Research Methods Quiz 6

Correlational Research

a study that measures two or more variables and examines their relationship, necessary because some variables cannot be manipulated and must be studied as they naturally occur

• construct validity and statistical validity especially important

Predictive Correlational Design

predictor variable is measured before the outcome; used to predict the value of a dependent (outcome) variable based on the values of one or more independent (predictor) variables

Archival Research

examines existing records or datasets; uses already existing data and low cost

Simulation Studies

generates data using computers and tests conditions difficult to study in real life

Content Analysis

a research method used to systematically evaluate and interpret qualitative data - such as text, images, or audio - by identifying, coding, and analyzing patterns and themes; can use annual reports and social media posts; mainly consists of existing textual or recorded data

Focus Group

a carefully planned group discussion with about 6-10 participants

Nonthreatening Environment in Focus Group

a permissive, comfortable, and nonjudgmental atmosphere where participants feel safe to share honest opinions without fear or criticism; encourages participants to freely share their opinions; lets new ideas emerge through interaction among participants

Conceptual Replication

investigates the same research question but uses different procedures

Direct Replication

the process of repeating a study as closely as possible to the original, using identical methods and materials, to verify if the initial findings are reliable; can change participants

Replication-Plus-Extension

repeats an original study to verify its findings while simultaneously adding new conditions, variables, or participant groups to expand on the original research question

Scientific Literature

comprises studies conducted with different methods

Meta-Analysis

a statistical method that combines data from multiple independent studies to produce a single, high-powered, and more reliable conclusion; allows researchers to examine the strength of a relationship and for calculation of effect sizes across multiple studies

File Drawer Problem

a type of publication bias where studies with statistically significant results are more likely to be published than those with null or negative findings

Ecological Validity

mundane realism, the extent to which research findings can be generalized to real-life settings, focused on how closely a study’s environment and tasks resemble daily life

Generalization Mode

a research approach prioritizing external validity to apply findings from a specific study to a broader population, context, or setting, frequency claims are always researched in this mode

Theory-Testing Mode

a research approach focused on testing association or causal claims to support, refine, or refute a theory, rather than generalizing to the real world; de-emphasizes ecological validity

Cultural Psychology

a subdiscipline of psychology that works primarily in the generalization mode, often disproves theories based on WEIRD samples

WEIRD Psychology

the over-reliance of psychological research on samples from Western, Educated, Industrialized, Rich, and Democratic societies

Field Setting

conducting research in natural, real-world environments - such as schools, workplaces, or public spaces - rather than in a controlled laboratory, high in ecological validity

Experimental Realism

the degree to which a psychological study is engaging, immersive, and meaningful to participants, causing them to take the experiment seriously and behave naturally; supports external validity

Mundane Realism

the degree to which an experimental situation or task resembles everyday, real-life experiences

P-Hacking

the misuse of data analysis to manipulate results, often by trying multiple statistical methods until a non-significant result becomes significant; can involve running a different analysis than originally planned

Preregistration

the practice of documenting a study’s research plan - including hypotheses, methods, and analysis strategy - in a time-stamped, public registry before collecting or analyzing data; occurs before data collection

Open Science Practices

enhance research transparency, reproducibility, and credibility by making methods, data, and materials, openly accessible

Open Materials

provide free, openly licensed textbooks, course materials, and research tools that allow instructors and students to access, share, and edit content without cost or copyright barriers

Open Science Collaboration (2015)

allowed for the direct replication of popular research studies

HARKing

hypothesizing after the results are known