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36 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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Scientific Method
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Systematic procedure of observation and measuring phenomena to answer questions about what happens, when it happens, what causes it and why.
Theory-Hypothesis-Research-Support/Refute |
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Theory
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Broad idea, basis for a hypothesis
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Hypothesis
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Tentative belief that tries to predict/explain a relationship. Must have operationalizing variables
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Characteristics of a Good Psychological Research
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Uses:
theoretical framework, standardized procedures, is generalizable, and uses objective measurements |
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Variable
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Anything liable to change. Must be controlled.
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Participants
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those involved in the study, part of a experimental/controlled group or simply being observed
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Population
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the entire group of people you want to find something out about. Eg, all Australians are X or do X etc...
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Sample
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a randomly selected group that accurately represents the population. Eg. 10% aussies are hispanic, 10% of sample should end up being hispanic.
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Descriptive Method
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Describes the phenomena as it exists in the real world
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Case Study
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In-depth observation of an individual/small group of subjects.
Can understand reasons behind an individual's behavior, can find out information that leads to another hypothesis, study things that aren't already well known Can't generalize about a population from a case study |
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Naturalistic Observation
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In-depth observation of a phenomena in it's natural environment.
Can study things that can't be reproduced in a lab, can find out information that leads to another hypothesis, study things that aren't already well known Can't generalize about a population from a case study |
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Surveys
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Ask people questions (often about attitudes and behaviors) using questionnaires or interviews.
Can learn about larger samples and quantify (measure) behaviors or attitudes |
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Correlational
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Take information that already exists (archived or researched) and explore to what degree the variables relate (the more/less of x the less/more of y).
Goal: Be able to predict something about one variable by knowing something about the other. Always positive, negative or NOT correlated |
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Positive Correlation
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more of X = more of Y +1 |
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Negative Correlation
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\
more of X = less Y -1 |
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Experimentation
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Investigators manipulate some aspect of a situation and examine the impact.
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Independent Variable
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The only variable that should change, the "condition" of the study.
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Dependent Variable
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Depends on the independent variable, what is being measured
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Random Assignment
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To reduce confounding variables, groups should be randomly selected from the population so that they have an accurate representation. Groups should not be based on gender, race, age, weight or any other identifying variable
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Experimental Group
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The group that is exposed to the independent variable
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Control Group
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The group that is not exposed to the independent variable
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Demand Characteristics
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Cues that allow the experimental group to know anything to do with what group they're in/what you're looking for
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Placebo effect
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People's expectations changing how they react, consciously or subconsciously.
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Single-Blind test
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Useful test in which the participants do not know the important parts of the research (so eliminating the placebo effect and many confounding variables)
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Double-Blind test
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Useful test in which the participants AND researchers do not know the important parts of the research. This further eliminates the chance of placebo effect/demand characteristics or confounding variables.
Researchers may just be random people asked to say something to participants or some of the experimenters themselves. |
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Confounding Variables
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Third, unknown variables that may effect results etc...
Eg. the dad teaching the kid to drive, kid gets better after criticism, dad criticizes more, kid gets better, dad didn't factor in that mum was helping kid too. |
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Descriptive Statistics
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Summarizes findings
Mean/Median/Mode |
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Inferential Statistics
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Draw conclusions about the population
What can be said about the differences between the two sample groups? |
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Mean
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Average
+ all numbers / #variables |
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Median
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Middle number when all numbers are lined up in number order
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Mode
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Most common number
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Range
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Highest number minus lowest number
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Standard Deviation
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How much the scores vary around the mean
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Probability Value
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The probability of the results being accidental.
Must be 0.5-0.1 to be considered in psychology |
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Statistical Significance
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A finding that is unlikely to have occurred by chance
95-99% probability not to chance |
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Ethical Considerations
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Whether or not, or how you will use deception.
- How much deception is okay? - Must debrief participants afterwards - Human subjects must be able to withdraw from the study at any time - Confidentiality, reports must not include identifying information. - Minimize harm (long and short term), do it in the most positive way - Informed Consent. Mostly people must know what they're getting into before accepting. |
