Psychology Research Methods: Causality and Correlation

A set of 15 vocabulary flashcards covering causality, experimental design controls, correlational research, and types of causal relationships based on lecture notes.

Causality

A relationship between two variables (events) where one variable (event) causes or directly leads to or produces another variable (the effect).

Experimental Control

Careful management of study conditions—such as testing time, room conditions, and participant characteristics—used by psychologists to help establish causal relationships.

Manipulation of IV

A methodological control where the researcher intentionally changes one variable (the cause) to observe its effect.

Random Assignment

A methodological control where participants are randomly placed in groups (e.g., control vs. experimental).

Controlling Extraneous Variables

A methodological control focused on controlling factors that could influence the dependent variable.

Placebo Effects

Inert treatments that mimic active treatments, used in treatment studies.

Double-blind Procedures

A procedure where neither participants nor researchers know group assignment, preventing bias.

Ethical Constraints

Limitations that prevent certain concepts (such as depriving people of food, love, or socialization, or inducing trauma or depression) from being studied through direct experimentation.

Correlational Studies

Studies observing relationships between variables that give insight into what should be studied to attempt to determine causation.

Correlation

A relationship between variables where changes in one are associated with changes in another, which does not imply causation.

Bidirectional Ambiguity

A scenario in correlational research where it is unclear which variable causes the other, or if the relationship is reversed.

Third Variable Problem

A scenario in correlational research where another unmeasured factor might influence both variables.

Linear Causality

A type of causality ($A \rightarrow B$) where one factor directly causes a change in another.

Domino Causality

A type of causality ($A \rightarrow B \rightarrow C \rightarrow D$) where one factor starts a chain of effects, with intermediate steps leading to the final outcome.

Cyclical Causality

A type of causality ($A \leftrightarrow B$) where two or more factors continually influence each other, creating a feedback loop.