Lecture 2: Coming up with Research Questions & Making Valid Inferences

Hypotheses

________: They come from either a conceptual /theoretical position or from observations /descriptions.

Theory

________: Detailed description of the nature, antecedents, causes, correlates, and consequences of particular characteristics /feature or aspect of functioning (e.g.

Goals of Research

Describe, Predict, Explain

Theory

Detailed description of the nature, antecedents, causes, correlates, and consequences of particular characteristics/feature or aspect of functioning (e.g

Hypotheses

They come from either a conceptual/theoretical position or from observations/descriptions

What is an example of Research Design Considerations where everyone experiences the same condition or when not everyone does?

Between vs Within groups

Which threat is when control and experimental groups differ

Selection

Which threat is when there is a naturally occurring change within participants due to time

Maturation

Pre-test vs Post-test

In which the subjects are tested before and after

Laboratory vs Applied

Laboratory is only in lab while Applied is observation is in a natural environment

Analogue vs Clinical

Analogue is generally in the real world while Clinical is within the population one is trying to observe

Efficacy vs Effectiveness

Efficacy is whether or not the experiment produces the intended results while Effectiveness is more practical such as within a doctor's office

Cross sectional vs Longitudinal

Cross-sectional is multiple samples (different ages) and comparing while Longitudinal is over a time period

Effect Size

Range from 0.00 to 1.00

History (internal validity threat)

Specific events that take place during the study

Testing (internal validity threat)

Exposure to a test affects later scores on outcomes variable

Instrumentation (internal validity threat)

The nature of measurement changes over time or conditions

Attrition (internal validity threat)

Loss of Participants over time

Regression to the mean (internal validity threat)

Extreme scores tend to become less extreme over time

Test sensitization (external validity threat)

Pretest influences posttest

Sampling Bias (external validity threat)

Nonrandom selection of participants

Stimulus characteristics (external validity threat)

When Setting, experimenters, or other features of the study could influence outcomes

Timing of Measurement (external validity threat)

Different results may be obtained if measured at a different point in time

Novelty

Intervention's effects may in part depend on novelty in the situation; sometimes people respond in unique ways if the study is unique itself

Reactivity

Participants change their behavior and responses because they know they are being studied

Multiple Treatment Interference

Participants receive more than one treatment

Operational Definition

Defining a concept specifically in context of the study specifically

What are some issues that can arise with operational definitions

Lacking specificity, including irrelevant/peripheral features, using only one method to measure the concept

What are some quantitative measures?

Self-report, observation, behavioural, psychophysiological, neuroimaging

What are some qualitative measures?

Field studies, archival studies, focus group interviews

What are predictive factors?

Paths or course of a problem or the order, unfolding, phases and sequences of events