Research Methods in Psychology

Questions and Answers

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?

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?

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?

The outcome that is expected to change due to the independent variable. Signup and view all the answers

What was the primary hypothesis of Latane and Darley regarding bystander behavior?

The size of the bystander group will decrease helping behavior. Signup and view all the answers

What is a primary disadvantage of naturalistic observation?

There is an inability to control any of the factors of interest. Signup and view all the answers

What is the main advantage of survey research?

It can yield accurate insights from small samples to the larger population. Signup and view all the answers

In correlational research, what does a positive correlation indicate?

Increases in one variable predict increases in another variable. Signup and view all the answers

What is a common issue when conducting case studies?

Unique cases may hinder generalizability to a larger population. Signup and view all the answers

What does the diffusion of responsibility suggest according to Latane and Darley's hypothesis?

The likelihood of help decreases as more people are present. Signup and view all the answers

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.

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.