Chapter 1 Notes - Descriptive Methods

Flashcards covering descriptive methods in research, including naturalistic observation, laboratory observation, case studies, and surveys, based on Chapter 1 notes from Lecture 2.

What is naturalistic observation?

Watching animals or humans behave in their normal environment.

What is a major advantage of naturalistic observation?

It provides a realistic picture of behavior.

What is the observer effect in naturalistic observation?

The tendency of people or animals to behave differently when they know they are being observed.

What is observer bias in research?

The tendency of observers to see what they expect to see.

How can observer bias be reduced in naturalistic observation?

By using blind observers, who do not know the research question.

What is laboratory observation?

Watching animals or humans behave in lab settings.

What is an advantage of laboratory observation?

It allows for control over the environment and the use of specialized equipment.

What is a disadvantage of laboratory observation?

An artificial situation may result in artificial behavior.

What do descriptive methods, like naturalistic observation and laboratory observation, lead to?

The formation of testable hypotheses.

What is a case study?

The study of one individual in great detail.

What is a major advantage of a case study?

It provides a tremendous amount of detail.

What is a disadvantage of a case study?

The findings cannot typically be applied to other individuals or situations.

Who is a famous individual often associated with a case study in psychology?

Phineas Gage.

What are surveys used for in research?

Researchers ask a series of questions about a topic under study to gather data from a large number of people.

What is a representative sample?

A randomly selected sample of subjects from a larger population of subjects.

What does 'population' refer to in research?

The entire group of people or animals in which the researcher is interested.

What is an advantage of using surveys?

They can gather data from a large number of people and study covert behavior.

What is a significant disadvantage of surveys related to sample selection?

Researchers must ensure they have a representative sample; otherwise, the results will not be meaningful.

What is another disadvantage of surveys related to participant responses?

People are not always accurate in their responses (e.g., due to courtesy bias).