Research Methods Test 1

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Authority

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the scientific approach rejects that one can accept on faith the statements of any of these.

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Intuition

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not acceptable according to the scientific approach b/c of numerous baises that affect our perceptions including illusory correlation.

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skepticism

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one of the most important features of the scientific method is that all propositions be subjected to empirical testing or observation. research must be done in such a way that it can be observed, replicated, and evaluated by others

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Goals of science

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1) Description of Behavior
2) Prediction of Behavior
3) Determining Cause of Behavior
4) Controlling Behavior

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Basic Research

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research concerned with fundamental questions about the nature of behavior.

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applied research

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research that is conducted to find solutions to practical problems that usually require immediate action.

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Hypothesis

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a type of idea or question.
makes a statement about something that maybe true and is waiting for evidence to refute or support is.
Formal forms state that two or more variables are related to one another

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prediction

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a specific statement about the outcome of an experiment made by the experimenter.
it tests a hypothesis. if the results confirm the hypothesis it is only supported but not proven

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theory

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serves 2 important functions in increasing our understanding of behavior
1) theories that organize and explain a variety of specific facts
2) theories generate new knowledge by focusing our thinking so that we notice new aspects of behavior

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psychological abstracts

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publishes nonevaluative summaries of the world's literature in psychology and related disciplines. Best results are obtained when you narrow your topic of interest or become as specific as possible.

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social sicence citation index

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reference source that uses the "key article" method. allows you to search for articles that have been published which cit the key article.

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Parts of a Journal Article

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1) Abstract
2) Introduction
3) Methods
4) Results
5) Discussion

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Abstract

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the first part of a journal article.
the summary of the research report

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introduction

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the second part of a journal article
explains the problem under investiagation and the specific hypotheses being tested

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method

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the third part of a journal article
describes in detail the exact procedures used int he study

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Results

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Section of journal article where the findings are presented

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Discussion

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the final section in a journal article in which the researcher may speculate on the broader implications of the results, alternative explanations for the results and so on.

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variable

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a measurable entity that varies. can have several levels or values.

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operational definitions

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concrete representation of an abstract concept.
involves defining a variable in terms of the operations or methods used to measure or manipulate it. One must translate the variable into specific operations in order to manipulate or measure it. help us communicate with others.

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types of validity

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1) face
2) construct
3) internal
4) external

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validity

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1) the extent to which the operational definition of variable actually reflects the true theoretical meaning of the variable.
2) the extent to which the measure that is employed actually measures what it is intended to measure.
3) the extent to which the operational definition reflects the underlying variable.

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face validity

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refers to the situation in which the measure "appears" to measure what it is supposed to measure.
Least sophisticated type of validity & appears to be mainly a matter of judgment.

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construct validity

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the extent to which the operational definition of a variable reflects the true theoretical meaning of the variable. whether or not the measure actually measure what it's supposed to measure.

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internal validity

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refers to the ability to refer to causal relationships from our data.

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external validity

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the extent to which the results of a study can be generalized to other populations & settings

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reliability

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the consistency or stability of a variable of behavior. Any variable can be thought of being made up of a true score & a measurement error. the lower the measurement error the better

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reactivity

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if behavior changes with the awareness of the subject that he or she is being observed. measures vary in terms of their potential ____. Psychologists desire non-_____ or unobtrusive measures of behaviors

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Relationships Between Variables

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1) Positive linear
2) Negative Linear
3) Curvilinear
4) No relationship (zero)

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Positive linear relationship

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increases in the value of one variable are accompanied by increases in the value of a second variable

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negative linear relationship

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increases in the values of one variable are accompanied by decreases int he value of the other variable.

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Curvilinear relationship

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increases in the values of one variable are accompanied by both increases and decreases in the value of the other variable. the inverted U function

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no relationship

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no relationship between the two variables of interest

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correlational method

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Nothing is manipulated
the study of a relationship

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Corrleational Method Issues

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direction of cause & effect
third-variable problem

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third-variable problem

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something that may affect the variables that you cannot control affects the realtionship

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experimental method

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one variable is manipulated and the other is measured

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experimental control

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attempts to eliminate the influences of all extraneous variables by holding all other variables constant. Accomplished by treating subjects in all groups identically and where the only difference between the groups

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randomization

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used to ensure the influence of an extraneous variable is spread equally between all groups in an experiment.

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artificiality

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testing is usually done in a lab not the real world

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Subject Variables

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I.E. age, gender (etc.)

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Field Observation

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observation in natural settings
to collect information bout how people interact in different social environments such as bars, churches, clubs, etc.
to provide a complete and accurate picture of the persons, the setting, the event.

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participation vs. nonparticipation

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active participant in the group or outside observer

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concealment of research purposes

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do you conceal your presence or do you reveal your purpose

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case studies

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individual description of behaviors or events.

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questionnaires

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written format, cheaper & can be administered to alot of people at the same time

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interviews

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one-on-one verbal interaction (face-to-face or over the phone), time consuming, more precise, generate a rapport between the interviewer and the respondent

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sources of bias in suvery research

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interviewer bias
response sets

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response set

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participants willingness to fit a certain norm or just write all yes or all no

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interviewer's bias

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pushing the subject to respond a certain way

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Archival research

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statistical records: previously compiled information to answer research questions
data from surveys
diaries & letters (written records)

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independent variable

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considered the cause of behavior

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dependent variable

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the effect when variables are examined in a cause-effect connection

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causality

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when psychologists study "cause" it is usually assumed that a change in one variable does affect another

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informed consent form

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scientific agreement btw participant and research organization

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debriefing

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after the experiment: verbal or written form with contact information used when the experimenter believes the participant's knowledge of the purpose will alter their behavior

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privacy

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one of the most important ethical concerns in psychological research

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Psychological research concerns

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Voluntary participation (not representative)
confidentiality (keeping the participants observed behavior anonymous)
fraud (bad design

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Developmental research

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longitudinal, cross-sectional, sequential

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longitudinal research

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group of people studied over a long period of time (takes @ least 10 years)

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cross-sectional research

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design that separates the 10 years into different groups (age sections)
I.E. 5 groups for 2 years

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sequential

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Cohort's
tests generational effects like cross-sectional except subjects are tested twice.

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content analysis

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systematic analysis of existing documents.
required the development of a coding system.

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true or good experiment

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has a dependent group and

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research hypothesis

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A prediction that two or more variables will be found to be related; the hypothesis to be supported if the null hypothesis is rejected;

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null hypothesis

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0 ) A statistical hypothesis that is usually the negation of the research or alternate hypothesis. It often specifies that there is no difference, no effect or no relationship.

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EEG

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A recording of the electrical activity of the brain by means of electrodes placed on the surface of the head

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GSR

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galvanic skin response: a change in the electrical properties of the skin in response to stress or anxiety; can be measured either by recording the electrical resistance of the skin or by recording weak currents generated by the body