Oxford Text pg 31-42

laboratory observation

observation carried out in a place that has been arranged for the purposes of the study

naturalistic observation

observation carried out in naturally occuring settings

overt observation

participants are aware of the fact that they are being observed

covert observation

the researcher does NOT inform the members of the group the reason for the researcher’s presence (hint: narcissism DISGUISED as altruism, researcher’s presence is disguised)

participant observation

the observer becomes a part of the observed group

structured observation

information is recorded systematically and in a standardized way

unstructured observation

there is no pre-defined structure and observers simply register whatever behaviors they find noteworthy

interview transcript

the audio or video recording of interview data

interview notes

accompanying observations about the participant and teh interview context

structured interviews

an interview approach with a fixed list of questions that need to be asked in a specific order

semi-structured interviews

an interview approach that doesn’t specify an order or particular set of questions

unstructured interviews

an interview approach that is participant-driven, and every next question is determined by the interviewee’s answer to the previous one

inductive content analysis

the widely-used approach to analysing texts produced by participants by deriving a set of recurring themes

memo

an explanation to the reader of how and why certain analysis decision were made

grounded theory

a theory that grows out of empirical data as opposed to prior beliefs

informed consent

(ethical considerations in conducting the study) participation in a study must be voluntary, and participants must fully understand the nature of their involvement

protection from harm

(ethical considerations in conducting the study) at all times during the study particpants must be protected from physical and mental harm

anonymity

(ethical considerations in conducting the study) no one can trace the results back to a participant because no personal details have been provided

confidentiality

(ethical considerations in conducting the study) there is someone who can connect the results of the study to the identity of a particular participant, but they are prevented from sharing this data with anyone

withdrawl from particpation

(ethical considerations in conducting the study) it must be made explicitly clear to participants that, since their participation is voluntary, they are free to withdraw from the study at any time they want

deception

(ethical considerations in conducting the study) the true aims of the study cannot be revealed to the participants because it would change their behavior

debriefing

(ethical considerations in conducting the study) after the study, participants must be fully informed about its nature, its true aims, and how the data will be used and stored

cost-benefit analysis

weighing whether the ethical standards for a study can be relaxed or not for a particular study

ethics committees

professional bodies of psychologists that resolve ambiguous issues and approve research proposals

the Little Albert Experiment

a 9-month old infant was exposed to loud sounds when he was interacting with furry objects (a neutral stimulus), and was then scared of furry objects by themselves

data fabrication

knowingly publishing results of a study with errors

plagiarism

presenting parts of another’s work or data as one’s own

publication credit

authorship on a publication should accurately reflect the relative contributions of all the authors

sharing research data for verification

researchers should not withhold the data used to derive conclusions presented in the publication

handling of sensitive personal information

how the results of the study are conveyed to individual participants

handling of information obtained in genetic research

how the results of the research into genetic influences on human behavior, such as twin, adoption, or family studies (which can sometimes lead to revealing private information to one individual about other members of the person’s family), are conveyed to individual participants

handling results of information related of mental disorders

some studies may result in revealing the presence of illness that was previously unknown

social implications of reporting scientific results

researchers must keep in mind potential effects of the way research conclusions are formulated on the scientific community and society in general

Cyril Burt Controversy

1942 study using identical twins reared apart and together and how that affects intelligence resulted in the same high correlation to its 1956 replication with a larger sample, the studies are now believed by many to be fraud