Lecture 8: PSYC 217 – Inferential Statistics and Research Methods

Flashcards covering qualitative and quantitative methods, observation techniques, Indigenous research methodologies, sampling strategies, and types of study replications based on the PSYC 217 Lecture 8 notes.

Quantitative methods

A method of analysis where the unit of analysis is numerical data and the primary tool is statistical analysis.

Qualitative methods

A method where the unit of analysis involves personal experience and open-ended responses, analyzed through the interpretation of responses.

Naturalistic observation

Information gathered or recorded from people in the "field" without any experimental manipulations.

Participant observation

A research method where the observer participates along with the people being observed, though this may lead to reactivity issues.

Concealed observation

A technique where either the observation process itself or the purpose of the observations is hidden from the participants.

Systematic observation

Observations of specific behaviours in a more controlled setting, often involving coding to categorise what is being observed.

Two-eyed seeing approach

A research methodology that mixes Western research methods with Indigenous worldviews, specifically Mi’kmaq.

Case studies

A research method, common in clinical psychology, that involves studying specific cases in great detail.

Archival research

Information gathered through existing records such as statistical reports, newspaper articles, or speeches, often using content analysis.

Content analysis

A method used by researchers to analyse documents and records found in archival research.

EAR (Electronically Activated Recorder)

A small clip-on microphone and digital sound recorder that records $30$ seconds of ambient sound at every pre-set interval.

Probability sampling

A category of sampling where participants are randomly drawn, making them likely representative of the population with high generalisability.

Simple random sampling

A probability sampling technique where everyone in a population has an equal chance of being chosen.

Cluster sampling

A method used when "clusters" exist within a population, where researchers randomly sample clusters rather than individual members.

Stratified random sampling

A technique that identifies subgroups and their proportions within a population, then randomly draws samples from those subgroups to reflect those proportions.

Non-probability sampling

A category of sampling where participants are not drawn at random, which is convenient but results in low generalisability.

Convenience sampling

A non-probability sampling technique where researchers recruit participants whenever and wherever they can.

Purposive sampling

A technique that involves targeting only people who fit a certain criterion or set of criteria for recruitment.

Snowball sampling

A method where researchers ask participants to recommend others to participate, helping to accumulate a sample.

Random assignment

A process where every participant has an equal chance of being in any experimental condition, allowing for high internal validity.

Random sampling

Also known as random selection, this process gives every person in the population an equal chance of being chosen, allowing for high external validity.

College Sophomore Problem

The specific issue of convenience sampling where most research is conducted at universities using students, leading to low generalizability to the global population.

Mundane realism

A type of ecological validity where the experimental situation resembles something that one would experience in everyday life.

Experimental realism

A type of ecological validity where the research setting induces a realistic experience, even within an artificial setting.

WEIRD

An acronym for Western, Educated, Industrialised, Rich, and Democratic societies, which make up less than $15\%$ of the world’s population.

Meta-analyses

A method that looks across all studies done on a topic to determine how strong the overall effect is.

Conceptual replications

A type of replication where a new study uses a different design or materials that are conceptually similar to the original study.

Direct replications

A replication that involves exactly copying the methodologies and materials used in the original study.

Replication-plus-extension

A research approach that partially uses the same materials as the original study but adds additional parts to address new questions.

Talking Circles

An Indigenous research methodology used during relationship building, reflecting the cultural practice of oral tradition.