Types of Research and Key Concepts

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Questions and Answers

What is applied research?

Research designed to understand psychological processes
Research that is not applicable to real-world problems
Research designed to investigate real world problems (correct)
Research based on theoretical predictions

What is a priori prediction?

A prediction made about the outcome of a study before data are collected.

What defines basic research?

Research that relies solely on anecdotal evidence
Research without immediate applicability (correct)
Research focused on applying findings to solve real-world problems
Research designed solely to manipulate variables

What is a conceptual definition?

An abstract, dictionary-type definition. Signup and view all the answers

What does correlational research examine?

The nature of the relationship between two measured variables. Signup and view all the answers

What is deduction in research?

The process of reasoning from a general proposition to a specific implication of that proposition. Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of descriptive research?

To accurately and systematically describe behaviors, thoughts, or feelings of participants. Signup and view all the answers

What is empirical generalization?

A hypothesis based on the results of previous studies. Signup and view all the answers

What does empiricism emphasize?

The practice of relying on observation to draw conclusions about the world. Signup and view all the answers

What is evaluation research?

The use of behavioral research methods to assess the effects of programs on behavior. Signup and view all the answers

What is experimental research designed to test?

Whether certain variables cause changes in behavior, thoughts, or feelings. Signup and view all the answers

What is falsifiability?

The requirement that a hypothesis must be capable of being falsified. Signup and view all the answers

What does the file-drawer problem refer to?

The possibility that studies that failed to support a hypothesis have not been published. Signup and view all the answers

What is a hypothesis?

A proposition that follows logically from a theory. Signup and view all the answers

What is induction in research?

The process of reasoning from specific instances to a general proposition. Signup and view all the answers

What does methodological pluralism mean?

The practice of using many different research approaches to address a particular question. Signup and view all the answers

What is a model in research?

An explanation of how a particular process occurs. Signup and view all the answers

What does a null finding indicate?

Failing to obtain a statistically significant effect in a study. Signup and view all the answers

What is an operational definition?

Defining a construct by specifying precisely how it is measured or manipulated. Signup and view all the answers

What is a post hoc explanation?

An explanation offered for a set of findings after the data are collected and analyzed. Signup and view all the answers

What is pseudoscience?

Claims of knowledge that violate the central criteria of scientific investigation. Signup and view all the answers

What does public verification mean?

Conducting research in a way that it can be observed, verified, and replicated by others. Signup and view all the answers

What is quasi-experimental research?

Research where the researcher cannot assign participants to conditions or manipulate the independent variable. Signup and view all the answers

What is the strategy of strong inference?

Designing a study to test competing predictions from two or more theories. Signup and view all the answers

What is a theory in research?

A set of propositions that attempts to explain relationships among concepts. Signup and view all the answers

What are descriptive statistics?

Numbers that summarize and describe the behavior of participants in a study. Signup and view all the answers

What does effect size measure?

The strength of the relationship between two or more variables. Signup and view all the answers

What is error variance?

The portion of total variance that remains unaccounted for after systematic variance is removed. Signup and view all the answers

What are inferential statistics?

Mathematical analyses that allow researchers to draw conclusions about the reliability of their data. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Research Types and Definitions

Applied research: Focuses on solving real-world problems and enhancing quality of life.
Basic research: Aims to understand psychological processes without immediate application to real-world issues.
Correlational research: Examines relationships between two measured variables.
Descriptive research: Systematically describes participants' behaviors, thoughts, or feelings.
Experimental research: Investigates causal relationships by manipulating independent variables and assigning participants to conditions.
Quasi-experimental research: Involves situations where researchers cannot assign conditions or manipulate variables.

Research Principles and Concepts

a priori prediction: A forecast about study outcomes made prior to data collection.
Empiricism: Emphasizes observation as the source of knowledge.
Falsifiability: Ensures hypotheses can be proven false; a key criterion for scientific investigation.
Null finding: Occurs when a study fails to reveal a statistically significant effect.

Reasoning and Methodologies

Deduction: Reasoning from a general proposition to its specific implications.
Induction: Infers general propositions from specific instances.
Methodological pluralism: Uses diverse research methodologies to tackle a research question.

Statistical Concepts and Analysis

Descriptive statistics: Summarize participant behavior through metrics like mean and standard deviation.
Inferential statistics: Allow conclusions about the data’s reliability and generalizability.
Effect size: Measures the strength of relationships among variables, often as a proportion of explained variance.
Error variance: Represents variability in data that is not explained by the studied variables.

Research Evaluation and Publication

Evaluation research: Assesses program effects on behaviors through behavioral research methods.
File-drawer problem: Suggests that unpublished studies with null findings can bias perceptions of effect size support.
Public verification: Ensures research is observable and replicable, contributing to scientific integrity.

Definitions and Theoretical Constructs

Hypothesis: A logical proposition predicting the outcome of a study based on theory.
Operational definition: Details how constructs are specifically measured or manipulated in a study.
Post hoc explanation: Provides explanations for findings after data analysis.
Pseudoscience: Claims that mimic scientific rigor but lack essential scientific criteria.
Theory: A framework of propositions explaining relationships among concepts.
Model: Represents explanations of processes within research contexts.
Empirical generalization: Develops hypotheses based on previous study outcomes.

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Description

Test your knowledge on different types of research, including applied, basic, and experimental research. This quiz also covers important research principles like empiricism and falsifiability, providing a comprehensive overview of research methods and metrics.