CH.2 Psychological Research

What is research?

Mandatory research in validating claims

Scientific research is empirical

Can be observed time and time again, regardless of who’s observing it

Deductive reasoning

logical process where conclusions are drawn from general principles

• (ex. all living things require energy to survive (premise), ducks are living things, therefore ducks require energy to survive (conclusion))

Inductive reasoning

conclusions are drawn from observations

• (ex. you see fruit growing from tress and therefore assume all fruit grows on trees)

Theory

well-develop set of ideas that promise an explanation for observed phenomena

Hypothesis

prediction about the relationship between two or more variables

• usually an “if-then”

• Capable of being shown as incorrect

‘Clinical or case studies’ focus on one individual…

that is typically in a extrema or unique psychological circumstance that differentiates them for the general public.

Naturalistic behavior

hidden under scrutiny (observation).

• people’s actions in their natural environment

• most effective when it comes to observing people

Observer bias

when observations may be skewed (change direction) to align with observer expectations

cross-sectional research

compares multiple segments of a population at a single time (such as different age groups)

Longitudinal

same group of individuals are surveyed repeatedly over an extended period of time.

Attrition

reduction of number of participants as some drop out of the study over time

Correlation

Relationship between two or more variables are correlated

Correlation Coefficient

Positive Correlation

Negative Correlation

Cause-and-effect relationship

changes in one variable cause the changes in the other variable

Confounding variable

Illusory correlations