Extra: Psychological Research Methods and Ethics

Vocabulary flashcards reviewing core terms and concepts of psychological research methodology, experimental design, descriptive statistics, and ethics.

Pseudoscience

A system of theories, assumptions, and methods mistakenly regarded as based in science and the scientific method.

Critical Thinking

Making reasoned judgments about claims based on logical criteria, evidence, and open-minded skepticism.

Law of Parsimony

The principle stating that if two explanations account for a phenomenon equally well, the simplest explanation is preferred.

Scientific Approach

A system of gathering data designed to reduce the likelihood of bias and error in measurement.

Steps in the Scientific Approach

The five-step empirical method consisting of: Perceive the Question, Form a Hypothesis, Test the Hypothesis, Draw Conclusions, and Report Your Results.

Theory

A general explanation of a set of observations or facts.

Hypothesis

A tentative explanation of a phenomenon based on observations, expressed as a testable statement.

Confirmation Bias

The selective perception tendency to notice and seek out only information that supports pre-existing beliefs or hypotheses while ignoring contradictory evidence.

Replicate

In research, repeating a study or experiment to see if the same results will be obtained in an effort to demonstrate reliability of results.

Empirical Questions

Questions that can be tested and answered through direct observation, measurement, or experience.

Naturalistic Observation

A descriptive research method where subjects are observed behaving in their normal, natural environments.

Observer Effect

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

Participant Observation

A naturalistic observation technique in which the observer becomes an active participant in the group being studied.

Observer Bias

The tendency of observers to see what they expect to see rather than what actually occurs.

Laboratory Observation

Observing nonhuman animals or people in an artificial, strictly controlled setting such as a laboratory.

Case Study

A detailed descriptive technique in which one individual or a small, unique group is studied in great depth.

Survey Method

A research technique in which a standardized set of questions is administered to a large group of people via interviews, telephone, internet, or questionnaires.

Representative Sample

A randomly selected sample of participants from a larger population that accurately reflects the characteristics of that population.

Population

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

Courtesy Bias

The tendency for survey respondents to give answers they perceive as more socially desirable or polite rather than their true opinions.

Correlation

A statistical technique used to measure the direction and strength of a relationship between two or more variables.

Correlation Coefficient

A numerical value derived from a formula representing the direction and strength of a relationship between two variables, ranging from $-1.00$ to $+1.00$.

Experiment

A research method involving the deliberate manipulation of a variable to observe corresponding changes in behavior, allowing determination of cause-and-effect relationships.

Operationalization

The specific description of a variable of interest that names the precise steps or procedures required to control or measure it.

Independent Variable

The variable in an experiment that is deliberately manipulated by the experimenter and is independent of participant actions.

Dependent Variable

The variable in an experiment representing the measurable response or behavior of participants.

Confounding Variables

Extraneous variables that interfere with each other and obscure the true causal relationship between independent and dependent variables.

Experimental Group

Participants in an experiment who are exposed to the independent variable or experimental manipulation.

Control Group

Participants in an experiment who are not exposed to the independent variable and may receive a placebo or no treatment.

Random Assignment

The process of assigning participants to experimental or control groups by chance, ensuring equal probability of assignment for each participant.

Placebo Effect

The phenomenon in which the expectations or beliefs of participants in a study influence their behavior or outcomes.

Experimenter Effect

The tendency of an experimenter's expectations for a study to unintentionally influence participant behavior or research results.

Single-Masked Study

A study design in which participants do not know whether they are in the experimental group or the control group.

Double-Masked Study

A study design in which neither the participants nor the experimenters measuring the dependent variable know who is assigned to the experimental or control group.

WEIRD Populations

An acronym standing for Western, Educated, Industrialized, Rich, and Democratic, describing participant groups historically overrepresented in research.

Institutional Review Board (IRB)

A committee of professionals that reviews proposed research studies involving human participants to ensure safety and ethical standards.

Informed Consent

The legal and ethical requirement that potential subjects receive sufficient information about a study to make an informed decision regarding their participation.

Debriefing

The process of informing research participants after a study about its true purpose, findings, and any deception utilized.

Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC)

A federally mandated institutional body in the United States that oversees the humane care and treatment of nonhuman research animals.