Research and Analysis II Exam Four Flashcards

Flashcards covering the logistics, recommended study habits, and key methodological concepts for the Research and Analysis II Final Exam based on the provided transcript.

Confirmation bias

A specific cognitive bias where individuals favor information that confirms their existing beliefs, serving as a reason why systematic research is superior to personal experience.

Construct validity

The assessment of how well a measured variable was captured or how well a manipulated variable was operationalized within a study.

External validity

The degree to which the results of a study can be generalized to other people or situations, considered most essential for frequency claims.

Statistical validity

The extent to which statistical information and conclusions are accurate, which involves interpreting data and understanding potential threats for association and causal claims.

Internal validity

The ability to rule out alternative explanations (confounds) for results, established differently in independent groups versus within-groups designs.

Independent groups design

A research design type where different participants are assigned to separate conditions, such as the sleep study where yoga studio members and community center members were placed in different groups.

Within-groups design

A design where the same participants are exposed to all levels of the independent variable, such as a memory study where the same individuals memorize increasing amounts of words over time.

Repeated measures

A specific within-groups design where participants are tested on the dependent variable multiple times after exposure to each trial or level of the independent variable.

Matched pairs design

An experimental procedure used especially with small sample sizes (e.g., $30$ children) to ensure pre-existing characteristics like working memory are evenly distributed between groups.

Confound

An alternative explanation for research findings, such as selection effects when participants are assigned to groups based on their personal interests or existing backgrounds.