Unit 1B: Research Methods Application

Hindsight Bias: The “I knew it all along phenomenon”

Hypothesis: A precise testable prediction

Operational Definition: EXACT procedures that researchers use to MEASURE IV and DV

Quantitative Data: Numerical Data

Qualitative Data: Non-numerical data (scale from 1 to 10)

Replication: The repetition of research

Case Study: One person is studied in depth

Structured Interview: Questions that are always the same and asked in the same order

Naturalistic Observation: Observing and recording behavior in its natural environment, no interference from researchers.

Sampling Bias: Can be eliminated by random sampling

Convenience Sample: Sampling through the most convenient method for the researcher.

Population: The group for which the generalization is being made for

Random Sample: Essential for a representative study

Random Assignment: Essential for fair reducing bias in experiments

Independent Variable

Dependent Variable

Confounding Variable: Other factors that may effect the DV that aren’t/isn’t the IV

Social Desirability Bias: When participants answer in a way that they think the researcher wishes for.

Correlation: Relationship between two variables

Correlation Coefficient: r-value

Scatterplot: For correlation studies

 Illusory Correlation: Lucky suits, lucky goggles, etc.

Single-Blind Procedure: Either the researchers or the participants don’t know which group they are in (control vs experimental).

Double-Blind Procedure: Both the researchers and the participants don’t know which group they are in (control vs experimental).

Placebo: “Treatment” that has no physical effect, used in control groups

Placebo Effect: The effect of a placebo

 Experimental Group: Receives special treatment

 Control Group: Receives placebo or lack of special treatment

Meta Analysis: A research method where researchers combine data from multiple studies

Positive Skewed Distribution: Tail, outliers, and mean is on the right end.

Negative Skewed Distribution: Tail, outliers, and mean is on the left end.

Standard Deviation: How spread out the data is (more SD is more spread out)

Descriptive Statistics: Generalizations

Inferential Statistics: Factual Data

Statistical Significance: How likely the results were not bc of chance, more significance can be achieved with larger sample sizes.

Effect Size: Statistic that shows how much the IV effected the DV (higher effect size —> more impact)

Informed Consent: Participant’s consent for the researcher

Informed Assent: Parent’s consent for participants under 18

Confederates: Fake participants

Debriefing: Researchers must debrief participants about the full nature of the research immediately after participation