Research Methods

• What is a research aim?

  A general statement describing the study's purpose
• What does a hypothesis in psychological research predict?

  The relationship between variables
• When should a directional hypothesis be used?

  When prior research suggests a specific outcome
• When is a non-directional hypothesis appropriate?

  When no clear directional expectation exists
• What is the independent variable (IV)?

  The variable the researcher manipulates
• What is the dependent variable (DV)?

  The variable the researcher measures
• What are the two levels of an IV in experiments?

  Control condition and experimental condition
• What is operationalization?

  Defining variables in measurable terms
• What are extraneous variables?

  Variables other than the IV that may affect the DV
• What is a confounding variable?

  A type of extraneous variable that varies with the IV
• What are demand characteristics?

  Cues that influence participants to guess the study’s purpose
• What is the “please you” effect?

  Participants behave to support the hypothesis
• What is the “screw you” effect?

  Participants act contrary to expectations
• What are investigator effects?

  Researcher's behavior influences participants’ responses
• What is randomization in experiments?

  Using chance to assign participants or materials
• What is standardization?

  Using identical procedures for all participants
• What is an independent groups design?

  Different participants in each condition
• What is a repeated measures design?

  All participants take part in all conditions
• What is a matched pairs design?

  Participants are paired on key variables
• What is random allocation?

  Randomly assigning participants to conditions
• What is counterbalancing?

  Alternating the order of conditions
• What defines a laboratory experiment?

  High control over variables in a controlled environment
• What is a strength of lab experiments?

  High internal validity
• What is a limitation of lab experiments?

  Low external validity due to artificial settings
• What defines a field experiment?

  Conducted in a natural setting with IV manipulation
• What is one strength of field experiments?

  High ecological validity
• What is one limitation of field experiments?

  Low control over extraneous variables
• What is a natural experiment?

  The IV changes naturally; researchers observe effects
• What is a quasi-experiment?

  The IV is based on an existing difference
• What is random sampling?

  Every individual has an equal chance of being selected
• What is systematic sampling?

  Selecting every nth person from a list
• What is stratified sampling?

  Sampling that reflects proportions of subgroups
• What is opportunity sampling?

  Using whoever is available and willing
• What is volunteer sampling?

  Participants self-select to take part
• What does informed consent involve?

  Participants understanding aims, procedures, and rights
• How can deception be ethically addressed?

  Through full debriefing after the study
• How is participant privacy protected?

  By maintaining confidentiality and anonymity
• What is a pilot study?

  A small-scale trial to test procedures
• What is a single-blind procedure?

  Participants don’t know their condition
• What is a double-blind procedure?

  Neither participants nor researchers know conditions