Research Methods Chapter 2

Front 1

Independent variables are

Back 1

manipulates in order to determine the effect on behavior

Front 2

dependent variables are

Back 2

measure of behavior used to assess the effect of the independent variable

Front 3

operational definitions

Back 3

clearly defined concepts - specific procedure used to produce and measure a construct

Front 4

Illusory correlation

Back 4

our tendency to perceive a relationship between events where none exists

Front 5

empirical approach emphasizes

Back 5

direct observation and experimentation

Front 6

Control is

Back 6

manipulation conditions. Very essential ingredient of science and distinguishing it from non-scientific procedures

Front 7

experiment is

Back 7

where scientists manipulate one or more factors and observe the affects of the manipulation on behavior

Front 8

scientific reporting seeks to be

Back 8

unbiased and objective

Front 9

A construct

Back 9

a concept or idea. i.e.- intelligence, depression, aggression, and memory

Front 10

operational definition

Back 10

explains a concept in terms of observable procedures used to produce and measure it

Front 11

physical measurement

Back 11

involves dimensions for which there is an agreed upon standard and an instrument for doing the measuring

Front 12

Scientists use two types of measurement which are?

Back 12

physical measurement and psychological measurement

Front 13

psychological measurement

Back 13

the human observer is the instrument and an agreement among a number of observers provides the basis for psychological measurement

Front 14

Validity

Back 14

the truthfulness of a measure - what it claims to measure

Front 15

reliability

Back 15

indicated by it's consistency

Front 16

alturism

Back 16

the tendency towards selfless acts that benefit others

Front 17

Competitive alturism

Back 17

where individuals are altruistic because being seen as prosocial and selfless enhances ones reputation and status in society

Front 18

When are hypotheses not testable?

Back 18

if the concept to which they refer are not adequately defined or measured, circular- when an event is used as the explanation itself, and if it appeals to ideas or forces that are not recognized by science (observable, demonstrable, the empirical)

Front 19

the scientific method should meet what four goals?

Back 19

description, prediction, explanation, and application

Front 20

Description

Back 20

when psychologists seek to describe events and relationships between variables

Front 21

prediction

Back 21

when researchers identify correlations among variables they are able to predict mental processes and behavior

Front 22

explanation

Back 22

researchers understand a phenomenon when they can identify the cause

Front 23

application

Back 23

psychologists apply their knowledge and research methods to change people's lives for the better

Front 24

nomothetic approach

Back 24

psychologists try to apply broad generalizations and general laws that apply to a diverse population. Also appreciated individuality but emphasizes similarities

Front 25

idiographic approach

Back 25

studies the individual rather than the group. uniqueness of individual is more important to this approach

Front 26

quantitative research

Back 26

studies in which the findings are mainly the product of statistical summary and analysis

Front 27

qualitative research

Back 27

produces verbal summaries of research findings with few statistical summaries or analysis

Front 28

correlation

Back 28

when two different measures of the same people, events or things vary together

Front 29

causal inference

Back 29

covariation of events, a time-order relationship, and the elimination of plausible alternative causes

Front 30

covariation of events

Back 30

if one event is the cause of the other, the two events must vary together, that is, when one changes, the other must also change.

Front 31

time-order relationship

Back 31

contingency. the presumed cause must occur before the presumed effect

Front 32

when does confounding occur?

Back 32

when two potentially effective independent variables are allowed to covary simultaneously

Front 33

applied research

Back 33

creating change

Front 34

basic research

Back 34

seek primarily to understand behavior and mental processes - typically carried out in a laboratory

Front 35

theories

Back 35

proposed explanations for the causes of phenomena varying in scope and explanation

Front 36

intervening variables

Back 36

concepts used in theories to explain why independent and dependent variables are related

Front 37

the rule of parsimony

Back 37

followed when the simplest of alternative explanations is accepted