Social Psychology Exam 1; Ch. 2 Flashcards

Front 1

The Research Process

Back 1

1.come up with a theory/idea

2. formulate a testable hypothesis

3.gather evidence

4. update theory based on findings

5.repeat as necessary

Front 2

Research Ideas

Back 2

how to come up with a research question?

-personal experience

-observations

-previous research

Front 3

Theory

Back 3

-hypothetical explanation of a natural phenomenon (can generate hypothesis)

-although hypotheses are specific predictions about the association b/w two events, they don't explain how or why two events are connected. In contrast, theories provide potential explanations

-ex. according to social learning theory, exposure to violence on TV leads to aggression

Front 4

Hypothesis

Back 4

-testable prediction about the relationship b/w two or more variables

Front 5

Operational Definition

Back 5

describes a specific procedure or measure of how you will test this hypothesis...researchers can define their variables in very different ways, which in turn can effect the findings

Front 6

Conceptual Variable

Back 6

-abstract/general constructs (happiness, racism, stress, aggression)

-to measure conceptual variables, an objective definition is often required..this may involve having an easily available validated instrument, inferring an operational variable from theory, establishing consensus, or all three

Front 7

Operational Variable

Back 7

-specific manipulations/measurements of a conceptual variable in a study

Front 8

Construct Validity

Back 8

-how well does the operational variable map on to the conceptual variable?

-is the operational variable accurately measuring the conceptual variable?

Front 9

What method to use if you want to describe phenomena?

Back 9

descriptive research

Front 10

What method to use if you want to know the relationship b/w variables?

Back 10

correlational research

Front 11

what method to use if you want to know if one variable causes another?

Back 11

experimental research

Front 12

Descriptive Research

Back 12

goal: describe people's thoughts, feelings, and behaviors

methods:casey study, observation, surveys

Front 13

Case Study

Back 13

*what type of research is it apart of? (descriptive)

-strengths:

-limitations:

Front 14

Observation

Back 14

*what type of research is it apart of? (descriptive)

-strengths:gather info, & develop ideas, avoids faulty or distorted recollections

-limitations: may miss something, too many uncontrollable variables

Front 15

Surveys

Back 15

*what type of research is it apart of? (descriptive)

-surveys collect self-reported attitudes & behavs. through a representative & random sample

-strengths: conclusions are more generalizable

-limitations: distorted memory, social desirability, sampling bias, framing effects

Front 16

Sampling

Back 16

representative: characteristics of sample match closely to larger population

random: every potential participant has an equal chance of selection

Front 17

Framing

Back 17

framing can be done through...

1.endpoints

2.Anchoring

3.Priming

Front 18

Endpoints

Back 18

Endpoints: same question but change endpoints can affect answer--perception of normative behav/response (most people avoid endpoints)

ex.how much time did you study for a test; answer=rate of scale 1-6, (1=up to 1 hr 2=1.5 hr 3=2 hr 4=2.5 hr 5=3 hr 6=3+ hr); change time frame of each level & receive diff. results

Front 19

Anchoring

Back 19

Anchoring: anchor to gage info and guide response-response relates to anchor given

*fewer/more than 30%?--give ex. of what you think?--25%

*fewer/more than 60%--give ex. of what you think?--40%

Front 20

Priming

Back 20

prime mood through question in order to gage response to following questions

"What is the cutest anima?"

"How likely are you to drive a friend?"

--more likely to say yes, because primed by previous question

Front 21

Correlational Research

Back 21

goal: discover relationship b/w 2 variables, how well one variable predicts the other

methods: correlation coefficient

Front 22

Correlation Coefficient (r)

Back 22

-what research is this method used in? (correlational research)

-varies from -1 to +1...tells direction of relationship,absolute value (w/o sign) tells us its strength

-ex.1:professor notices students who sit in back of room get worse grades (neg. correlation, greater distance=lower grades)

strengths: study associations of naturally occurring variables, can examine phenomena difficult or unethical to manipulate in a lab

limitations: NOT CAUSATION

Front 23

Experimental Research

Back 23

goal: establish cause & effect relationships

methods: sample study

Front 24

Independent Variables

Back 24

manipulated by the experimenter

Front 25

Dependent Variables

Back 25

measured by the experimenter (outcome)

Front 26

Subject

Back 26

pre-existing difference among subjects

Front 27

What are the essential Characteristics of Experimental Research?

Back 27

random assignment of participants: P's assigned to conditions by chance in order to control for other factors

Experimental Control of Variables: conditions are identical with the exception of the manipulated variable (s)

Front 28

Sample Studies

Back 28

research ?:does emotion influence helping behavior?How will you manipulate emotion in your study?

-Sad clip:the notebook

-happy clip:the notebook

*"helping behav"=measured by amount of hrs willing to help a cause after study ends

*helping=higher in sad clip condition than happy clip (random ass. & control=confidence in result)

**problem: there is no neutral condition

Front 29

Sample Studies cont.(strengths/limitations)

Back 29

strengths: can rule out influences on subjects' behavior except independent variable

limitations: cant/shouldn't manipulate some variables--ethical boundaries

Front 30

External Validity

Back 30

do the results generalize?

*replication across different populations/situations help rate external validity

Front 31

Confounds

Back 31

-uncontrolled variables that vary systematically with the independent variable

--threaten internal validity (bow sure you are the IV caused the DV)

--did the experiment include control or comparison groups?

Front 32

ex. of Confound

Back 32

-notebook clip study premise but allow P's to choose movie clip so they're not bored

*RQ:does emotion influence helping behav?

-sad clip=notebook, happy clip=crazy, stupid love

-Results: helping=higher in sad than happy clip

-limitations: people who are naturally sad choose sad clip (gets rid of random ass.);also no control (diff. movies)

Confound: different medium=confound, even though the story is the same

Front 33

Interpreting Results

Back 33

-main effect: overall effect of IV on DV

-interaction:effect of an IV depends on the level of another IV

*interaction overrides main effect*

Front 34

Mediators

Back 34

(How or Why?)

-explains relationship b/w IV and DV (describes psych process that occurs)

ex. sad clip leads to helping behav. (mediator=empathy)

Front 35

Moderators

Back 35

(when or for whom?)

-alters direction and/or strength of the relationship b/w IV and DV

--can be quantitative(Ex. amount of reward) or qualitative (Ex.sex, race)

*ex. Sad movies sometimes lead to more helping...when?(movies dont affect you as much)

*ex. long lines sometimes lead to aggression. For whom? (waiting for what?)