Research Methods Vocab (Chapter 5/6)

Front 1

Operational definition

Back 1

A working definition of a complex or abstract idea that is based on how it is measured in a research project.

Front 2

Variable

Back 2

An element in a research project that, when measured, can take on more than one value.

Front 3

Hypothetical construct

Back 3

An idea or concept that is useful for understanding behavior, thought, and attitude but that is complex and not directly measurable.

Front 4

Probability sampling

Back 4

A method used in research whereby any person in the population has a specified probability of being included in the sample.

Front 5

Generalization

Back 5

The property of research results such that they can be seen as valid beyond the sample involved in a study to a larger population.

Front 6

Simple random sampling

Back 6

A process of sampling in research that specifies that each person in a population has the same chance of being included in a sample as every other person.

Front 7

Systematic sampling

Back 7

A process of sampling in which an apparently unbiased but nonrandom sample is created, such as by creating a list of every element in the population and selecting every nth member from the population.

Front 8

Stratified random sampling

Back 8

A process of sampling in which groups of interest are identified, then participants are selected at random from these groups.

Front 9

Cluster sampling

Back 9

A process of sampling in which a number of groups (or clusters) are identified in a population, then some clusters are randomly selected for participation in a research project.

Front 10

Nonsampling error

Back 10

A problem in sampling that leads to a nonrepresentative sample because some members of the population are systematically excluded from participation.

Front 11

Convenience sampling

Back 11

A nonrandom (nonprobability) sampling technique that involves using whatever participants can conveniently be studied, also known as an accidental sample and a haphazard sample.

Front 12

Quota sampling

Back 12

A nonrandom (nonprobability) sampling technique in which subgroups, usually convenience samples, are identified and a specified number of individuals from each group are included in the research.

Front 13

Purposive (judgmental) sampling

Back 13

A nonrandom (nonprobability) sampling technique in which participants are selected for a study because of some desirable characteristics, like expertise in some area.

Front 14

Chain-referral sampling

Back 14

A nonrandom (nonprobability) sampling technique in which a research participant is selected who then identifies further participants that he or she knows, often useful for finding hidden populations.

Front 15

Measurement error

Back 15

An error in data collection based on poor measurement instruments or human error that leads to invalid conclusions.

Front 16

Reliability

Back 16

A measure of the consistency or reproducibility of data collected using the same methodology on more than one occasion; across different, but related test items; or by different individuals.

Front 17

Test-retest reliability

Back 17

A measure of the consistency of data collected at different points in time.

Front 18

Split-half reliability

Back 18

A measure of the consistency of data across subgroups when the data from a test or other measuring instrument are broken down into smaller segments.

Front 19

Interrater (interobserver) reliability

Back 19

A measure of the consistency of observations of a single situation made by different people.

Front 20

Validity

Back 20

A property of data, concepts, or research findings whereby they are useful for measuring or understanding phenomena that are of interest to a psychologist. Data, cocepts, and research findings fall on a continuum of usefulness for a given application.

Front 21

Construct Validity

Back 21

The degree to which a measurement accurately measures the underlying concept that is supposed to be measured.

Front 22

Internal validity

Back 22

The degree to which an experiment is designed so that a causal relationship between the independent and dependent variable is demonstrated without interference by extraneous variables.

Front 23

Random assignment

Back 23

The process in which participants in a research study are non-systematically placed in different treatment groups so those groups are equivalent at the start of an experiment.

Front 24

External validity

Back 24

The property of data such that research results apply to people and situations beyond the particular sample of individuals observed in a single research setting.

Front 25

Statistical conclusion validity

Back 25

The characteristic of research results such that the conclusions drawn from the results are valid because the appropriate statistical analyses were used.

Front 26

Convergent validity

Back 26

The degree to which two measurements that attempt to measure the same hypothetical construct are consistent with one another.

Front 27

Divergent validity

Back 27

The degree to which two measurements that should be assessing different constructs lead to different values.

Front 28

Nominal scale

Back 28

Measurement that involves putting observations into qualitatively different categories.

Front 29

Ordinal scale

Back 29

Measurement that involves ranking data according to size.

Front 30

Ratio scale

Back 30

Measurement that shows the characteristics of an interval scale but that has an absolute zero.

Front 31

Interval scale

Back 31

Measurement that involves data organized from large to small for which any two adjacent values are the same distance from one another as any other pair of adjacent values.

Front 32

Experiment

Back 32

A research project in which the investigator creates initially equivalent groups, systematically manipulates an independent variable, and compares the groups to see if the independent variable affected the subsequent behavior.

Front 33

Covariance rule

Back 33

One of the criteria for assessing causation such that a causal variable must covary systematically with the variable it is assumed to cause.

Front 34

Temporal precedence rule

Back 34

One of the criteria for assessing causation such that the variable assumed to have a causal effect must precede the effect it is supposed to cause, that is, the cause must come before the effect.

Front 35

Internal validity rule

Back 35

One of the criteria for assessing causation such that the variable assumed to be causal must be the most plausible cause, with other competing variables ruled out as the cause.

Front 36

Casual ambiguity

Back 36

The situation of uncertainty that results when a researcher cannot identify a single logical and plausible variable as being the cause of some behavior, ruling out other possible causal variables.

Front 37

Experimental group

Back 37

The group (or groups) in an experiment that receives a treatment that might affect the behavior of the individuals in that group.

Front 38

Control group

Back 38

The group in an experiment that receives either no treatment or a standard treatment with which new treatments are compared.

Front 39

Placebo group

Back 39

In medical research, the comparison group in an experiment that receives what appears to be a treatment, but which actually has no effect, providing a comparison with an intervention that is being evaluated.

Front 40

Extraneous variable

Back 40

A variable that is not of interest to a researcher and that may not be known by the researcher that affects the dependent variable in an experiment, erroneously making it seem that the independent variable is having an effect on the dependent variable.

Front 41

Confound

Back 41

A variable that is not controlled by an experimenter but that has a systematic effect on a behavior in at least one group in an experiment.

Front 42

Experimenter bias

Back 42

The tendency of researchers to subtly and inadvertently affect the behaviors of participants in a study, obscuring the true effect (or lack thereof) of the independent variable.

Front 43

Cover story

Back 43

A fictitious story developed by a researcher to disguise the true purpose of a study form the participants.

Front 44

Blind study

Back 44

A research design in which the investigator, the participants, or both are not aware of the treatment that a participant is receiving.

Front 45

Single blind study

Back 45

A research design in which either the investigator or the participant is not aware of the treatment a participant is receiving.

Front 46

Double blind study

Back 46

A research design in which neither the investigator nor the participant is aware of the treatment being applied.

Front 47

Hawthorne effect

Back 47

The tendency of participants to act differently from normal in a research study because they know they are being observed.

Front 48

Demand characteristics

Back 48

The tendency on the part of a research participant to act differently from normal after picking up clues as to the apparent purpose of the study.

Front 49

Evaluation apprehension

Back 49

The tendency to feel inadequate or to experience unease when one is being observed.

Front 50

Biosocial effect

Back 50

The type of experimenter bias in which characteristics of the researcher like age, sex, or race affect the behavior of the participant.

Front 51

Psychosocial effect

Back 51

The type of experimenter bias in which attitudes of the researcher affect the behavior of the participant.

Front 52

Mundane realism

Back 52

The characteristic of a research setting such that it resembles the kind of situation that a participant would encounter in life.

Front 53

Experimental realism

Back 53

The characteristic of a research setting such that the person participating in a study experiences the psychological state that the research is trying to induce, even if the research setting is artificial, like a laboratory.