Exam Preparation Guide Chapters 1-12, 14

The systematic and objective study of phenomena, using empirical evidence to draw conclusions.

Claims presented as scientific but lacking empirical support, objectivity, and rigorous testing.

Describing the phenomena.

Finding out the causes of phenomena.

Predicting future occurrences.

Controlling and changing phenomena.

Research conducted to gain a fundamental understanding of a phenomenon, without immediate real-world applications.

Research aimed at solving practical problems and improving real-world situations.

Quantitative research uses numbers and statistics to analyze data, while qualitative research focuses on understanding experiences and meanings through observations, interviews, and open-ended questions.

Naturalistic observation involves observing behavior in its natural setting without manipulation, providing a realistic view but limited control over variables.

Systematic observation involves observing specific behaviors under defined conditions, offering more control but potentially influencing behavior.

Case studies focus on a single individual or group, providing in-depth information but limited generalizability to others.

Archival research uses existing records like documents or databases, offering convenience but limited control over data quality or availability.

Random assignment refers to assigning participants to different treatment groups randomly, while random selection involves choosing participants randomly from a population.

A larger sample size generally provides more accurate estimates of the population, reducing the margin of error.

Cross-sectional designs compare different groups at a single point in time, while longitudinal designs track the same group over time. Sequential designs combine elements of both, offering flexibility but requiring careful planning.

A research design where participants are assigned to groups based on pre-existing characteristics, not random assignment.

A threat to internal validity where changes in the dependent variable are due to events that occur between the pre-test and post-test, not the independent variable.

A threat to internal validity where participants' performance on the post-test is influenced by their experience on the pre-test.

A quasi-experimental design that involves repeatedly measuring the dependent variable before, during, and after introducing an intervention or change.

A process where experts in a field review research before it is published to ensure quality and rigor.

A type of research replication that aims to reproduce the exact methods and procedures of the original study.

A type of research replication that uses a different but conceptually similar method to investigate the same research question.

A measurable characteristic or attribute that can vary across individuals or situations.

A specific, concrete definition of a variable that explains how it will be measured or manipulated in the study.

A statistical relationship between two or more variables. It indicates how strongly they are associated with each other.

A type of research design where two or more groups are compared on a dependent variable after they have been randomly assigned to different levels of an independent variable.

A variable that is manipulated or changed by the researcher to see its effect on the dependent variable.

A variable that is measured in a research study to see if it is affected by changes in the independent variable.

The consistency or stability of a measure. Different types of reliability include test-retest reliability (consistency over time), interrater reliability (agreement between raters), and internal consistency (consistency within a measure)

The extent to which a measure actually assesses the construct it is intended to measure. Different types of validity include face validity (apparent appropriateness), content validity (coverage of relevant content), predictive validity (ability to predict future outcomes), concurrent validity (correlation with similar existing measures), convergent validity (correlation with measures of similar constructs), and discriminant validity (lack of correlation with measures of unrelated constructs).

A measurement scale where categories are distinct, non-ordered, and don't imply quantity or magnitude.

A measurement scale where categories are ordered but distances between them are not equal or meaningful.

A measurement scale where categories are ordered with equal intervals between them, but no true zero point.

A measurement scale where categories are ordered with equal intervals and a true zero point, indicating the absence of the measured property.

The change in a participant's behavior due to being aware of being observed or studied.

A research method that involves collecting data from a sample of individuals to describe their characteristics, attitudes, or behaviors.

The process of creating a research study with a specific experimental design to answer a research question.

A design that measures the dependent variable before and after the independent variable is introduced, allowing researchers to observe any changes in the dependent variable.

The average score for each group (or condition) in a factorial design. Think of it as a summary score for that specific combination of factor levels.

The average score for all participants in a particular factor level, regardless of other factor levels. A summary score for one factor, ignoring the other.

The effect of one factor on the dependent variable, averaged across all levels of the other factor. Think: does changing one factor have an effect overall, regardless of the other?

The interaction between two or more factors, where the effect of one factor depends on the levels of the other. A combined effect, where one factor changes the effect of the other.

The effect of one factor at a specific level of the other factor. A more specific look at interaction by examining the effect of one factor within a single level of the other.

Each participant is tested in only one condition of the experiment. Think: separate groups of participants, each exposed to only one combination of factors.

Each participant is tested in all conditions of the experiment. Think of the same group of participants going through all combinations of factors.

A combination of between-groups and within-groups designs. Some factors vary between groups, while other factors vary within groups. Think: a mix of different groups and the same groups.