Psych 101 Chapter 02

Front 1

Theory

Back 1

A scientific theory is a logical explanation for all of the relevant data or facts scientists have observed regarding certain natural phenomena. An essential aspect of scientific theories is that they must be both testable and refutable, not to be confused with the common usage of the term used to signify a hunch, a speculation, or an opinion.

Front 2

Hypothesis

Back 2

Statement proposing the existence of a relationship between variables, typically as a tentative explanation for cause and effect; hypothesis are often designed to be tested by research.

Front 3

Case Study

Back 3

-In depth examination of one particular event
-Examination diaries, clinical reports
• Example: if you’re interested in delinquent behavior, read a diary of a child.
-Bad: subjective, generalizing
-Good: Springboard for more research

Front 4

Observation

Back 4

-Watch something from after, no interference. Watch from afar and don’t put any interest in the environment.
• Examples: Bathroom, BU seal, kids/toys. See if kids play with toys after watching violent TV.
-Bad: Observer Bias, Berserker effect (if people know your around they will act differently)
-Good: Natural habitat, springboard

Front 5

Survey/ Questionnaire

Back 5

Research method in which a representative sample of people are questioned about their behaviors or attitudes.

-Bad: Question wording confuses people, scales (you’ll get different answers depending on what kind of scale you use), response, bias(towards middle class white people and the way they word their questions, you can word questions differently and get different answers)
-Good: Lots of info, little money.

Front 6

Correlational Method

Back 6

Statistical methods are used to asses and describe the amount and type of relationship between two variables of interest.

Bad: Doesnt allow researchers to conclude that a demonstrated relationship between two variables means that one is causing the other.

Good: Can be used to answer questions about some kinds of relationships that cannot be clarified by other research methods.

Front 7

Experimental Method

Back 7

Subjects are often confronted with specific stimuli under precisely controlled conditions. Researchers using this method directly manipulate a particular set of conditions (independent variable), and then observe the effect of behavior (dependent variable)

Good: Design of laboratory experiments provides control over relevant variables and opportunities to draw conclusions about cause-and-effect relationships.

Bad: Artificial nature of the laboratory setting may influence subjects behaviors, and some questions posed by psychologists do not lend themselves to experimental investigation.

Front 8

Milgram Study (1961)

Back 8

-How people blindly obeyed Hitler
-Memory learning task
-Teacher (test subject) would shock learner- knew the learner had a heart condition.
-Experimenter would pressure teacher to stay
-Result- All but one person gave shocks over 300v

Front 9

Tuskegee Syphilis Study (1930s)

Back 9

• Government sponsored project- recruited 400 African- Americans from rural Alabama to look at progression of syphilis over time- needs to look at autopsies
• Experimenters never gave people penicillin and didn’t tell them that they had syphilis. They gave them spinal taps saying they were receiving treatment
• To see what affects the brain had on the body during syphilis and the affects of syphilis.

Front 10

Institutional Review Board (IRB)

Back 10

-Need to have a letter saying what the experiment intails and what is going to be done. Needs to be signed.
-Full Disclosure-
-Tell them what the experiments about. (deception?) IRB will decide if the deception is allowed.
•Avoid and Protect from Harm
•Free to Withdraw
•Anonymous
•Debriefing

Front 11

Statistics

Back 11

Mathematical method for describing and interpreting data. Two kinds of statistics are descriptive and inferential statistics.

Front 12

Descriptive Statistics

Back 12

Mathematical and graphical methods for reducing data to a for that can be readily understood

Front 13

Measure of Central Tendency

Back 13

In descriptive statistics, a value that reflects the middle or central point of a distribution of scores.
-The three measures of central tendency are the mean (average), median (middle number), and the mode (number that comes up most frequently).

Front 14

Normal Distribution

Back 14

In descriptive statistics, a distribution in which scored are distributed similarly on both sides of the middle value, so that they have the appearance of a bell-shaped curve when graphed.

Front 15

Skewed

Back 15

In descriptive statistics, the term describes an unbalanced distribution of scored.

Front 16

Measure of Variability

Back 16

In descriptive statistics, a measure that indicated whether disribution scores are clustered closely around their average or widely spread out. Two measures of variabiltiy are the range (difference b/w highest and lowest scores), and standard deviation( avg. amount scores vary from the mean, Bigger SD, worse mean)

Front 17

Percentile

Back 17

Numbers from a range of data indicating percentages of scores that lie below them.

Front 18

Standard Score

Back 18

In descriptive statistics, a measure that indicates how far a score deviates from the average in standard units.

Front 19

Operational Definition

Back 19

Specifies the procedures or techniques used to measure or observe a variable

Front 20

Questionaire

Back 20

INvolves an individual answering a written list of questions

Front 21

Interview

Back 21

Allows the researcher to clarify confusing questions.

Front 22

Observer Effect

Back 22

The tendency of individuals to modify their behavior becuase of the researcher's presence

Front 23

Naturalistic Observation

Back 23

Assesses behavior in a natural setting.

Front 24

Control Group

Back 24

Subjects who do not receive the independent variable

Front 25

Ethical Guidelines

Back 25

Associatd with deception, debreiefing, and the protection of confidentiality.

Front 26

Sample

Back 26

Used because it is usually impossible to study all members of the group or population of interest to the researcher.

Front 27

Representative Sample

Back 27

Would include individuals who reflect or "mimic" the characteristics of the entire population of interest to the researcher.

Front 28

Positive Correlation

Back 28

Indicates that an increase in one variable is accompanied by an increase in a second variable.

Front 29

Negative Correlation

Back 29

Indicates that an increase in one variable is accompanied by a decrease in a second variable

Front 30

Inferential Statistics

Back 30

Mathematical methods used to draw conclusions about the meaning of data.

Front 31

Operational Definition

Back 31

Specifies the procedures or techniques used to measure or observe a variable.

Front 32

Measures of Central Tendency

Back 32

Reflect the middle,average, or typical score from a group of scores.

Front 33

The results of a previous research and the psychologists observations of a behavior are two common sources of _____

Back 33

Hypothesis

Front 34

One problem with research methods used in psychology- with the exception of the experimental method- is that they_______

Back 34

Do not allow for precise control over factors influencing factors.

Front 35

The condition or factor that an experimenter manipulates is the _____ variable

Back 35

Independent

Front 36

The most controversial of the ethical guidelines for conducting research with human concerns is ______

Back 36

DECEPTION

Front 37

Normally, which scientific method of research is used to learn about peoples opinions, attitudes, and values?

Back 37

Survey

Front 38

A number of techniques such as observation, questionaires, interviews, and experimentation may be utilized by a researcher using the ______ method

Back 38

Case Study.

Front 39

If a researcher is interested in an in-depth study concerning hte long term consequences phsycial disabilties have on psychological adjustment, this researcher would most likely use the ______ method

Back 39

Case Study.

Front 40

Operational Definition

Back 40

-Turn something subject into something measurable.
-Operations that are used to measure or observe a variable
-Example: weight-height relationship
or Attractiveness and productivity.

Front 41

RESEARCH METHODS CHART.

Back 41

EXPERIMENTAL METHOD: MANIPULATE INDEPENDENT VARIABLE AND LOOK FOR A CHANGE IN DEPENDENT VARIABLE.

SURVEY: USE QUESTIONAIRES AND INTERVEIWS TO ASK PEOPLE ABOUT ATTIDTUDES BEHAVIORS AND VALUES.

OBSERVATIONAL: OBSERVE ONGOING BEHAVIOR FREQUENTLY IN A NATURAL SETTING.

CASE STUDY:
IN DEPTH STUDY OF ONE INDIVIDUAL OR A GROUP OF INDIVIDUALS

CORRELATION: MEASURE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN TWO VARIABLES.

Front 42

Inferential Statistics
(T-test, ANOVA, etc)

Back 42

Process of using mathematical procedures to draw conclusions about the meaning of research data.
-Used to test hypothesis
-Make inference from sample to population.

Front 43

Statistical Significance

Back 43

Term used to describe research results in which change in the dependent variable can be attributed with a high level of confidence to the experimental condition (or independent variable) being manipulated by the researcher.