Scientific Method: Research Designs and Protecting Against Biases 2.2

Vocabulary flashcards covering types of research methods, experimental design variables and controls, sources of research bias, and sampling concepts based on the lecture material.

Descriptive Research

A category of research that aims to observe and describe behavior.

Correlational Research

A category of research aimed at describing and predicting relationships between variables without demonstrating direct causation.

Experimental Research

A category of research aimed at demonstrating cause-and-effect relationships between variables by manipulating an independent variable.

Reverse Causality

An interpretation of correlational data where variable $B$ causes variable $A$, contrary to the original hypothesis that $A$ causes $B$.

Third Variable Problem

An issue in correlational research where an unmeasured variable $C$ influences or causes both variable $A$ and variable $B$.

Independent Variable (IV)

The aspect of a situation that is intentionally varied or manipulated by the researcher in an experiment.

Dependent Variable (DV)

The aspect of a situation that is measured while the independent variable is changed, depending on the manipulation of the IV.

Effect

The difference in the dependent variable that is directly caused by changes in the independent variable.

Confound

Any factor other than the independent variable that influences or affects the dependent variable in an experiment.

Experimental Group

The group of participants in an experiment that receives the independent variable manipulation.

Control Group

The group in an experiment that is kept identical to the experimental group except that it does not receive the manipulation.

Quasi-Experiment

A research study structured like an experiment but lacking random assignment, allowing real-world study with limited causal inferences.

Experimenter Expectancy Effects

A bias occurring when a researcher's expectations subtly lead them to treat participants in a way that produces the expected outcomes.

Reactivity

A phenomenon where study participants alter their behavior due to the awareness that they are being observed or studied.

Double-Blind Design

An experimental setup where both the participant and the experimenter are unaware of the condition assignment and hypotheses.

Pygmalion Effect

A self-fulfilling prophecy mechanism where one person's expectations about another person lead to actions that reinforce those expectations.

Population

The complete target group of interest that researchers intend to study and draw conclusions about.

Sample

A subset or portion of a target population selected to participate in a research study.

Random Selection

The process of selecting individuals from a population such that every member has an equal chance of being included in the sample.

Sampling Bias

A systematic error in research design where the selected sample fails to accurately represent the larger target population.

Clever Hans Effect

A classic demonstration of experimenter expectancy effects, named after a horse that responded to subtle physical cues from humans rather than calculating math.