Methods in Psychology

These flashcards cover key vocabulary concepts related to methods in psychology as discussed in the lecture notes.

Empiricism

The belief that accurate knowledge can be acquired through observation.

Scientific Method

A procedure for using empirical evidence to establish facts.

Theory

A hypothetical explanation of natural phenomena.

Hypothesis

A falsifiable prediction made by a theory.

Operational Definition

A description of a property in measurable terms.

Construct Validity

The extent to which the operational definition accurately describes the property being measured.

Power (in measurement)

The ability of a detection instrument to detect differences or changes in a property.

Reliability (in measurement)

The ability of a detection instrument to detect the absence of differences or changes in a property.

Demand Characteristics

Aspects of an observational setting that cause people to behave as they think someone else wants them to.

Observer Bias

The tendency for observers' expectations to influence their observations.

Correlation

A relationship where variations in the value of one variable are synchronized with variations in the value of another variable.

Causation

A relationship where one variable directly affects another.

Third-variable problem

The fact that the natural correlation between two variables cannot be taken as evidence of a causal relationship because a third variable might be causing them both.

Manipulation (in experiments)

The act of changing the value of an independent variable to determine its effect on a dependent variable.

Random Assignment

A procedure that assigns participants to a condition by chance.

Internal Validity

The degree to which an experiment accurately establishes causal relationships.

External Validity

The extent to which experimental results can be generalized to real-world settings.

Informed Consent

The process of informing participants about the true nature of a study before they agree to participate.

Institutional Review Board (IRB)

A committee that reviews studies to ensure ethical treatment of participants.

Replication

The process of conducting a study again to see if the same results are obtained.