Experimental Psychology Chapter 1

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Questions and Answers

What describes a methodological gap in research?

The inadequacy of current research methods to explore a specific question. (correct)

A repeated study that verifies previous outcomes.

The process of systematically recording events.

The absence of a controlled environment in experiments.

Which tool is NOT considered one of the three tools of psychological science?

Survey (correct)

Replication

Measurement

Observation

What is basic research primarily designed to do?

Analyze economic factors influencing behavior.

Collect anecdotal evidence for common beliefs.

Test theories or explain psychological phenomena. (correct)

Address real-world problems immediately.

What does parsimony in scientific thinking refer to?

Prioritizing the simplest explanation until ruled out. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements about pseudoscience is true?

It presents itself as scientific but lacks true scientific basis. Signup and view all the answers

What indicates a cause-and-effect relationship?

A behavior consistently linked to a set of antecedents. Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of experimentation in psychological research?

It allows for the application of different treatment conditions. Signup and view all the answers

What does commonsense psychology primarily rely on?

Everyday nonscientific observations to understand behavior. Signup and view all the answers

What is the main purpose of informed consent in research?

To gain voluntary agreement after explaining the study Signup and view all the answers

What does external validity refer to in research?

How well the study's findings generalize to other populations Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of an Institutional Review Board (IRB)?

To review proposed research for the safety and rights of human participants Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes devolvement case analysis?

It compares deviant individuals with those who conform to find differences Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary focus of a focus group in research?

To facilitate a discussion among a small group of participants Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is considered a form of fraud in research?

Falsifying or fabricating data presented in studies Signup and view all the answers

What does minimal risk in research indicate?

The likelihood of harm to participants is not increased Signup and view all the answers

What is empirical phenomenology primarily concerned with?

Relying on personal experiences and qualitative data from participants Signup and view all the answers

What does a ratio scale measure?

Magnitude with equal intervals and an absolute zero point Signup and view all the answers

What is reliability in the context of surveys?

The extent to which a survey is consistent and repeatable Signup and view all the answers

Which term describes people who tend to agree with questions regardless of their content?

Yea-sayers Signup and view all the answers

What is the coefficient of determination (r²) used to estimate in a correlational study?

The amount of variability in one variable explained by another Signup and view all the answers

Which type of design compares the effects of different treatment conditions on pre-existing groups?

Non-equivalent groups design Signup and view all the answers

What does partial correlation allow researchers to do?

Isolate the influence of one variable while computing the correlation between others Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary focus of sampling in research?

Identifying and selecting who the subjects will be Signup and view all the answers

What is a negative correlation?

An inverse relationship where an increase in one variable leads to a decrease in another Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of risk/benefit analysis in research?

To determine if benefits outweigh potential risks to participants Signup and view all the answers

What characterizes naturalistic observation?

It involves observing behaviors in spontaneous settings without manipulation Signup and view all the answers

Which method relies on the researcher becoming part of the group being studied?

Participant-observer study Signup and view all the answers

In what way does context effect influence research outcomes?

By affecting the way participants respond to questions Signup and view all the answers

What defines qualitative research?

It gathers information mainly through self-reports and narratives Signup and view all the answers

What is cluster sampling?

Sampling entire groups or naturally occurring clusters within a population Signup and view all the answers

How does reactivity affect research observations?

The presence of an observer changes how subjects behave Signup and view all the answers

What does content analysis involve?

Categorizing responses according to objective rules or guidelines Signup and view all the answers

What is a key feature of a cross-lagged panel design?

The same set of behaviors are measured at two different times. Signup and view all the answers

Which method is used to assess whether an event alters behavior through pre-existing characteristics?

Ex post facto study Signup and view all the answers

What does linear regression analysis estimate?

The score of one behavior from another related score. Signup and view all the answers

Which type of study involves measuring different groups at different stages at a single point in time?

Cross-sectional study Signup and view all the answers

What is represented by the regression line in a correlational study?

The line of best fit depicting the mathematical relationship. Signup and view all the answers

What characterizes a quasi-experimental design?

Lack of essential experimental elements. Signup and view all the answers

What type of design follows the same group of subjects over time?

Longitudinal design Signup and view all the answers

In which method are statistical intercorrelations among three or more behaviors represented?

Multiple correlation analysis Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Experimental Psychology and Scientific Method

Systematic estimation of observable events, such as quantity, size, or quality is fundamental to psychological measurement.
Methodological gaps occur when research methods fail to adequately explore specific questions.
Three essential tools in psychological science are observation, measurement, and experimentation.
Basic research aims to test theories and explain psychological phenomena in humans and animals.
Applied research focuses on solving real-world problems.
Parsimony, also known as Occam's razor, favors the simplest explanation until proven otherwise.

Key Concepts in Research

Antecedent conditions are circumstances existing before an event or behavior occurs.
A cause-and-effect relationship links a specific behavior to antecedents, suggesting that the latter causes the former.
Commonsense psychology refers to the everyday, non-scientific collection of psychological data to guide behavior.
A case study document individual experiences and behaviors, useful for in-depth understanding.

Ethical Considerations in Research

Informed consent ensures participants agree to research after understanding the study's nature and purpose.
Institutional Review Boards (IRB) and Institutional Animal Care and Use Committees (IACUC) safeguard participant rights and welfare.
Minimal Risk indicates that research poses no greater risk of harm than encountered in daily life.
Debriefing involves explaining the study's purpose and nature post-experiment.

Methodological Approaches

Field studies are non-experimental, utilizing methods like naturalistic observation in real-life settings.
Participant-observer studies involve researchers taking part in the group being studied.
Qualitative research emphasizes words over numbers, focusing on self-reports and personal narratives.
Naturalistic observation means observing behaviors as they occur in their natural environment.

Correlational and Quasi-Experimental Designs

Correlation measures the degree of relationship between two variables, with coefficients such as r (correlation) or r² (coefficient of determination).
Negative correlation indicates that an increase in one variable leads to a decrease in another.
A quasi-experimental design resembles experiments but lacks random assignment or manipulation of antecedents.
Longitudinal designs follow the same group over time to observe changes, while cross-sectional designs assess different groups at a single time point.

Sampling and Data Collection

Sampling involves selecting subjects, with techniques like cluster sampling (sampling whole groups).
Surveys often employ various tools like questionnaires and interviews.
Response styles and biases affect how subjects answer questions, leading to potential distortions in data.

Visualizing Data

Scatter plots visually represent data in a correlational study, with the x-axis for one variable and the y-axis for another.
Regression analysis estimates relationships between variables, producing a regression line that best fits the data.

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Description

This quiz explores fundamental concepts of experimental psychology and the scientific method. It covers essential tools in psychological research such as observation, measurement, and experimentation, as well as the distinctions between basic and applied research. Test your understanding of key concepts including antecedent conditions and cause-and-effect relationships.