Podcast
Questions and Answers
What is the role of the independent variable in an experiment?
What is the role of the independent variable in an experiment?
- It is the condition that is deliberately manipulated by the experimenter. (correct)
- It is a measure of the outcome after the experiment.
- It is the variable that is expected to change as a result of manipulation.
- It is a group of participants receiving standard treatment.
Why is random assignment important in experimental research?
Why is random assignment important in experimental research?
- It allows researchers to assign participants based on their characteristics.
- It ensures that all participants receive the same treatment.
- It minimizes differences between groups that could affect the outcome. (correct)
- It guarantees that the dependent variable will not change.
In Latane and Darley's experiment, what was manipulated as the independent variable?
In Latane and Darley's experiment, what was manipulated as the independent variable?
- The number of bystanders present during emergencies.
- The personal problems discussed by participants.
- The presence of confederates in the discussion groups.
- The size of the discussion groups. (correct)
What does the dependent variable in an experiment indicate?
What does the dependent variable in an experiment indicate?
What was the primary hypothesis of Latane and Darley regarding bystander behavior?
What was the primary hypothesis of Latane and Darley regarding bystander behavior?
What is a primary disadvantage of naturalistic observation?
What is a primary disadvantage of naturalistic observation?
What is the main advantage of survey research?
What is the main advantage of survey research?
In correlational research, what does a positive correlation indicate?
In correlational research, what does a positive correlation indicate?
What is a common issue when conducting case studies?
What is a common issue when conducting case studies?
What does the diffusion of responsibility suggest according to Latane and Darley's hypothesis?
What does the diffusion of responsibility suggest according to Latane and Darley's hypothesis?
Study Notes
Archival Research
- Involves examining existing data like census documents, college records, and newspaper clippings to test a hypothesis.
Naturalistic Observation
- Advantage: Provides insights into behavior in a natural setting.
- Disadvantage: Lacks control over variables influencing the observation.
Survey Research
- Advantage: Small sample sizes can lead to accurate inferences about a larger population.
- Disadvantage: Samples may not adequately represent the broader population.
Case Study
- Advantage: Offers in-depth and focused exploration of individual cases.
- Disadvantage: Unique characteristics of subjects can hinder valid generalizations to larger populations.
Correlational Research
- Examines the relationship between variables that can change (e.g., study time and test scores).
- Positive Correlation: As one variable increases, the other also tends to increase (e.g., more study time correlates with higher test scores).
- Negative Correlation: As one variable increases, the other tends to decrease (e.g., more study hours lead to fewer hours spent partying).
Experimental Research
- Based on Latane and Darley’s study on bystander behavior; hypothesized that more witnesses lead to less likelihood of helping.
- Operational Definition: Must conceptualize the hypothesis for testability.
- Experimental Manipulation: The deliberate alteration of variables to observe effects.
Experimental Design Concepts
- Experimental Group: Receives the treatment being tested.
- Control Group: Does not receive the treatment, serving as a baseline for comparison.
- Independent Variable: The manipulated condition in an experiment.
- Dependent Variable: The observed outcome, expected to change due to manipulation of the independent variable.
Random Assignment
- Ensures participants are assigned to experimental groups based on chance, preventing bias.
- Addresses the challenge of balancing participant characteristics across groups.
Latane and Darley Experiment
- Tested the hypothesis regarding the effect of group size on helping behavior in emergencies.
- Participants were assigned to groups of varying sizes (two, three, or six) in a discussion about personal college-related problems.
- Each group included a trained confederate to maintain control over the experimental conditions.
Importance of Experimental Design
- Establishes a clear causal relationship between independent and dependent variables.
- Random assignment enhances the validity of conclusions drawn from the experiment.
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Description
Explore essential research methods in psychology, including archival research, naturalistic observation, and survey research. This quiz tests your understanding of the advantages and disadvantages of each method, helping you grasp how they apply in real-world scenarios.
