methods exam 2

What are the five components of the CURE model?

Course-based research, undergraduate involvement, research experience, exploration, and relevance.

Why is it important to think about the dependent variable (DV) early in research?

It determines how outcomes are measured, influences research design and procedure, and affects statistical analysis and conclusions.

What are the four goals of science?

Describe, predict, explain, and control.

What is an independent variable (IV)?

The manipulated variable in an experiment.

What is a dependent variable (DV)?

The measured outcome in an experiment.

What is a confounding variable?

An extraneous variable that differs across conditions and threatens internal validity.

What is a randomized controlled trial (RCT)?

An experiment with random assignment, at least one treatment group, and at least one control group.

What was manipulated in Zhao et al.'s study?

The type of praise given to participants.

What are the strengths of a between-subjects design?

No order effects, simpler design, and works for long-term treatments.

What are the weaknesses of a within-subjects design?

Order effects, carryover effects, and demand characteristics.

What is counterbalancing in experimental design?

Varying the order of conditions across participants to control for order effects.

What is a mixed design in research?

A design that combines one between-subjects variable and one within-subjects variable.

What is internal validity?

The confidence that the independent variable caused the dependent variable.

What is a factorial design?

A design that combines multiple independent variables.

What does a main effect in factorial designs refer to?

The effect of one independent variable averaged across levels of the other independent variable.

What is an interaction in factorial designs?

When the effect of one independent variable depends on the level of another independent variable.

Why are quasi-experiments used?

When random assignment is not possible due to ethical or practical limitations.

What is an interrupted time-series design?

A design that involves repeated measurements over time to look for changes after an intervention.

What are the four moral principles in psychological research?

Weigh risks vs benefits, act with integrity, seek justice, and respect rights and dignity.

What is informed consent?

Participants are fully informed about the study and must voluntarily agree to participate.

What is the role of the Institutional Review Board (IRB)?

To review research for ethical concerns and ensure participant protection.

What is a reversal (ABAB) design?

A single-case design that involves alternating between treatment and no treatment phases.

What is the difference between nomothetic and idiographic approaches?

Nomothetic focuses on large groups and general laws, while idiographic focuses on individual cases and detailed analysis.

What is converging evidence in research?

Strong conclusions that come from multiple studies showing similar results.

What are the threats to internal validity in one-group designs?

History, maturation, testing, and instrumentation.

What is the placebo effect?

A phenomenon where participants experience changes in their condition due to their expectations rather than the treatment itself.

What is a non-equivalent group design?

A design where groups are not randomly assigned, often using pre-existing groups.