Psychological Research Methods Overview

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Questions and Answers

What is informed consent?

Consent provided for participation in psychological studies only

Permission granted with knowledge of possible consequences (correct)

Agreement that does not require understanding of the situation

Agreement given by a minor without knowledge of risks

Which term refers to the requirement that private information is not disclosed without consent?

Confidentiality (correct)

Debriefing

Informed assent

Deception

What is the role of confederates in research studies?

Researchers who collect consent forms

Individuals who analyze data

Participants who are unaware of the study's purpose

Individuals posing as participants to assist researchers (correct)

Which psychological perspective emphasizes observable behaviors?

Behaviorism Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary purpose of debriefing participants after a study?

To explain the study's purpose and deceptions used Signup and view all the answers

What does informed assent involve?

Agreement by individuals unable to give legal consent Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following perspectives examines internal mental processes?

Cognitive Signup and view all the answers

Which term describes the act of misleading someone about the true nature of a situation?

Deception Signup and view all the answers

What distinguishes a negative correlation between two variables?

One variable increases while the other decreases Signup and view all the answers

Which variable in an experiment is manipulated by the researcher?

Independent variable Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of using a control group in an experiment?

It helps to isolate the effect of the independent variable Signup and view all the answers

How does random assignment improve the validity of an experiment?

By ensuring the groups are balanced in all respects Signup and view all the answers

In which study design do neither the participants nor the experimenters know who is receiving the treatment?

Double-blind study Signup and view all the answers

What issue arises from sample bias in research?

Certain members of the population are less likely to be included Signup and view all the answers

What is the defining characteristic of a representative sample?

It accurately reflects the characteristics of the population Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes an operational definition?

Specifically defining a variable in terms of measurement Signup and view all the answers

What does the measure of central tendency identify?

A single value as representative of an entire distribution Signup and view all the answers

What is the definition of standard deviation?

A measurement of the amount of variation or dispersion in a set of values Signup and view all the answers

Which type of distribution is characterized by two different peaks?

Bimodal distribution Signup and view all the answers

What does the term 'regression to the mean' refer to?

The tendency for extreme values to become less extreme upon subsequent measurement Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following describes a positive skew in a dataset?

Most values are found on the lower side with a few high values stretching the average Signup and view all the answers

What does statistical significance indicate in an experiment?

The results are likely true and not due to chance Signup and view all the answers

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

To approve and review research involving human subjects ensuring ethical standards Signup and view all the answers

What is a common feature of inferential statistics?

It predicts and makes inferences about a population from a sample Signup and view all the answers

What is the function of an independent variable in an experiment?

It is manipulated to observe its effect Signup and view all the answers

What is a characteristic of qualitative data?

It provides descriptive information Signup and view all the answers

How does sampling bias occur?

When some members of the population are excluded Signup and view all the answers

What does 'peer review' entail in research?

Evaluating the material by a group of experts Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of conducting a case study?

To explore in-depth insights about a specific subject Signup and view all the answers

What is implied by the concept of 'correlation is NOT causation'?

Correlations can exist without one variable affecting the other Signup and view all the answers

Which type of research method uses a structured set of questions?

Structured interviews Signup and view all the answers

What is a correlation coefficient?

An index of the relationship between two variables Signup and view all the answers

Which type of bias involves giving socially acceptable answers?

Social desirability bias Signup and view all the answers

What defines the reliability of a research study?

The degree to which results can be replicated consistently Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Key Concepts in Psychological Research Methods

Confirmation bias: Tendency to favor information that confirms existing beliefs.
Hindsight bias: Tendency to believe, after learning an outcome, that one would have foreseen it.
Overconfidence: Tendency to be more confident than correct, overestimating accuracy of beliefs and judgments.
Empirical evidence: Information acquired by observation or experimentation.
Scientific method: A systematic approach to research:
- Identify a problem.
- Gather relevant data.
- Formulate a hypothesis.
- Empirically test the hypothesis.
Hypothesis: A testable prediction, often implied by a theory.
Falsifiable: Capable of being disproved by experimental results.
Peer review: A process by which experts in a field evaluate research or publications for quality and ethical guidelines.
Replication: Repeating a study using the same methods to see if results can be consistently reproduced.
Reliability: Consistency of a research study or measuring test.
Validity: The extent to which a test measures or predicts what it is supposed to.
The American Psychological Association (APA): A professional organization representing psychologists in the US.
Quantitative data: Measurable information that can be represented with numbers.
Qualitative data: Descriptive information often gathered through interviews, focus groups, or artistic representations.
Likert scale: A psychometric scale used in questionnaires for measuring opinions and attitudes.
Structured interviews: A quantitative research method where the interviewer follows a set sequence of questions.
Survey technique: Research that involves collecting information from a sample of individuals through their responses to questions.
Wording effect: The influence of how questions are phrased and ordered on survey data.
Social desirability bias: Tendency to give socially approved answers to questions about oneself.
Naturalistic observation: Observing subjects in their natural environment without manipulation or control by the researcher.
Case study: In-depth study of a single person, group, event, or community.
Correlational research: Studies the relationship between two variables using statistical analysis.
Third variable problem: A confounding factor that influences both the dependent and independent variables, leading to a mistaken causal relationship.
Scatter plot: A visual representation of the relationship between two variables.
Correlation does NOT equal causation.
Correlation coefficient: A statistical index of the relationship between two things, ranging from -1 to +1.
Positive correlation: Both variables move in the same direction (as one increases, the other increases).
Negative correlation: Variables move in opposite directions (as one increases, the other decreases).
Experimental method: A research method where the researcher manipulates one variable and controls/randomizes the rest.
Independent variable: The variable manipulated by the researcher.
Dependent variable: The variable being measured or observed, potentially influenced by the independent variable.
Confounding variable: A variable that influences both the dependent and independent variables, leading to a spurious association.
Operational definitions: Specifically defining variables in terms of how they are measured or manipulated in a study.
Experimental group: The group in an experiment that receives the variable being tested (treatment).
Control group: The group in an experiment that does not receive the treatment.
Random assignment: Assigning participants to experimental and control groups by chance to minimize pre-existing differences between the groups.
Experimenter bias: The researcher's influence on the results to portray a specific outcome.
Single-blind study: Participants do not know whether they are in the control or experimental group, but the researchers do.
Double-blind study: Neither participants nor researchers know who is receiving the treatment.
Placebo condition: A condition where a treatment is not administered, but the subject believes it is.
Sample: A subset of individuals from a larger population used to conduct research.
Representative sample: A sample that accurately reflects the characteristics of the population as a whole.
Random sample: A sample where each member has an equal chance of inclusion.
Sample bias: A bias that occurs when a sample is collected in such a way that some members of the intended population are less likely to be included.
Generalizability: The extent to which the results of a study can be generalized to other individuals or situations.
Descriptive statistics: Summarize the data collected in a study.
Inferential statistics: Allow one to make predictions and inferences about a population based on a sample of data.
Measures of central tendency: A statistical measure that identifies a single value as representative of an entire distribution:
- Mean: Average of a set of numerical values.
- Median: Middle value in a list of numbers.
- Mode: Value that appears most often in a set of data.
Range: The difference between the highest and lowest values in a dataset.
Normal curve: A bell-shaped curve representing a distribution of values, frequencies, or probabilities, where most measurements are concentrated around the middle (mean).
Regression to the mean: The phenomenon that if a variable is extreme on its first measurement, it will tend to be closer to the average on its second measurement.
Positive skew: More numbers are on the lower side, but a few really high numbers stretch the average higher.
Negative skew: More numbers are on the higher side, but a few really low numbers pull the average down.
Standard deviation: A measurement of the amount of variation or dispersion in a set of values.
Percentile rank: The percentage of scores in a frequency distribution that are equal to or lower than it.
Bimodal distribution: A distribution with two different peaks or modes in frequency.
Statistical significance: Tells us if the result of an experiment is likely to be true or just due to chance. It checks if the observed result would happen often or rarely if nothing special was going on.
Effect sizes: Measures the impact of something in an experiment, indicating how much a treatment helps compared to not using it.
Meta-analysis: A statistical analysis that combines the results of multiple scientific studies.
Institutional review boards (IRB): Committees that review and approve research involving human subjects, ensuring ethical standards are met.
Informed consent: Permission granted with the knowledge of possible consequences, typically required for medical treatment.
Informed assent: Agreement by a minor or other party not able to give legal consent to participate in a study.
Confidentiality: The requirement that private or sensitive information is not disclosed without the consent of the person who provided it.
Deception: The act of misleading or wrongly informing someone about the true nature of a situation.
Confederates: Individuals who appear to be participants in a study but are actually part of the research team.
Debriefing: Providing study participants with a full explanation of the study after its completion, including the purpose and any deceptions used.

Perspectives in Psychology

Psychodynamic: Explores how unconscious drives, conflicts, and childhood experiences shape behavior.
Behaviorism: Focuses on observable behaviors and how they are learned through interaction with the environment.
Humanistic: Emphasizes personal growth, free will, and the concept of self-actualization.
Cognitive: Examines internal mental processes such as thinking, memory, and problem-solving.
Biological: Studies the physiological bases of behavior in humans and animals.

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Description

Explore key concepts in psychological research methods, including biases, the scientific method, and the importance of empirical evidence. This quiz will test your understanding of crucial terms like hypothesis, falsifiability, and peer review. Perfect for students looking to deepen their knowledge in psychology.