AP PSYCH - Research Methods (Unit 2)

operational definition

a statement of procedures (operations) of how a variable will be measured

Reliability

• standardized

• test provides consistent results

Validity

-experimental/study measures or predicts what it is suppose to

Experiment

only research method for cause-and-effect relationships

• how x affects y

• researcher manipulates one or more factors/variables to observe their effect on some behavior or mental process

Control Group

does not receive any special treatment

experimental group

receives new treatment of IV

+1

independent variable

the experimental factor that is manipulated

the variable whose effect is being studied

dependant variable

the experimental factor that is measured

usually a behavior or mental process

double blind study

both the research participants and research staff are ignorant about whether the research participants have received the treatment or placebo

case study

in depth study of a single person, group, or rare phenomenon

cross sectional

data from many different individuals at a single point in time

longitudinal

one group over an extended period of time

naturalistic observation

observing and recording behavior in naturally occurring situations without trying to manipulate and control the situation

survey

technique for gathering self reported attitudes

correlational

examines the relationship between variables that are not manipulated

Normal Curve

Displays symmetrical data where most scores fall near the mean

Standard Deviation

Indicates the extent of deviation or variance of data for a group as a whole

Z score

scale of (-3 to 3) the # of standard deviations from the mean

random sample

every member of the population has a equal opportunity to be picked

population

all the cases in a group, from which samples may be drawn for a study

sample

selected segment of the population

assignment

Process where subjects get put into groups

random assignment

all members have equal chance to be c or y in experiment, limits chance of confounding variables

Representative sample

parallels largest population on relevant characteristics

Experimental Group

IV manipulation

Control Group

No manipulation (normal)

Confirmation Bias

Tendency to only search for information that supports our beliefs. Ignore contradictory evidence.

Belief Perseverance

Clinging to our initial conceptions even after opposing evidence has been discovered.

Illusory Correlation

An expected relationship between variables that doesn’t empirically exsist.

Extraneous variables

Any factors (variables) Other than the independent variable that seem likely to influence the dependant variable in a specific study.

Overconfidence Effect

Tendency to overestimate the accuracy of your beliefs and judgements.

Social Desirability Bias

Attempt to give answers that will reflect well upon them socially.

Forer/Barnum Effect

Tendency to accept vague information or descriptions as truth when there is little to zero backing.

Hawthorne Effect

By observing participants knowingly in a study, they will have a higher level of productivity

Placebo Effect

A response to a (placebo) - fake substance caused by the subjects belief that they are being exposed to the real thing

Hindsight Bias

Claiming to have known the result all along, despite having little objective bias for predicting it

Demand Characteristics

Any cues about the purpose of the study, changing expectations or behavior

Central Tendency

Point in distribution of scores around which scores cluster

mean

arithmetic average

median

score that falls into the middle

mode

occurs most frequently

range

difference between highest and lowest values

positively skewed

an extreme score that is very high and skews the curve

Negatively Skewed

an extreme score that is very low and skews the curve

correlation

mutual relationship or connection between two or more variables

correlation coefficient

numerical value {R} denotes strength of the correlation