Psychology Research Designs

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Questions and Answers

What characteristic must a hypothesis possess in order to be considered testable?

It cannot have any variables.

It must include an estimate of effects.

It can be defined, observed, and measured. (correct)

It should rely on subjective interpretations.

What is one of the main goals of conducting human research?

To understand real-life phenomena (correct)

To sell medical data

To acquire financial profits for researchers

To develop government policies

Which statement best describes the null hypothesis?

It posits that there is no significant effect or relationship between variables. (correct)

It is a measurement of participants' performance.

It suggests there is a significant effect between variables.

It proposes that some change will occur with intervention.

In what ways can ethical guidelines in research benefit humanity?

They ensure respect and integrity in conducting research. Signup and view all the answers

Which ethical principle ensures participants are treated fairly?

Justice Signup and view all the answers

What should researchers prioritize to enhance research validity?

Protecting participant rights Signup and view all the answers

What was a significant outcome of the unethical experiments during WWII?

The creation of the Belmont Report addressing ethical principles. Signup and view all the answers

What type of risk involves potential harm to an individual's social relationships?

Social risk Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes an alternative hypothesis?

It suggests a potential effect of coffee on reading performance. Signup and view all the answers

How did research ethics change post-WWII?

Establishment of uniform ethical standards for human research. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is considered a benefit of participating in research?

Educational insights about oneself Signup and view all the answers

What ethical consideration involves ensuring participants' privacy and obtaining consent?

Respect Signup and view all the answers

What does the term 'refutable' indicate about a hypothesis?

It can be demonstrated to be false. Signup and view all the answers

What does it mean for a hypothesis to be directional?

It suggests a specific predicted outcome based on conditions. Signup and view all the answers

What refers to the honesty and transparency required in research practices?

Research merit and integrity Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a type of risk mentioned for research participants?

Educational risk Signup and view all the answers

Which characteristics are unique to within-subjects design?

One sample group take part in different conditions of the experiment & they might do so at different times. Subsequent measures are taken & compared to their baseline (before & after) Signup and view all the answers

What does a spurious correlation imply about two variables?

They may correlate without a causal relationship. Signup and view all the answers

What are the disadvantages of between-subjects designs?

•Requirement for a large sample size to achieve statistical power. •Increased variance across groups -Impossible to maintain homogeneity in age, gender, socio-economic, educational levels, intelligence etc. across groups of participants. • Must demonstrate that changes in one variable are directly responsible for causing changes in the second variable (environmental influences ). Signup and view all the answers

What containment method does a between-subjects design primarily utilize?

Random sampling. Signup and view all the answers

What key factor must be established in both designs to validate the results?

Changes in one variable must be shown to cause changes in another variable. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following illustrates an example of a possible within-subjects design?

Participants running a marathon one week and then cycling the next week. Signup and view all the answers

Which of these factors is a challenge in a between-subjects design that affects group comparisons?

Consistency in age, gender, and socio-economic status across groups. Signup and view all the answers

What type of relationship is characterized by consistent upward or downward trends but is not a straight line?

Monotonic relationship Signup and view all the answers

What are the advantages of using a between-subjects design?

Opportunity for very little contamination by extraneous factors (allows control of it) & reduces chance of boredom, fatigue, practice effects that can skew results(as participants are only participating in one treatment condition). Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary characteristic of experimental research?

The researcher manipulates a variable. Signup and view all the answers

Which type of research does NOT determine cause-and-effect relationships?

Differential research Signup and view all the answers

In which type of correlation does Y increase as X increases?

Positive correlation Signup and view all the answers

Which correlation is used to measure the linear relationship between two numerical variables?

Pearson correlation coefficient Signup and view all the answers

What does the 'form' in correlation refer to?

The shape of the relationship between variables. Signup and view all the answers

What best describes the group structure in a within-subjects design?

One group experiencing multiple treatments. Signup and view all the answers

What does the Pearson correlation coefficient specifically describe?

The direction and strength of a linear relationship. Signup and view all the answers

What is a defining characteristic of stratified random sampling?

Each subgroup is represented equally in the sample. Signup and view all the answers

How does proportionate random sampling differ from stratified random sampling?

Selection is based on enrollment rates in the strata. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements about combined strategy sampling is correct?

It merges multiple strategies for better representativeness. Signup and view all the answers

What is a major drawback of cluster sampling?

It is difficult to ensure representativeness across the entire population. Signup and view all the answers

What is true about the impact of random starting positions in sampling methods?

It eliminates the principle of independence. Signup and view all the answers

What is a disadvantage of proportional sampling?

It requires a significant amount of effort to implement. Signup and view all the answers

Which sampling method involves taking every nth individual from a list after a random starting position?

Systematic sampling Signup and view all the answers

What is the main purpose of stratified random sampling?

To provide adequate representation of important subgroups. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Between-Subjects Designs

Participants are assigned to different treatment conditions.
Each participant is only exposed to one condition.
Allows for independent groups, reducing contamination from extraneous factors.
Can be resource-intensive to recruit enough participants.
May have increased variance across groups due to differences in participant characteristics.

Within-Subjects Designs

One group of participants is exposed to multiple conditions.
Each participant serves as their own control.
Requires fewer participants compared to between-subjects designs.
Can increase the risk of carryover effects, where exposure to one condition influences performance in subsequent conditions.

Testable, Refutable, and Positive Hypotheses

Testable: All variables, events, and individuals can be defined, observed, and measured.
Refutable: The hypothesis can be demonstrated to be false.
Positive: The hypothesis makes a positive statement about the existence of something.

Null Hypothesis

Proposes that there is no significant effect or relationship between variables.
A statement of 'no difference' or 'no effect'.
Example: Coffee will have no effect on performance on a reading comprehension test.

Alternative Hypothesis

Proposes that there is a significant effect or relationship between variables.
Can be directional or non-directional.
Non-directional: Coffee will have an effect on performance on a reading comprehension test.
Directional: Participants who drink coffee before a reading comprehension test will perform better than those who do not drink coffee.

Research Ethics

Ethical guidelines govern expectations of behavior in research.
Ethical conduct in research emphasizes integrity, respect for participants, and minimizing harm.

Ethical Considerations

Protect the rights of participants.
Enhance research validity.
Maintain scientific integrity.

National Health and Medical Research Committee (NHMRC) Ethical Principles

Justice: Participants should be treated fairly and benefits should be distributed equitably.
Beneficence: The benefits of research should outweigh the risks.
Respect: Respect for participants' privacy, confidentiality, and informed consent.
Research merit and integrity: Honesty, transparency, and justification for research.

Types of Research Designs

Correlational research: Investigates relationships between variables, but does not establish cause-and-effect.
Experimental research: Manipulates an independent variable to determine its effect on a dependent variable, allowing for cause-and-effect conclusions.
Differential research: Compares pre-existing groups on a variable of interest. Does not establish cause-and-effect.

Data Analysis in Correlational Studies

Correlation coefficient measures and describes the relationship between two variables.
Direction: Positive or negative.
Form: Linear or monotonic.
Strength: Consistency (weak, moderate, strong).

Sampling Methods

Simple Random Sampling: Each individual in the population has an equal chance of being selected.
Systematic Sampling: Individuals are selected from a list based on a predetermined interval.
Stratified Random Sampling: Subgroups of the population are identified and individuals are randomly sampled from each subgroup.
Proportionate Random Sampling: Subgroups are sampled in proportion to their representation in the population.
Cluster Sampling: Preexisting groups (clusters) are randomly selected.
Combined Strategy Sampling: Two or more sampling methods are combined.

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Description

Explore the differences between between-subjects and within-subjects designs in psychological research. This quiz also covers the characteristics of testable, refutable, and positive hypotheses. Test your understanding of these fundamental concepts!