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Reliability ensures that different researchers using the same method will obtain the same results.
True
Which of the following is a condition of reliability?
Define internal validity in research.
It refers to whether the effects observed in a study are due to the manipulation of the independent variable.
What is random sampling?
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_______ sampling involves participants volunteering for a study.
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Which sampling technique considers the diversity of a target population?
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What does external validity refer to?
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Study Notes
Problems, Theories and Hypotheses
- A psychological investigation typically starts with a problem and a hypothesis, which is a provisional explanation for the problem.
- A theory is a set of assumptions, propositions, or accepted facts that describe or explain a phenomenon.
Research Process in Psychology
- Research must prioritize reliability and validity.
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Reliability refers to the consistency of results when the same method is used in the same situation.
- Replicability means other researchers can repeat the study and get the same results (e.g., Milgram's obedience study).
- Test-retest reliability implies consistent results when the same test is administered to the same participant (e.g., intelligence tests).
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Validity refers to whether the research is actually studying what it claims to be studying.
- Internal validity means the observed effects are due to the manipulated independent variable, not other factors. It signifies a causal relationship between the independent and dependent variables.
- External validity is the ability to generalize the findings from a laboratory experiment to real-life environments.
- Ecological validity means the study reflects real-life situations.
- Cross-cultural validity means the research is relevant to other cultures and avoids ethnocentric bias.
- Population validity relates to whether the findings can be generalized to the whole target population.
- Temporal validity assesses the extent to which the findings are relevant over time.
- Construct validity evaluates how well operationalizations reflect the constructs, ideas, or concepts being studied.
Sampling Techniques
- Research often involves representative samples of the target population due to limitations in studying the entire population.
- Random sampling ensures every member of the target population has an equal chance of being included.
- Opportunity or convenience sampling uses readily available participants.
- Stratified sampling takes into account the diversity of the target population (e.g., maintaining proportions of females and males in the sample).
- Snowball sampling involves participants inviting others they know to participate, often used in social psychology or qualitative research (e.g., investigating illegal drug use).
- Purposive sampling selects participants based on specific characteristics relevant to the study's objective.
- Self-selected samples consist of volunteers, which may not be representative of the general population.
Experimental Designs
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Independent measures design randomly allocates participants to groups and compares their performance.
- The independent variable is manipulated by randomly dividing participants into experimental and control groups.
- The independent measures design assumes the groups are equivalent from the start, making any observed difference between the groups attributable to the experimental manipulation.
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Matched pairs design is similar to independent measures, but participants are matched based on specific characteristics to form groups.
- This approach helps control for potential confounding variables that random allocation might not account for.
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Repeated measures design compares conditions rather than groups. All participants experience both conditions of the independent variable.
- It's used when you want to see how individuals respond differently depending on the condition they are in.
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Description
This quiz covers key concepts in psychology research, including the differences between problems, theories, and hypotheses. It also delves into the importance of reliability and validity in research methods, highlighting aspects like replicability and test-retest reliability.
