RESEARCH METHODS

• What is the aim in a research study?

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

  A testable statement about variable relationships
• What are standardized procedures in research?

  Same procedures for all participants
• What are independent variables?

  Variables manipulated by the researcher
• What are dependent variables?

  Variables measured as they change
• What are extraneous variables?

  Variables that may impact the dependent variable
• What is a directional hypothesis?

  Predicts a specific difference between conditions
• What is a non-directional hypothesis?

  Predicts a difference without stating direction
• What is a pilot study?

  A small-scale trial to test study design
• What is a confederate in research?

  An individual instructed by the researcher
• What is a confounding variable?

  A variable that varies systematically with the test
• What is external validity?

  Generalizability of findings to other settings
• What is ecological validity?

  Generalizability to other populations and times
• What is internal validity?

  Degree to which results are due to manipulation
• What is mundane realism?

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

  Repeated measures, independent groups, matched pairs
• What are repeated measures in experimental design?

  All participants complete all conditions
• What are independent groups in experimental design?

  Participants are placed in different groups
• What are matched pairs in experimental design?

  Participants matched by key characteristics
• What is a laboratory experiment?

  Conducted in a controlled setting
• What is a field experiment?

  Conducted outside a lab in real settings
• What is a natural experiment?

  Independent variable is not manipulated directly
• What is a quasi-experiment?

  Focuses on naturally occurring independent variables
• What are demand characteristics?

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

  Anything affecting participant performance unintentionally
• What is a single-blind design?

  Participants do not know the study's aims
• What is a double-blind design?

  Both participants and researchers are unaware of aims
• What is experimental realism?

  Engaging tasks that distract from observation
• What is a population in research?

  The group of people the researcher studies
• What is a sample in research?

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

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

  A systematic distortion in findings
• What is volunteer bias?

  Volunteers may be more motivated than others
• What is opportunity sampling?

  Recruiting those who are most convenient
• What is random sampling?

  Everyone has an equal chance of selection
• What is stratified sampling?

  Identifying subgroups and randomly selecting from them
• What is systematic sampling?

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

  Participants choose to take part in the study
• What is primary data?

  Information gained from first-hand experience
• What is secondary data?

  Information from past studies by others