Unit 0 - Research Methods

descriptive research

-naturalistic observation

-case study

naturalistic observation

-observing and recording of behavior in naturally occurring situation and settings without trying to manipulate and/or control the situation

-key strength: participants behave naturally, no artificial conditions

-major weakness: subject to experimenter bias

case study

-one individual's (or small group of individuals) is examined in depth

-key strength: collection of in-depth, detailed information, opportunity to investigate unique illness/situations

-major weakness: cannot be generalized to the population

survey

-a technique for ascertaining the self-reported attitudes or behaviors at a particular group, usually by questioning a random, representative sample of the group

-key strength: efficient and inexpensive way to collect data

-major weakness: distorted results can occur due to sampling errors, poorly phrased questions, and response bias

quasi-experiments

-conclusions are not as firm as those from true experiments, but they allow research to be conducted on topics in settings that would otherwise be impossible

longitudinal studies

-examines a person or group of people over an extended time period

-pros: provides in-depth info, eliminates the cohort effect

-cons: time-consuming, expensive, and typically use smaller samples

cross sectional studies

-compares individuals of various ages at one point in time

-cons: results can be influenced by the fact that the different age groups

positive correlation

variables move in the same direction

negative correlation

variables move in opposite directions

scatterplot

-type of graph used to represent correlations

-slope of points=direction of relationship between variables

-amount of scatter=strength of correlation

correlational coefficient (r)

numerical value that measurers the degree of relationship between 2 variables tells us the strength and direction of relationship

illusory correlations

an expected or suspected relationship that does not empirically exist

expiriments

the only research method that can establish cause and effect relationships between variables

independent variable (IV)

the variable the experimenter manipulates in order to determine its effects (changing)

dependent variable (DV)

the variable that may change as a result of manipulation of the independent variable (meaured)

operational definitions

explain how variables that will be measured so that the experiment can be replicated

confounding (third) variables

extraneous factors that may interfere with the results

population

all of the individuals in the group to which the study applies

sample

the subset of the population that participates in the study

random sample

every member of the population has an equal chance of being selected

representative sample

-a sample that accurately represents the population being studied

-if the sample is not representative, we can't generalize our findings to the larger population

stratified sample

-subgroups in a population are equally represented

-members of those population subgroups have an equal chance of becoming members of the sample

experimental group

the group that receives the treatment (IV)

control group

the group that doesn't receive treatment

random assignment

process that ensures that all members of the sample have an equal chance of being placed into either the control or experimental groups

research participant bias

occurs when the behavior of research participants during the experiment is influenced by how they think they are supposed to behave or by their expectations about what is happening to them

placebo

-a physical or psychological treatment given to the control group that replicates the treatment given to the experimental group

-dont contain an active ingredient

single blind study

an experimental design in which participants dont know wether they are in the experimental group or the control group

experimenter bias

occurs when the researchers' expectations influence the outcome of the research

double blind study

an experimental design in which neither the researcher not the participants are aware of which participants are in the experimental group and which are in the control group until the data has been collected