How Psychologist Study Discrimination

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Questions and Answers

Which of the following is a goal of research in psychology?

To use validated theories to design interventions to reduce prejudice
To test theories to determine their validity
To develop knowledge about factors that cause people to think and behave in certain ways (correct)
To derive ideas for research from everyday life observations

What are postulates in theories of prejudice and discrimination?

Links among variables proposed by theories (correct)
Abstract concepts used in theories and studied in research
Concrete representations of hypothetical constructs
Characteristics on which people differ

What is the purpose of operational definitions in research?

To organize knowledge about variables
To provide concrete representations of hypothetical constructs (correct)
To propose links among variables
To state relationships between variables

What are the two basic criteria for assessing the quality of a measure?

Reliability and validity (A) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a limitation of self-report measures?

They can be influenced by socially desirable responding (B) Signup and view all the answers

What does validity refer to in the context of measuring characteristics?

The measure's consistency (D) Signup and view all the answers

Which approach of assessing stereotypes involves respondents checking off traits they think describe a group?

Checklists (D) Signup and view all the answers

What type of evidence is used to assess the validity of a measure?

Convergent evidence (A) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a measure used in implicit cognition research?

Physiological measures (B) Signup and view all the answers

What is the dependent variable in the Affective Priming Paradigm?

The response time (C) Signup and view all the answers

What is the advantage of using the Affect Misattribution Procedure?

It reduces social desirability response bias (D) Signup and view all the answers

What is the limitation of implicit cognition measures, such as the Implicit Association Test?

They cannot show absolute levels of prejudice (A) Signup and view all the answers

Which type of measure assesses automatic responses that are more difficult to control?

Implicit measures (C) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a benefit of using multiple measures in a study?

Increased validity of results (B) Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of using measures of both controllable and uncontrollable expression of prejudice?

To look for similarities and differences in response to different types of measures (D) Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of probability sampling in survey research?

To ensure that the sample represents the population of interest (D) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a method to statistically combine results of multiple studies?

Meta-Analysis (C) Signup and view all the answers

Researchers use qualitative data analysis to

Look for patterns of responses or behavior (C) Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of verifying research results through exact replication?

To ensure accuracy of research results (B) Signup and view all the answers

What should researchers do if the results of studies that used different research strategies all point to the same conclusion?

Have high confidence in that conclusion (D) Signup and view all the answers

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Study Notes

Research Goals and Methods

A goal of research in psychology is to understand and explain human behavior and mental processes.

Theories of Prejudice and Discrimination

Postulates in theories of prejudice and discrimination are the underlying assumptions or principles that guide the development of the theory.

Operational Definitions and Measurement

Operational definitions are used to define variables in research in a way that is specific, concrete, and measurable.
The purpose of operational definitions is to ensure clarity and consistency in measuring variables.
Two basic criteria for assessing the quality of a measure are reliability and validity.

Measurement Validity

Validity refers to the extent to which a measure accurately assesses the characteristic or trait it is intended to measure.
Evidence used to assess the validity of a measure includes face validity, construct validity, and criterion validity.

Assessing Stereotypes

The checklist approach involves respondents checking off traits they think describe a group, which is one way to assess stereotypes.

Implicit Cognition Research

The Implicit Association Test (IAT) is a measure used in implicit cognition research to assess automatic associations between concepts.
The Affective Priming Paradigm is a measure used in implicit cognition research, where the dependent variable is the response time to classify a target stimulus.
The Affect Misattribution Procedure is a measure used in implicit cognition research that has the advantage of assessing implicit attitudes without directly asking participants about their attitudes.
A limitation of implicit cognition measures, such as the IAT, is that they may not accurately reflect conscious attitudes or behaviors.

Using Multiple Measures

A benefit of using multiple measures in a study is that it can increase the validity and reliability of the results.
Using measures of both controllable and uncontrollable expressions of prejudice can provide a more comprehensive understanding of prejudice.

Survey Research

Probability sampling is a method used in survey research to ensure that the sample is representative of the population.

Meta-Analysis

Meta-analysis is a method used to statistically combine results of multiple studies to draw more general conclusions.

Qualitative Data Analysis

Researchers use qualitative data analysis to identify themes, patterns, and meanings in non-numerical data.

Replication and Results

The purpose of verifying research results through exact replication is to increase confidence in the findings and ensure that the results are not due to chance.
If the results of studies that used different research strategies all point to the same conclusion, it increases the validity and generalizability of the findings.