Research in Psychology Ch 3 How psychologists use scientific method – Flashcards
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operational definition
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A definition of an abstract concept that makes is concrete for the purpose of the research study, defined concept so that it can be measured by a specific behavior (or set of behaviors).
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content analysis
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An archival data collection technique that involves analysis of the content of an individual's spoken or written record.
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correlational
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Type of research design in which the researcher is looking for a co-occurrence relationship between two (or more) variables
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qualitative
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Type of data that includes nonnumerical participant responses.
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open-ended response scale
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Participants respond to survey questions in any manner they feel is appropriate for the question.
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systematic (contrived) observation
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Five approaches to research: 1) naturalistic observation, 2) participant observation, 3) survey and interviews, 4) archival data, 5) ______.
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scatterplot
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A graph showing the relationship between two dependent variables for a group of individuals.
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independent variable
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The variable that is manipulated.
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may learn about something that never would have thought of looking at experimentally
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Three advantages of observational methods of research in psychology: 1) Complex patterns of behavior in can be observed in particular settings, 2) useful when little is known about the subject of study, 3) ______.
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levels of the independent variable
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Different situations or conditions that participants experience in an experiment because of the manipulation of the independent variable.
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confounding variable
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Extraneous factors that could affect the results but are not part of the independent variables manipulated.
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confounding variable
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An extraneous factor present in a study that may affect the results.
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quantitative
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Data type that is numerical.
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third-variable problem
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The presence of extraneous factors in a study that affect the dependent variable and can decrease the internal validity of the study.
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correlational
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Four types of research designs: 1) case studies, 2) ______, 3) quasi-experimental, 4) experimental.
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precise control is possible
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Four Advantages of experimental method: 1) ______, 2) precise measurement is possible, 3) theory testing is possible, 4) can make causal claims.
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difficult to be unobtrusive (the presence of an observer can easily change the behavior of those being observed)
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Two disadvantages of naturalistic observation: 1) ______, 2) can consume a lot of time and resources.
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closed-ended response scale
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Participants respond to survey questions according to the response options provided by the researcher.
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validity
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Characteristic of a survey that refers to making sure that the question asked are really about the behavior the researcher is interested in.
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third-variable problem
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The reason that researchers cannot determine causation from correlational studies.
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can consume a lot of time and resources
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Two disadvantages of naturalistic observation: 1) difficult to be unobtrusive (The presence of an observer can easily change the behavior of those being observed), 2) ______.
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external validity
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The degree to which the results of a study apply to individuals and realistic behaviors outside the study.
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internal validity
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The degree to which a study provides causal information about behavior.
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interviews
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A data collection technique that involves direct questioning of individuals about their behaviors and attitudes.
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directionality of the relationship isn't known
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Four disadvantages of observational methods of research in psychology: 1) difficult to determine causality, 2) threats to internal validity because of lack of control (confounding variables), 3) ______, 4) sometimes the results are not reproducible.
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precise measurement is possible
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Four Advantages of experimental method: 1) precise control is possible, 2) ______, 3) theory testing is possible, 4) can make causal claims.
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predictor variable
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The dependent variable in a correlational study that is used to predict the score on another variable.
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the behavior is likely to be more realistic
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Two advantages of naturalistic observation: 1) ______, 2) increase the external validity of the study.
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reliability
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The degree to which the results of a study can be replicated under similar conditions.
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participant observation
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Type of observational method in which the researcher engages in the same behaviors as those being observed.
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experimental
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Four types of research designs: 1) case studies, 2) correlational, 3) quasi-experimental, 4) ______.
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archival data
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Type of observational method where, rather than making direct observations, the researcher examines existing public or private records
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closed-ended
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Type of response scale in which the participants are limited in the types of responses they can make to the survey items; only certain responses are valid.
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naturalistic observation
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Observation of animals in their natural environments or children who are in specific environments (both natural and contrived).
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complex patterns of behavior in can be observed in particular settings
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Three advantages of observational methods of research in psychology: 1) ______, 2) useful when little is known about the subject of study, 3) may learn about something that never would have thought of looking at experimentally.
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outcome variable
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The dependent variable in a correlational study that is being predicted by the predictor variable.
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naturalistic observation
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A data collection technique involving noninvasive observation of individuals in their natural environments.
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variable
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An attribute that can vary across individuals.
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naturalistic observation
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Five approaches to research: 1) ______, 2) participant observation, 3) survey and interviews, 4) archival data, 5) systematic (contrived) observation.
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archival data
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A data collection technique that involves analysis of preexisting data.
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experiment
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Which research method is best when asking about the cause of behavior?
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systematic observation
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Data collection technique where control is exerted over the conditions under which the behavior is observed.
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pretest-posttest design
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A type of research design (often a quasi-experiment) where behavior is measured both before and after a treatment or condition is implemented.
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experiment
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A type of research design that involves manipulation of an independent variable, allowing control of extraneous variables that could affect the results.
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dependent variable
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The variable that is measured.
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sometimes the results are not reproducible
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Four disadvantages of observational methods of research in psychology: 1) difficult to determine causality, 2) threats to internal validity because of lack of control (confounding variables, 3) directionality of the relationship isn't known, 4) ______.
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quasi-experiment
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A type of research design where a comparison is made, as in an experiment, but no random assignment of participants to groups occurs.
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internal validity
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The degree to which a study provides a good test of a causal hypothesis, where alternative explanations of the data can be ruled out.
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case study
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A research design that involves intensive study of particular individuals and their behaviors.
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reliability
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In a survey, that aspect which means that the participants' responses are similar from item to item or from one they complete the survey to the next.
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experimental group
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The treated group in an experiment.
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survey and interviews
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Five approaches to research: 1) naturalistic observation, 2) participant observation, 3) ______, 4) archival data, 5) systematic (contrived) observation.
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positive
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A relationship between variables characterized by coupled increases in the two variables.
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dependent variable
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A variable that is measured or observed from an individual.
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interrater reliability
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Term for how similarly observers are code data from the same observation.
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external validity
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The degree to which the behavior observed in the study is realistic, would occur naturally, and can be generalized beyond the boundaries of the study to other individuals and situations.
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control group
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The non-treated group in an experiment.
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difficult to determine causality
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Four disadvantages of observational methods of research in psychology: 1) ______, 2) threats to internal validity because of lack of control (confounding variables), 3) directionality of the relationship isn't known, 4) sometimes the results are not reproducible.
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useful when little is known about the subject of study
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Three advantages of observational methods of research in psychology: 1) Complex patterns of behavior in can be observed in particular settings, 2) ______, 3) may learn about something that never would have thought of looking at experimentally.
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negative
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A relationship between variables characterized by an increase in one variable that occurs with a decrease in the other variable.
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participant observation
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Five approaches to research: 1) naturalistic observation, 2) ______, 3) survey and interviews, 4) archival data, 5) systematic (contrived) observation.
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archival data
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Five approaches to research: 1) naturalistic observation, 2) participant observation, 3) survey and interviews, 4) ______, 5) systematic (contrived) observation.
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increase the external validity of the study
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Two advantages of naturalistic observation: 1) the behavior is likely to be more realistic, 2) ______.
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control group
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The group of participants in an experiment that do not experience the treatment level of the independent variable.
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independent variable
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A variable in an experiment that is manipulated by the researcher such that the levels of the variable change across or within subjects in the experiment.
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threats to internal validity because of lack of control (confounding variables)
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Four disadvantages of observational methods of research in psychology: 1) difficult to determine causality, 2) ______, 3) directionality of the relationship isn't known, 4) sometimes the results are not reproducible.
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quasi-experimental
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Type of research design in which the researcher uses an experimental designs with one or more non-random variables
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survey research
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A research study that uses the survey observational technique to measure behavior.
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control variables
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The variable that is held constant for all participants in the experiment.
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operational definition
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The definition of an abstract concept used by a researcher to measure or manipulate the concept in a research study.
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systematic observation
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Type of observational method where the observer sets up the situation that is observed (a contrived observation).
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experimental group
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The group of participants in an experiment that experiences the treatment level of the independent variable
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experimental
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Type of research design in which the researcher investigates the cause-and-effect relationship between two (or more) variables through the manipulation of variables.
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response variable
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Another name for a dependent variable.
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case study
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Type of research design in which the researcher intensively studies a small set of individuals and their behaviors
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correlational study
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A type of research design that examines the relationships between multiple dependent variables, without manipulating any of the variables.
