#AP Psychology: Research Methods - The Night Before 🌃

Hey! Let's get you feeling super confident about research methods. This is your final sprint, so let's make every minute count! We'll break down the key concepts, connect the dots, and get you ready to ace those questions. Let's do this! 💪

#Choosing Your Method: What's the Goal?

Before diving into research, always ask: What am I trying to find out? Your research question dictates your method. It's like picking the right tool for the job! 🧰

• Correlation: Just want to see if two things are related? An experiment isn't your best bet. Think surveys or observational studies.
• Causation: Need to prove that one thing causes another? Then, an experiment is the way to go!

#Validity: Are Your Results for Real?

Validity is all about how trustworthy your results are. There are two key types:

#External Validity

• Definition: How well can your findings be generalized to the real world? Can you apply the result to other people, places, and situations?
• Example: If a drug study only uses middle-aged men, can we apply the results to women or teenagers? Probably not! 🙅‍♀️

#Internal Validity

• Definition: How sure are you that your independent variable actually caused the change in your dependent variable?
• Confounding Variables: These are the enemies of internal validity! They're sneaky variables that mess with your results. 😈

#Confounding Variables

• Definition: An outside factor that influences both the independent and dependent variables, making it hard to know what's really causing the effect.

• Example: The classic ice cream and crime example! 🍦⛓️

  • It looks like ice cream sales and crime rates are related, but that's because they both increase in the summer. The confounding variable is the weather. ☀️

  • Another example: Coffee and pancreatic cancer. Smoking is a confounding variable here.

  

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#Research Methods: A Quick Rundown

Here’s a table summarizing the core research methods. Let's make sure you know the ins and outs of each one:

Table Courtesy of Myers AP Psychology Textbook - 2nd Edition

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Let's break down a real AP question. This will help you see how these concepts show up on the exam. 📝

Scenario:

John suggests giving pizza coupons for every ten books read to boost reading scores. He bases this on research showing a "relation" between incentives and reading. 🍕

Analysis:

• The Problem: John implies causation from correlation. He saw a relationship and concluded that incentives cause increased reading. 🙅‍♂️
• Why It's Wrong: He didn't run an experiment. He can't claim that incentives cause more reading. There could be other factors at play!
• Key Takeaway: Always be critical of claims that imply causation from correlational data. 🧐

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Alright, here's your last-minute checklist for exam success: 🚀

• High-Priority Topics:
  • Research Methods: Know the strengths and weaknesses of each method. Focus on experimental design and validity.
  • Correlation vs. Causation: This is a HUGE concept. Make sure you understand the difference.
  • Confounding Variables: Be able to identify them and explain how they affect internal validity.
• Common Question Types:
  • Multiple Choice: Expect questions that test your understanding of research design and concepts.
  • Free Response: Look for FRQs that ask you to analyze research scenarios and identify flaws.
• Time Management:
  • Read each question carefully. Don't rush!
  • Plan your FRQ responses before you start writing.
  • Don't get stuck on one question. Move on and come back if you have time.
• Common Pitfalls:
  • Confusing correlation and causation.
  • Not identifying confounding variables.
  • Misunderstanding the purpose of different research methods.

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Practice Question

Multiple Choice Questions:

1. A researcher is interested in studying the effects of sleep deprivation on cognitive performance. Participants are randomly assigned to either a group that gets 8 hours of sleep or a group that gets 4 hours of sleep. Which research method is being used? (A) Case Study (B) Naturalistic Observation (C) Correlational Study (D) Experiment (E) Survey

2. In a study investigating the relationship between stress levels and academic performance, researchers found a negative correlation. This means that: (A) Increased stress causes decreased academic performance. (B) Decreased stress causes increased academic performance. (C) As stress levels increase, academic performance tends to decrease. (D) Stress and academic performance are not related. (E) Stress has no effect on academic performance.

3. A researcher wants to investigate the effectiveness of a new therapy technique for anxiety. They recruit participants and randomly assign them to either the new therapy group or a control group. However, some participants in the new therapy group also seek additional therapy outside of the study. This outside therapy is an example of: (A) A dependent variable (B) An independent variable (C) A confounding variable (D) A control variable (E) A placebo

Free Response Question:

Researchers are conducting a study to investigate the effects of a new social media app on teenagers' self-esteem. They randomly assign participants to one of two groups: one group uses the new social media app for 2 hours daily, and the other group does not use the app at all. After two weeks, the researchers measure the self-esteem of all participants. They find that the group using the social media app has significantly lower self-esteem scores compared to the control group.

(a) Identify the independent and dependent variables in this study. (b) Explain how random assignment helps to control for confounding variables. (c) Describe one potential confounding variable that could affect the study's results, and explain how it could influence the outcome. (d) Based on the study's design, can the researchers conclude that using the new social media app causes lower self-esteem? Explain why or why not.

Scoring Rubric:

(a) (2 points) - 1 point for correctly identifying the independent variable: use of the new social media app. - 1 point for correctly identifying the dependent variable: self-esteem scores.

(b) (2 points) - 1 point for stating that random assignment helps to distribute participant characteristics evenly across groups. - 1 point for explaining that this reduces the likelihood of pre-existing differences between groups influencing the results.

(c) (2 points) - 1 point for identifying a potential confounding variable (e.g., pre-existing self-esteem levels, social comparison tendencies, exposure to other social media). - 1 point for explaining how that variable could influence the outcome (e.g., those with lower pre-existing self-esteem may be more negatively impacted by social media).

(d) (2 points) - 1 point for stating that the researchers can conclude that using the app causes lower self-esteem because it is an experiment with random assignment - 1 point for explaining that random assignment helps control for confounding variables, allowing for a causal conclusion.

You've got this! Go get 'em! 🎉