Psychology research methods

• What is the aim in a research study?

  • A statement of what the researcher intends to find out
• What is a hypothesis in research?

  A precise and testable statement about the assumed relationship between variables
• What are standardized procedures in research?

  A set of procedures that are the same for all participants to ensure repeatability
• What is the difference between independent and dependent variables?

  Independent variables are manipulated by the researcher, while dependent variables are measured
• What are extraneous variables?

  Variables that do not change the independent variable but may impact the dependent variable
• What is a directional hypothesis?

  A hypothesis that states the expected direction of the difference between two conditions
• What is another name for a directional hypothesis?

  One-tailed hypothesis
• What is a non-directional hypothesis?

  A hypothesis that predicts there will be a difference between two conditions without stating a direction
• What is a pilot study?

  A small-scale trial study designed to test aspects of the design for improvements
• What is a confederate in research?

  An individual in a study who has been instructed on how to behave by the researcher
• What is a confounding variable?

  A variable that varies systematically with what is being tested
• What does external validity refer to?

  The degree to which research findings can be generalized to other settings, populations, and over time
• What is internal validity?

  The degree to which an observed effect is due to the experimental manipulation rather than confounding variables
• What is mundane realism?

  How similar a study is to real-life situations
• What are the three types of experimental design?

  1. Repeated measures
  2. Independent groups
  3. Matched pairs
• What are the advantages of repeated measures design?

  It requires fewer participants and controls for participant variables
• What are order effects in repeated measures design?

  Effects such as fatigue or practice that can influence participant performance
• What is an independent groups design?

  A design where participants are placed into groups and tested on one independent variable
• What is a matched pairs design?

  A design where two participants are matched by key characteristics and placed in different groups
• What is a laboratory experiment?

  An experiment conducted in a controlled setting with minimal confounding variables
• What is a field experiment?

  An experiment conducted outside a lab with high ecological validity
• What is a natural experiment?

  An experiment where the independent variable is not directly manipulated by the researcher
• What is a quasi-experiment?

  An experiment that focuses on a naturally occurring independent variable
• What are demand characteristics?

  Cues that make participants aware of the aims of the study
• What are investigator effects?

  Anything an investigator does that affects participant performance other than what was intended
• What is a single-blind design?

  A design where participants do not know the aims of the study
• What is a double-blind design?

  A design where both participants and researchers do not know the aims of the study
• What is sampling in research?

  The method used to select participants or sample behaviors in observation
• What is a population in research?

  The entire group of people that the researcher is interested in
• What is a sample in research?

  A subset drawn from the population for the study
• What is generalization in research?

  Applying findings from a study to the broader population
• What is bias in research?

  A systematic distortion in the findings
• What is volunteer bias?

  A form of sampling bias where volunteers may be more motivated
• What is opportunity sampling?

  A method of recruiting those who are most convenient or available
• What is random sampling?

  A method where everyone has an equal chance of being selected
• What is stratified sampling?

  A method that identifies subgroups and randomly selects from each group
• What is systematic sampling?

  A method of selecting every nth person from a list
• What is volunteer sampling?

  A method where individuals choose to take part in the study
• What is primary data?

  Information gained from first-hand experience designed to fit the study's aims
• What is secondary data?

  Information gained from past studies completed by others