reflect on how their own values, biases, and experiences might shape the topics they study and the interpretations they make.

Hypothesis

A statement of the specific result the researcher expects to observe from a particular study, if the theory is accurate. Also called prediction.

Data

A set of observations representing the values of some variable, collected from one or more research studies.

Evidence-based treatment

A psychotherapy technique whose effectiveness has been supported by empirical research.

Replication

The process of conducting a study again to test whether the result is consistent.

Falsifiability

A feature of a scientific theory, in which it is possible to collect data that will indicate that the theory is wrong.

Weight of the evidence

A conclusion drawn from reviewing scientific literature and considering the proportion of studies that is consistent with a theory.

Preregistered

A term referring to a study in which, before collecting any data, the researcher has stated publicly what the study's outcome is expected to be.

Basic research

Research whose goal is to enhance the general body of knowledge, without regard for direct application to practical problems.

Applied research

Research whose goal is to find a solution to a particular real-world problem.

Organized skepticism

One of Merton's four scientific norms, stating that scientists question everything, including their own theories, widely accepted ideas, and "ancient wisdom."

Quantitative method

A way of collecting empirical data in which information is converted to numbers for future statistical analysis.

Reflexivity

A process in which researchers reflect on how their own values, biases, and experiences might shape the topics they study and the interpretations they make.

Journalism

News and commentary published or broadcast in the popular media and produced for a general audience.

Self-correcting

A process in which scientists make their research available for peer review, replication, and critique, with the goal of identifying and correcting errors in the research.

Communality

One of Merton's four scientific norms, stating that scientific knowledge is created by a community, and its findings belong to the community.

Hypothesis

A statement of the specific result the researcher expects to observe from a particular study, if the theory is accurate. Also called prediction.

Empiricism

The use of verifiable evidence as the basis for conclusions; collecting data systematically and using it to develop, support, or challenge a theory. Also called empirical method, empirical research.

Universalism

One of Merton's four scientific norms, stating that scientific claims are evaluated according to their merit, independent of the researcher's credentials or reputation. The same preestablished criteria apply to all scientists and all research.

Data

A set of observations representing the values of some variable, collected from one or more research studies.

Evidence-based treatment

A psychotherapy technique whose effectiveness has been supported by empirical research.

Replication

The process of conducting a study again to test whether the result is consistent.

Falsifiability

A feature of a scientific theory, in which it is possible to collect data that will indicate that the theory is wrong.

Weight of the evidence

A conclusion drawn from reviewing scientific literature and considering the proportion of studies that is consistent with a theory.

Preregistered

A term referring to a study in which, before collecting any data, the researcher has stated publicly what the study's outcome is expected to be.

Basic research

Research whose goal is to enhance the general body of knowledge, without regard for direct application to practical problems.

Applied research

Research whose goal is to find a solution to a particular real-world problem.

Organized skepticism

One of Merton's four scientific norms, stating that scientists question everything, including their own theories, widely accepted ideas, and "ancient wisdom."

Quantitative method

A way of collecting empirical data in which information is converted to numbers for future statistical analysis.

Reflexivity

A process in which researchers reflect on how their own values, biases, and experiences might shape the topics they study and the interpretations they make.

Journalism

News and commentary published or broadcast in the popular media and produced for a general audience.

Self-correcting

A process in which scientists make their research available for peer review, replication, and critique, with the goal of identifying and correcting errors in the research.

Communality

One of Merton's four scientific norms, stating that scientific knowledge is created by a community, and its findings belong to the community.

Hypothesis

A statement of the specific result the researcher expects to observe from a particular study, if the theory is accurate. Also called prediction.

Empiricism

The use of verifiable evidence as the basis for conclusions; collecting data systematically and using it to develop, support, or challenge a theory. Also called empirical method, empirical research.

Universalism

One of Merton's four scientific norms, stating that scientific claims are evaluated according to their merit, independent of the researcher's credentials or reputation. The same preestablished criteria apply to all scientists and all research.