Psychology Research Methods

What is a hypothesis?

A statement that can tested after an experiment.

What is falsifiability?

The possibility to conceive an experimental observation that disproves the idea in question.

What is naturalistic observation?

Observing subjects in their natural environment without interference.

Which research method allows for authentic data?

Naturalistic Observation

What research method doesn't explain behavior?

Naturalistic Observation

What research method may cause subjects to act different when being watched?

Naturalistic Observation

What is a case study?

In-depth analysis of a specific individual or group

What research method allows for in-depth information?

Case Study

What research method might not be true for all/time consuming?

Case Study

What is meta-analysis?

Combining results from multiple studies to get a comprehensive conclusion.

What research method can increase precision/settle controversy?

Meta-analysis

What type of research method provides no new info and may be missing info?

Meta-analysis

Observing children in a playground to study social interactions without intervening is an example of a?

Naturalistic Observation

A longitudinal study of a patient with a rare psychological disorder to understand its progression is an example of a?

Case Study

Analyzing various studies on the effectiveness of a specific therapy to determine overall efficacy is an example of?

Meta-analysis

Correlation Study

Investigating the relationship between two variables to find out if a connection exists.

What research method shows the statistical relationship between 2 variables?

Correlation Study

What research method shows that correlation doesn't equal causation?

Correlation Study

What is a correlation coefficient?

A range from -1 (strong negative) to +1 (strong positive), indicating the strength and direction of the relationship.

What is ex post facto?

Research conducted after an event has occurred

What is a longitudinal study?

Researchers follow the same group over an extended period

What is a cross-sectional study?

When researchers examine different age groups at a single point in time

What is an operational definition?

A clear definition of variables to ensure consistent measurement

What is an example of an operational definition?

Defining 'stress' as a score on a specific anxiety scale.

What is a random assignment?

Participants are randomly assigned to groups

What is a single-blind study?

Participants are unaware of their group assignment but researcher know.

What is a double-blind study?

Both participants and researchers are unaware of group assignments

What is peer review?

An independent evaluation of research to identify potential biases and improve study quality.

What is an independent variable (IV)?

The variable manipulated by the researcher

What is a dependent variable (DV)?

The outcome measured in response to the IV.

What is a confounding variable?

The variable that needs to be reduced because it can affect the IV.

What are 3 things needed in an experiment set-up?

A controlled setting

2 groups of people

Random assignment

What does it mean if an experiment may not be generalizable?

Since it's performed in a controlled environment the variables may behave differently in a non-controlled environment.

What are the 2 groups in an experiment

Experimental and control group

What is an experimental group?

The group in an experiment that receives the variable being tested

What is a control group?

The group that does not receive the experimental treatment.

What is the first ethical guideline for research involving participants?

Obtain voluntary, informed consent from participants.

What should researchers allow participants to do at any time during a study?

Withdraw at any time.

What is required for minors participating in research?

Informed assent.

What must researchers do to protect participants?

Protect participants from unnecessary harm or discomfort.

What must researchers maintain regarding participant information?

Confidentiality of all participants.

What should researchers do after a study is completed?

Debrief individuals.

What approval is necessary before conducting research involving human participants?

Approval from IRB (Institutional Review Board).

What must be provided in animal research?

Humane care and conditions

What should be minimized in animal research?

Pain and discomfort

What is used to alleviate pain in animal research?

Anesthesia

Who should be consulted in animal research?

Veterinarians

What must the benefits of animal research outweigh?

The cost

What should be considered regarding the benefits of animal research?

Benefits to society versus pain on the animal

What must be planned in animal research?

An end date

What is qualitative data?

Involves narrative descriptions and is not quantifiable

What is an example of qualitative data?

Structured interviews

What is an example of quantitative data?

Likert scale

What is quantitative data?

Numerical data

Mean

average

Median

Middle #

Mode

Most Frequent

What does IRB stand for?

Institutional Review Board

What does the IRB do?

They asses potential risks and benefits to participants before approving a study.

What does APA stand for?

American Psychological Association

What does the APA do regarding studies?

They set specific criteria that researcher's must follow to ensure ethical compliance.

What is standard deviation?

A measure of the dispersion of data points from the mean, indicating how spread out the data is.

what is normal distribution?

An equal bell-shaped curve, the mean, median, and mode are also all equal

What is skewed distribution?

Occurs when extreme values affect the mean, median, and mode differently.

What is a positive skew?

More low scores with a high outlier

What is a negative skew?

More high scores with a low outlier

What is bimodal distribution?

Has two humps

Why are ethics important?

To protect participants and maintain integrity in scientific inquiry

What is a scatter plot?

A chart that visualizes both the type and strength of a relationship between 2 variables.