Methods in Psychology — Chapter 2 Notes (Scientific Method, Observation, Correlations, Experiments)

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms from the lecture notes on the scientific method, observation methods, WEIRD psychology, case studies, correlational and experimental designs, and related biases.

Empirical evidence

Knowledge gained from direct observation or experimentation.

Theory

An explanation of natural phenomena that makes specific, testable predictions.

Hypothesis

A falsifiable prediction derived from a theory.

Falsifiable

Capable of being proven wrong by empirical evidence.

Operational definition

A description of a property in measurable terms, including how it will be detected.

Measurement

Process of determining the property to be measured and establishing a detector to detect it.

Construct validity

The degree to which an operational definition's operations are good indicators of the intended property.

Detector power

Detector’s ability to detect differences or changes in the magnitude of a property.

Detector reliability

Detector’s ability to detect the absence of differences or changes in magnitude; consistency across measurements.

Demand characteristics

Aspects of an observational setting that cause people to behave as they think others want.

Naturalistic observation

Unobtrusively observing people in their natural habitats.

Privacy & control

Allowing private/anonymous responses and measuring behaviors not under voluntary control.

Unawareness

Ensuring participants are unaware of the purpose of the observation.

WEIRD Psychology

Western, Educated, Industrialized, Rich, Democratic populations; most studies sample from WEIRD societies.

Hawthorne Effect

Reactivity where people change behavior because they know they are being observed; researcher presence can influence outcomes.

Case study

A research method for studying a single case or individual in depth.

Phineas Gage

A case showing brain localization and the frontal lobe’s role in personality and decision making.

Localization of brain function

Idea that brain functions are specialized in different regions.

Frontal lobe

Brain region linked to decision making and personality

Correlational methods

Research assessing how two or more variables covary without manipulating them.

Positive correlation

As one variable increases, the other tends to increase.

Negative correlation

As one variable increases, the other tends to decrease.

No correlation

Two variables show no systematic relationship.

Third-variable problem

a confounding variable affects both variables to make them seem causally related when they are not

Causation

A relationship where one variable causes a change in another; established through experiments.

Independent variable

The variable that researchers deliberately manipulate in an experiment.

Dependent variable

The variable that is measured and observed in an experiment.

Experiment

A research method that manipulates an independent variable to assess causal effects on a dependent variable.

Anchoring effect

A cognitive bias where judgments are influenced by an initial reference point.

Reactivity

Behavior changes resulting from being observed, related to the Hawthorne Effect.