PSYCHOLOGICAL RESEARCH

Flashcards covering key vocabulary terms and definitions from the lecture notes on Psychological Research.

Psychology

A science where research allows investigation and verification of findings.

Psychological Research

The process of investigating and verifying findings in the science of psychology.

Inductive Reasoning

A form of logical thinking that involves forming theories from empirical observations.

Deductive Reasoning

A form of logical thinking that involves generating hypotheses from general premises or theories.

Scientific Method

A process used by scientists involving inductive reasoning to form theories which then generate hypotheses.

Theory

Proposes an explanation for observed phenomena.

Hypothesis

A prediction about the relationship between two or more variables, usually an "if-then" statement, and is falsifiable.

Clinical or Case Studies

A research method that focuses on one individual or group, typically an extreme or unique psychological circumstance, providing insight but making it difficult to generalize results.

Observation

A research method that involves recording behavior in its "natural" setting where individuals feel less threatened or watched.

Observer Bias

The tendency to pay attention only to expected behaviors, which may be purposeful or accidental, in observational research.

Surveys

A research method involving a list of questions delivered in various ways, used to gather large amounts of data from a sample of a larger population in a short time.

Sample (Survey Context)

A subset of individuals selected from a larger population to participate in a survey.

Archival Research

A research method that uses past records or data sets to answer various research questions or search for interesting patterns or relationships.

Developmental Research Strategies

Research techniques that examine "changes" with age, often anticipating attrition and starting with more participants than needed.

Attrition

The reduction in the number of participants during a study, especially common in developmental research strategies.

Correlational Research

Research that examines the relationship between two or more variables, where one variable changes as the other does.

Correlation

A relationship between two or more variables where, when correlated, one variable changes as the other does.

Correlation Coefficient

A number from -1 to +1 indicating the strength and direction of the relationship between variables, usually represented by 'r'.

Positive Correlation

A relationship where variables change in the same direction.

Negative (Inverse) Correlation

A relationship where variables change in different directions.

Correlation Does Not Indicate Causation

A key principle stating that simply because two variables are related, it does not mean one causes the other.

Illusory Correlations

Seeing relationships between two things when in reality no such relationship exists.

Confirmation Bias

The tendency to ignore evidence that disproves existing ideas or beliefs.

Experimental Group

Participants in an experiment who experience the manipulated variable (independent variable).

Control Group

Participants in an experiment who do not experience the manipulated variable.

Independent Variable (IV)

The manipulated variable in an experiment, which should be the only important difference between groups.

Dependent Variable (DV)

The variable that depends on the independent variable and is measured in an experiment.

Operational Definition

A precise description of how variables, especially dependent and independent variables, will be measured and manipulated in an experiment.

Experimenter Bias

When researcher expectations skew the results of a study.

Participant Bias

When participant expectations skew the results of a study.

Single-blind Study

A study where the researcher knows group assignments, but participants do not, controlling for participant expectations.

Double-blind Study

A study where both researchers and participants are blind to group assignments, controlling for both participant and experimenter expectations.

Placebo Effect

When people’s expectations or beliefs influence or determine their experience in a given situation.

Participants (Subjects of Research)

The individuals who are the subjects of psychological research.

Sample (Experimental Context)

A subset of individuals selected from the larger population to represent it in research.

Population

The overall group of individuals that the researcher is interested in studying.

Random Sample

A method of selecting participants where every member of the population has an equal chance of being selected, ensuring generalizability.

Convenience Sample

A method of selecting participants based on their easy availability, which may limit generalizability.

Quasi-experimental Design

A research design used when an independent variable (like sex) cannot be manipulated or participants randomly assigned, meaning a cause-and-effect relationship cannot be determined.

Statistical Analysis

A process conducted after data collection to determine how likely observed differences between experimental groups are due to chance.

Peer-reviewed Journal Article

An article read and reviewed by several other scientists with expertise in the subject matter, providing feedback to improve quality and ensure replicability before publication.

Replication

The process of repeating an original research design to determine its reliability, potentially including additional measures or expanding on findings.

Reliability

The consistency and reproducibility of a given research result, asking if the same test would give the same results every time.

Inter-rater Reliability

A measure of agreement among multiple observers when a study involves observations by different people.

Validity

The accuracy of a given result in measuring what it is designed to measure; a valid measure is always reliable but a reliable measure is not always valid.

Institutional Review Board (IRB)

A committee of administrators, scientists, and community members that reviews proposals for research involving human participants to ensure ethical guidelines are followed.

Informed Consent

The process of informing a research participant about what to expect during an experiment, including potential risks, implications, voluntary participation, and confidentiality, to obtain their agreement.

Deception

Purposely misleading participants in an experiment to maintain the integrity of the study, as long as it is not considered harmful.

Debriefing

Telling participants complete and truthful information about a study at its completion, especially when deception was used.

Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC)

A committee of administrators, scientists, veterinarians, and community members that reviews proposals for research involving non-human animals to ensure ethical treatment.