Psychology Unit 0: Research Methods Quiz

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Questions and Answers

What is the term for the chance that results can be applied to a broader population?

Generalizability (correct)

Sampling bias

Validity

Convenience sampling

What can occur when a sample is not representative of the population?

Validity

Qualitative research

Sampling bias (correct)

Random sampling

Which sampling method ensures each individual in the population has an equal chance of being selected?

Systematic sampling

Convenience sampling

Judgmental sampling

Random sampling (correct)

What is the main focus of qualitative research?

Exploring phenomena through nonnumerical data Signup and view all the answers

What is essential for enhancing the validity and applicability of research findings?

Gathering a representative sample Signup and view all the answers

What is likely to be a result of convenience sampling?

Reduced generalizability Signup and view all the answers

What is the definition of confirmation bias?

The tendency to ignore evidence that contradicts existing beliefs Signup and view all the answers

Which method involves collecting and analyzing numerical data?

Quantitative research Signup and view all the answers

What does operational definition in research refer to?

A precise and measurable description of a variable Signup and view all the answers

How does representative sampling help in research?

It improves the accuracy of generalizable results. Signup and view all the answers

What is the importance of operationalizing variables in research?

To maintain consistency and validity in research Signup and view all the answers

Which statement best describes reliability in a research study?

The consistency of results under consistent conditions Signup and view all the answers

What is the meaning of falsifiability in a scientific hypothesis?

It can be proven false through observation or experimentation Signup and view all the answers

What does overconfidence refer to in cognitive biases?

Excessive certainty in one's abilities and decisions Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following describes critical thinking?

Analyzing and evaluating information carefully Signup and view all the answers

What does high validity in research indicate?

The results reflect the intended concept accurately Signup and view all the answers

What does the third-variable problem refer to?

A third variable responsible for an observed correlation that creates a false impression of a relationship Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes the experimental group in an experiment?

The group exposed to the independent variable or treatment Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of a control group in an experiment?

To serve as a baseline for comparison with the experimental group Signup and view all the answers

Which statement accurately describes an independent variable?

It is the factor manipulated by the researcher Signup and view all the answers

What characterizes the dependent variable in an experiment?

It is affected by the independent variable changes Signup and view all the answers

Why is a placebo often used in experiments?

To control for the psychological effects of believing in treatment Signup and view all the answers

What distinguishes experimental methodology from correlational research methods?

Experimental methodology manipulates an independent variable and controls other factors Signup and view all the answers

What happens to extreme scores over time in measurements?

They tend to revert closer to the average or mean Signup and view all the answers

What is the phenomenon called when participants experience real changes in their condition after receiving a placebo?

Placebo effect Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes a confounding variable?

An external factor that impacts the dependent variable Signup and view all the answers

What is a potential negative effect of a placebo known as?

Nocebo effect Signup and view all the answers

How does random assignment contribute to research validity?

By ensuring groups are similar at the experiment's start Signup and view all the answers

What is the main focus of random assignment in an experiment?

Group allocation to control for bias Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes participant bias?

Behavior influenced by participants' awareness of the study's purpose Signup and view all the answers

Which of these concepts is different from random assignment?

Random selection Signup and view all the answers

In a study on sleep and academic performance, which factor could potentially confound the results?

Stress levels Signup and view all the answers

What does effect size communicate in research?

The strength or magnitude of a relationship between variables Signup and view all the answers

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

To review research studies to ensure compliance with ethical guidelines Signup and view all the answers

What is informed consent in the context of research?

The process where participants are informed about the study and agree to participate Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes the concept of protection from harm in research?

Minimizing psychological and physical risks to participants Signup and view all the answers

What does confidentiality in research involve?

Protecting participants' personal information from disclosure Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of debriefing participants after a study?

To inform participants about the true purpose and any deception used Signup and view all the answers

What is considered deception in research?

Using confederates to mislead participants for study purposes Signup and view all the answers

What is informed assent?

Agreement of individuals unable to give full consent, with guardian approval Signup and view all the answers

Which measure of central tendency is most impacted by outliers?

Mean Signup and view all the answers

What does a higher standard deviation indicate about a data set?

More variability among data points Signup and view all the answers

What does percentile rank indicate?

How you compare to others in a group Signup and view all the answers

Which aspect is crucial in determining the type of skew in a distribution?

The length of the tails of the distribution Signup and view all the answers

What characterizes a bimodal distribution?

Two distinct peaks indicating two common values Signup and view all the answers

Which factor is NOT considered when determining if data can be generalized?

Presence of outliers Signup and view all the answers

What does a p-value less than 0.05 usually indicate?

There is evidence of a real effect or relationship Signup and view all the answers

What does effect size measure?

The strength or magnitude of a relationship Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Unit 0: Science Practices Guided Notes

Apply psychological perspectives, theories, concepts, and research findings.
Evaluate qualitative and quantitative research methods and study designs.
Evaluate representations of psychological concepts in quantitative and qualitative research, including tables, graphs, charts, figures, and diagrams.
Develop and justify psychological arguments using evidence.

Unit 0: Psychological Science and Research Design

Identify psychology-related concepts in descriptions or representations of data.
Explain how cultural norms, expectations, and circumstances, as well as cognitive biases, apply to behavior and mental processes.
Evaluate the appropriate use of research design elements in experimental and non-experimental methodologies.
Interpret quantitative or qualitative inferential data from tables, graphs, charts, figures, or diagrams.
Determine the type of research design(s) used in a given study.

Unit 0: Non-Experimental Research

Evaluate the appropriate use of research design elements in non-experimental methodologies.
Interpret quantitative or qualitative inferential data from tables, graphs, charts, figures, or diagrams.
Determine the type of research design(s) used in a given study.

Unit 0: Experimental Research

Evaluate the appropriate use of research design elements in experimental methodologies.
Interpret quantitative or qualitative inferential data from tables, graphs, charts, figures, or diagrams.

Unit 0: Statistical Reasoning

Calculate and interpret measures of central tendency, variation, and percentile rank in a given data set.
Interpret quantitative or qualitative inferential data from tables, graphs, charts, figures, or diagrams.

Unit 0: Ethics in Research

Evaluate whether a psychological research scenario followed appropriate ethical procedures.

Psychology: Psychological Science and Research Design

Critical thinking: The ability to analyze information carefully, evaluate evidence, identify biases, and question assumptions.
Hindsight bias: The tendency for people to believe they could have predicted an event's outcome after it has already happened.
Overconfidence: A cognitive bias where individuals overestimate their own abilities/knowledge.
Confirmation bias: The tendency to actively seek out information that supports one's existing beliefs, ignoring contradictory evidence.
Hypotheses: A specific, testable prediction about the relationship between two or more variables.
Falsifiability: The principle that a scientific hypothesis or theory must be able to be proven false.
Operational definition: A precise and measurable description of a variable in a study.
Reliability: The consistency of a research study or measurement.
Validity: The extent to which a test or study measures what it claims to measure.

Generalizability

Generalizability: The extent to which research findings apply to broader populations, beyond the study sample.

Sampling

Population: The entire group of individuals a researcher is interested in studying. Sampling: The process of selecting individuals to participate in a study.
Sample: A subset of individuals selected from a population for participation in a study.
Sampling bias: occurs when a sample is not representative of the population.
Representative sample: A sample that mirrors the characteristics of the larger population.

Measurement Instruments

Qualitative research: Focuses on exploring phenomena through nonnumerical data (interviews, observations, case studies).
Quantitative research: Involves collecting and analyzing numerical data (surveys, experiments, statistical methods).

Survey Method

Surveys: Gather data on attitudes, behaviors, or characteristics.
Pros: Efficient for large groups, collects both qualitative and quantitative data, easy to administer and analyze.
Cons: Responses may be biased or inaccurate, limited depth of information (especially in closed-ended questions).

Conclusions

Peer review: Experts evaluate a research study before publication, ensuring quality, validity, and reliability.
Replication: Repeating a study to verify results and ensure reliability.

Non-Experimental Research

Non-experimental: Provide valuable insights into relationships without manipulating variables.
Limitation: Cannot establish causal relationships – only correlations/associations.
Case studies: In-depth detailed examinations of individuals or small groups (rich data, limited generalizability).
Meta-analysis: Combines results of multiple studies (reliable conclusions, depends on quality of included studies).
Naturalistic observation: Observing behavior in natural environments (realistic insights, limited control over variables).

Correlation

Correlational coefficient (-1 to +1): Strength and direction of a relationship between two variables (closer to ±1 = stronger; near 0 = no correlation).
Positive correlation: Variables move in the same direction.
Negative correlation: Variables move in opposite directions.
No correlation: No relationship between variables.

Third variable problem:

An extraneous factor that influences the relationship between two variables.

Regression toward the mean:

Extreme scores tend to move closer to the average over time.

Experiment

Experiment: Researcher manipulates one variable (independent) and observes its effect on another (dependent), controlling other factors.
Control Group: Doesn't receive treatment or manipulation; serves as a baseline.
Experimental Group: Exposed to the independent variable or treatment.
Independent Variable: The manipulated factor.
Dependent Variable: Outcome/factor measured.
Placebo: Treatment with no active effect; used to control for psychological effects.
Placebo Effect: Changes in participants' condition simply because they believe they are receiving treatment.
Nocebo effect: Negative side effects due to the expectation that a treatment will harm them.

Confounding Variable

An extraneous factor that varies with the independent variable and affects the dependent variable.

Random Assignment

A method to assign participants to groups to reduce pre-existing differences

Participant Bias

Responses/behavior influenced by awareness of study purpose or expectations.
Social desirability bias: Answer in a way that's viewed favorably.

Experimenter bias

Researcher's expectations influence the outcome.
Confirmation bias: Focus on supporting data.

Single blind study

Participants are unaware of the group they are in.
Double blind study: Both participants and researchers are unaware of group assignments.

Descriptive Statistics:

Summarize and organize data using mean, median, mode, range, and standard deviation.
Normal curve: A bell-shaped curve, representing many sets of data.
Percentile rank: Shows where you compare to others in a group.

Inferential Statistics:

Make predictions or inferences about a larger population.
Hypothesis testing, confidence intervals, regression analysis.

Statistical Reasoning

Mean: Average.
Median: Middle value.
Mode: Most frequent value.
Range: Difference between high and low values.
Standard deviation: Average distance from the mean.

Ethics in Research (Laboratory Setting)

Institutional Review Board (IRB): Reviews research studies to ensure ethical guidelines are followed.
Informed consent: Participants are fully informed of the study's nature and risks/benefits, agreeing voluntarily.
Informed assent: Assent from minors or those unable to give full consent.
Protection from harm: Minimizing risks and providing support if harm occurs.
Confidentiality: Protecting participants' personal information.
Debriefing: Explaining the true purpose of the study after it's completed (if deception was used).
Deception: Withholding information or providing false information for specific research purposes.
Confederate: A researcher who pretends to be a participant.

Studying That Suits You

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Description

Test your knowledge of psychological practices and research design in this Unit 0 quiz. Explore various methodologies, evaluate data representations, and apply psychological concepts to real-world scenarios. Perfect for students aiming to deepen their understanding of research in psychology.