Psychology Scientific Research Methods

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Questions and Answers

What is one of the scientific attitudes that is essential in psychology?

Complacency

Indifference

Rigidity

Curiosity (correct)

What is the first step in gathering evidence in scientific research?

Formulate a theory

Identify a question of interest (correct)

Analyze data

Conduct a research experiment

What does a hypothesis typically express?

A general assumption about behavior

An if-then prediction about a phenomenon (correct)

A summary of past findings

A random guess about outcomes

In the study by Darley & Latane, what was the effect of increasing the number of bystanders on the likelihood of intervention?

The likelihood of intervention decreased Signup and view all the answers

After analyzing data, what is the next step in the research process?

Submit a report detailing findings Signup and view all the answers

What is an important aspect of building a body of knowledge in scientific research?

Asking additional questions Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT part of the scientific process in psychology?

Making vague generalizations Signup and view all the answers

What did the results from Darley & Latane's study reveal regarding the behavior of individuals in emergencies?

Bystanders become less likely to help as more people are present Signup and view all the answers

What is the main role of external validity in an experiment?

To assess how well results can be applied to the real world. Signup and view all the answers

What does a double blind study aim to eliminate?

Bias from the experimenters and expectations of participants. Signup and view all the answers

What phenomenon describes the unintentional influence an experimenter may have on participants?

Experimenter expectancy effects. Signup and view all the answers

Why is replication important in research?

It confirms that findings are accurate across various settings and conditions. Signup and view all the answers

How can expectations of alcohol impact research participants in a study?

Participants may experience effects regardless of actual consumption. Signup and view all the answers

What characterizes a good theory in behavioral research?

It should be testable and generate new hypotheses. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a method of measurement in psychological research?

Intuition-based assessments Signup and view all the answers

Operational definitions are important because they help to:

Make abstract concepts concrete and measurable. Signup and view all the answers

What is one advantage of conducting case studies?

They can examine rare phenomena in depth. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements about hindsight reasoning is true?

It trivializes understanding by explaining events after they happen. Signup and view all the answers

In the context of measuring behaviors, physiological measures include:

Heart rate and brain activation. Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of theories in behavioral research?

To develop new hypotheses for further testing. Signup and view all the answers

Which type of research method focuses on describing behavior in natural settings?

Descriptive Research Signup and view all the answers

Self-reports can vary in accuracy due to:

The honesty of responses can be affected by social desirability bias. Signup and view all the answers

What is a major limitation of using overt behavior measures?

They do not capture internal states effectively. Signup and view all the answers

According to the law of parsimony, a good theory should:

Explain phenomena in the simplest terms possible. Signup and view all the answers

What does the theory of social impact illustrate?

The relationship between individual behavior and group dynamics. Signup and view all the answers

Which statement about psychological tests is accurate?

They are used to identify patterns in responding. Signup and view all the answers

What is a major limitation of survey research?

Self-reports can be distorted. Signup and view all the answers

Which method allows for the observation of behavior without intervention from the observer?

Naturalistic Observation Signup and view all the answers

What is one disadvantage of using a correlational research method?

It can lead to misinterpretation if confounding variables are present. Signup and view all the answers

In correlational studies, a correlation coefficient of +1.00 indicates what?

A perfect positive relationship. Signup and view all the answers

What term describes a sample that accurately reflects the characteristics of the population?

Representative Sample Signup and view all the answers

In the context of learning styles, what has been found about claims of distinct styles?

Evidence supporting learning styles often uses poor research designs. Signup and view all the answers

What does a negative correlation imply about two variables?

One increases as the other decreases. Signup and view all the answers

What is the major flaw of the 1936 Literary Digest poll?

It relied on a sample that did not represent all socioeconomic statuses. Signup and view all the answers

What does the term 'self-reports can be distorted' suggest about certain research methods?

Participants can lie or misremember. Signup and view all the answers

What does the marshmallow experiment exemplify in terms of research?

An exploration of self-control and delayed gratification. Signup and view all the answers

Which type of sampling ensures that specific subgroups are represented accurately?

Stratified Random Sampling Signup and view all the answers

What is a key component of correlation research?

Measuring two variables to identify relationships. Signup and view all the answers

What does it mean if a correlation coefficient is closer to 0.00?

A weak or no relationship exists. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a component of a study focused on observational techniques?

The observer influences participant behavior. Signup and view all the answers

What does a high correlation coefficient close to 1 indicate?

A strong association facilitating prediction between variables. Signup and view all the answers

What was one significant finding from the study by Sears, Maccoby, and Levin regarding parenting styles?

Children of warm parents were better adjusted. Signup and view all the answers

Which research method allows the investigation of variables not suitable for experimental strategies?

Correlational Research Signup and view all the answers

In an experiment, what is the role of the independent variable?

It is the condition or event that is changed to observe effects. Signup and view all the answers

What constitutes a confounding variable?

A variable that influences both the independent and dependent variables. Signup and view all the answers

How does random assignment enhance the validity of an experiment?

It ensures equal distribution of confounding variables across groups. Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary disadvantage of correlational research?

It cannot establish cause and effect relationships. Signup and view all the answers

What is meant by 'demand characteristics' in research?

Participants' responses influenced by their expectations of the research. Signup and view all the answers

What does the placebo effect demonstrate in research?

Improvements can occur due to participants' expectations rather than the treatment. Signup and view all the answers

How do experimental and control groups differ in a study?

Experimental groups receive the independent variable treatment. Signup and view all the answers

What is the dependent variable in the experiment involving guinea pig offspring and alcohol consumption?

The time it takes for offspring to navigate the maze. Signup and view all the answers

What is internal validity in experimental research?

The degree to which an experiment accurately reflects causal conclusions. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of strong experimental design?

Descriptive statistics analysis Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Introduction to Psychology Research

Psychology research uses scientific principles to investigate questions about the universe.
Scientific investigation distinguishes itself from other approaches due to its emphasis on established principles.
Early psychology research faced challenges due to the intangible nature of its subject matter.

Scientific Principles in Psychology

Scientific Attitudes: Curiosity, skepticism, and open-mindedness are essential components of scientific inquiry.
Gathering Evidence (Steps): The scientific process involves: identifying a question of interest; gathering information and forming a hypothesis; testing the hypothesis through research; analyzing data and drawing conclusions; and communicating findings to further scientific discourse.

Formulating Hypotheses

A hypothesis is a specific prediction about a phenomenon stated as an "if-then" statement.
- Example: "If the number of bystanders increases, then the likelihood of intervention decreases." or "If more cigarettes are smoked, then the likelihood of health problems increases."

Testing Hypotheses

Research studies test hypotheses rigorously.
- Example: Darley & Latane (1968) investigated bystander intervention in emergencies using random assignment to conditions: alone with a victim; one other listener present; or four other listeners present.

Analyzing Data and Drawing Conclusions

Data analysis helps researchers determine whether their hypothesis is supported and draw tentative conclusions.
Example: In Darley & Latane's study, the results showed that participants who thought they were alone responded more quickly than those who believed others were present.

Generating a Body of Knowledge

Building upon initial findings, researchers create and test new hypotheses.
Theory Building: Theories explain events by outlining the relationship between variables (e.g., the theory of social impact).
Scientific development is a cyclical process of refining and testing knowledge based on accumulated evidence.

Understanding Behavior: Hindsight vs Prediction

Hindsight (After-the-fact): A retrospective understanding that can be overly simplistic and trivializing.
- Example: "absence makes the heart grow fonder".
Prediction, Control, and Theory Building: Science involves actively predicting outcomes, controlling variables, and creating theories to explain these relationships, offering a more comprehensive approach.

Defining and Measuring Variables

Variables are factors that can vary. Psychological variables (e.g., intelligence, shyness, stress) are often abstract.
Operational Definitions: converting abstract variables into observable and measurable components to avoid ambiguity.
Examples of Operational Definitions: Academic performance measured as test scores, stress as self-reported measures, or even physiological indicators (heart rate).

Measurement Techniques

Numerous methods measure psychological variables including: self-reports, reports from others, measures of overt behavior, psychological tests, and physiological measures.
Self-reports: People report their experiences; issues include social desirability bias and sensitivity of topics.
Other reports: Other individuals reporting on participant data can be used.
Overt behavior: Directly observable behavior is carefully recorded, categorized, and analyzed.
Archival measures: Existing records (e.g., documents, crime rates) are examined for relevant information.
Unobtrusive measures: Participants may not know they're being observed to reduce bias.

Research Methods (Descriptive vs. Correlational vs. Experimental)

Descriptive: Used to explore and gather information about behavior. Examples include Case studies, Naturalistic observations, Surveys).
Case studies: In-depth investigation of an individual or group (e.g., study of H.M., the amnesiac).
Naturalistic observations: Observing behavior in natural settings, minimizing intervention (e.g., analyzing bullying behavior in schools).
Surveys: Collecting data using questionnaires or interviews to investigate people's behaviors and beliefs.
- Representative samples: Essential for generalizing results to broader populations

Correlational Research Methods

Correlational research examines the relationship between naturally occurring variables.
Correlation coefficients: Numerical indices ranging from -1.00 to +1.00; measure the strength and direction of a correlation.
- Variables can be positively correlated (change in same direction), negatively correlated (opp. directions).
- A lack of correlation means no relationship.

Experimental Research Methods

Experimental research manipulates variables to investigate cause-and-effect relationships.
Independent variable: The manipulated factor.
Dependent variable: The measured outcome.
Experimental and Control groups: Essential for isolating the effect of the independent variable.
Controlling for confounding variables: Ensuring that any observed effect is due only to the manipulated variable.
Threats to validity: Including experimenter expectancy and participant expectations can affect study validity.

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Description

Test your knowledge of the essential scientific attitudes and processes in psychology. This quiz covers hypotheses, validity, and significant studies like the one by Darley & Latane. Understand the critical steps involved in conducting and interpreting psychological research.