Psychology Research Methods, Measurement, and Ethics

Vocabulary flashcards covering core psychological research concepts including reliability, validity, ethics, experimental design, and correlation based on the lecture transcript.

Reliability

The degree to which a study, experiment, or psychological test consistently produces the same result over repeated measurements.

Validity

The extent to which a test or research design accurately measures what it is intended to measure.

Confound

An unintended third variable that changes along with the independent variable, making it impossible to determine which factor caused the observed effect on the dependent variable.

Psychological Measure

An assessment tool used to evaluate internal psychological constructs or mental content, such as knowledge, aggression, or emotions.

Loss of Privacy and Confidentiality

A research risk where a participant's personal data or individual responses might be exposed or improperly linked to their identity.

Data Aggregation

The ethical practice of combining individual participants' responses into a group summary to ensure personal responses cannot be individually identified.

Informed Consent

A document provided to participants prior to a study that details the research procedures, potential risks, benefits, and their right to withdraw at any time.

Debriefing

A procedure conducted after a study concludes, in which researchers disclose all details omitted during consent, explain the study's purpose, and provide contact information for help with any adverse events.

Institutional Review Board (IRB)

An administrative committee that reviews research proposals at institutions receiving federal funding to ensure participant safety, ethical protections, and acceptable risk-benefit ratios.

Independent Variable (IV)

The variable in a study that is manipulated or established by the researcher as the presumed cause of an outcome.

Dependent Variable (DV)

The outcome or result variable that is measured to observe the effect of changes in the independent variable.

Experimental Design

A research method characterized by the direct manipulation of an independent variable and random assignment to establish cause-and-effect relationships.

Random Assignment

A technique used in experiments to assign participants to conditions purely by chance, ensuring groups are comparable at the start of the study.

Correlational Study

A research design that observes and measures the natural statistical relationship between two or more variables without experimental manipulation or random assignment.

Case Study

A research method involving a detailed, in-depth examination of a single individual.

Naturalistic Observation

A descriptive research method where subjects are observed directly in their natural environment without intervention.