All Flashcards
What is the importance of understanding research methods in psychology?
Forms basis of how we gain knowledge about behavior and mental processes.
Explain the purpose of correlational research.
To identify relationships between variables without manipulation.
What is the goal of experimental research?
To determine cause-and-effect relationships by manipulating variables.
What is the importance of random sampling?
Ensures a representative sample, increasing generalizability.
Explain the concept of statistical significance.
Likelihood that results are not due to chance.
What is the purpose of a double-blind study?
To minimize experimenter and participant bias.
What is the placebo effect?
A beneficial effect produced by a placebo drug or treatment, which cannot be attributed to the properties of the placebo itself, and must therefore be due to the patient's belief in that treatment.
Explain the concept of informed consent.
Participants must know the risks and benefits of research before agreeing to participate.
What is debriefing in psychological research?
Explaining the purpose and any deception after the study.
What is the role of replication in research?
Repeating a study to confirm or disconfirm the original findings.
What is the Hawthorne effect?
The alteration of behavior by the subjects of a study due to their awareness of being observed.
Compare experimental and correlational research.
Experimental: cause-effect; Correlational: relationships; manipulation vs. no manipulation.
Compare naturalistic observation and case study.
Naturalistic: real-world; Case study: in-depth, single subject; general vs. specific.
Compare random sampling and random assignment.
Random sampling: selecting participants; Random assignment: assigning to groups; generalizability vs. causality.
Compare internal and external validity.
Internal: cause-effect relationship; External: generalizability; control vs. realism.
Compare single-blind and double-blind studies.
Single-blind: participant unaware; Double-blind: both participant and researcher unaware; participant bias vs. both biases.
Compare cross-sectional and longitudinal studies.
Cross-sectional: data at one point in time; Longitudinal: data over a period; snapshot vs. development.
Compare qualitative and quantitative research.
Qualitative: descriptive; Quantitative: numerical; understanding vs. measuring.
Compare open-ended and closed-ended questions in surveys.
Open-ended: free response; Closed-ended: fixed choices; detail vs. efficiency.
Compare the use of surveys and interviews in data collection.
Surveys: efficient, large samples; Interviews: in-depth, detailed responses; breadth vs. depth.
Compare the strengths and weaknesses of using deception in research.
Strengths: allows study of natural behavior; Weaknesses: ethical concerns, potential harm; validity vs. ethics.
Compare the use of animals and humans in psychological research.
Animals: simpler systems, more control; Humans: complex behaviors, ethical constraints; control vs. relevance.
What is the effect of random assignment on experimental results?
Reduces the likelihood of systematic differences between groups.
What is the effect of a confounding variable on the dependent variable?
It can obscure or distort the true relationship between IV and DV.
What is the effect of experimenter bias on study outcomes?
Can lead to skewed results that confirm the researcher's expectations.
What is the effect of participant bias on study validity?
Can lead to inaccurate data due to social desirability or demand characteristics.
What is the effect of a large sample size on statistical power?
Increases the ability to detect a real effect.
What is the effect of using a control group in an experiment?
Provides a baseline for comparison to determine the effect of the IV.
What is the effect of not obtaining informed consent?
Violates ethical guidelines and can harm participants.
What is the effect of using deception in research?
Requires careful justification and thorough debriefing.
What is the effect of high internal validity on a study?
Increased confidence that the IV caused the changes in the DV.
What is the effect of low external validity on research findings?
Limits the generalizability of the results to other settings.
What is the effect of not controlling for the placebo effect?
May lead to overestimation of treatment effectiveness.