Psych Research Methods Terms

evidence-based treatment

A psychotherapy technique whose effectiveness has been supported by empirical research

empiricism

the use of verifiable evidence as the basis for conclusions; collecting data systematically and using it to develop, support, or challenge a theory. also called empirical method, empirical research

quantitative method

a way of collecting empirical data in which information is converted to numbers for future statistical analysis

qualitative method

a way of collecting empirical data that creates rich, in-depth descriptions of some phenomenon or group of people, often collected via interviews or extended observations

reflexivity

a process in which researchers reflect on how their own values, biases, and experiences might shape the topics they study and the interpretations they make

theory

a statement or set of statements that describes general principles about how variables relate to one another

hypothesis

a statement of the specific result the researcher expects to observe from a particular study, if the theory is accurate. also called prediction

data

a set of observations representing the values of some variable, collected from one or more research studies

preregistered

a term referring to a study in which, before collecting any data, the researcher has stated publicly what the study’s outcome is expected to be

replication

the process of conducting a study again to test whether the result is consistent

weight of the evidence

a conclusion drawn from reviewing scientific literature and considering the proportion of studies that is consistent with a theory

falsifiability

a feature of a scientific theory, in which it is possible to collect data that will indicate that the theory is wrong

self-correcting

a process in which scientists make their research avaialable for peer review, replication, and critique, with the goal of identifying and correcting errors in the research

applied research

research whose goal is to find a solution to a particular real-world problem

universalism

one of merton’s four scientific norms, stating that scientific claims are evaluated according to their merit, independent of the researcher’s credentials or reputation. the same pre-established criteria apply to all scientists and all research

communality

one of merton’s four scientific norms, stating that scientific knowledge is created by a community, and its findings belong to the community

disinterestedness

one of merton’s four scientific norms, stating that scientists strive to discover the truth whatever it is; they are not swayed by conviction, idealism, politics, or profit

organized skepticism

one of merton’s four scientific norms, stating that scientists question everything, including their own theories, widely accepted ideas, and “ancient wisdom.”

basic research

research whose goal is to enhance the general body of knowldege, without regard for direct application to practical problems

journal

a monthly or quarterly periodical containing peer-reviewed articles on a specific academic discipline or subdiscipline, written for a scholarly audience

journalism

news and commentary published or broadcast in the poplar media and produced for a general audience