Docsity
Docsity

Prepare for your exams
Prepare for your exams

Study with the several resources on Docsity


Earn points to download
Earn points to download

Earn points by helping other students or get them with a premium plan


Guidelines and tips
Guidelines and tips

Chapter 4 Study Guide: Research Methods and Designs in Psychology - Prof. Harvey Richman, Study notes of Psychology

This study guide provides an overview of various research methods and designs used in psychology, including abab designs, analog studies, between-group designs, case study method, controlled observation, correlation coefficient, cross-sectional design, debriefing, deception, dependent variable, experimental hypothesis, experimental method, factor analysis, incidence, independent variable, informed consent, internally valid, longitudinal design, matching, mixed designs, multiple baseline designs, naturalistic observation, prevalence, risk factor, scatterplot, single-case designs, third variable problem, and within-group designs. The guide also discusses the strengths and limitations of each method and design.

Typology: Study notes

Pre 2010

Uploaded on 08/04/2009

koofers-user-zka
koofers-user-zka 🇺🇸

10 documents

1 / 6

Toggle sidebar

This page cannot be seen from the preview

Don't miss anything!

bg1
Chapter 4 Study Guide
These are the same important terms and ideas that are summarized at the end of the
chapter. Additional information that I've added to these will be in italicized text. I
have also added additional important terms and ideas at the end of the alphabetical
list. As you study, pay particular attention to 1. the definitions for which the
titles appear in BOLD print, 2. the italicized information I've added, and 3. the
additional terms I've added at the bottom of the list. These are the most
important ideas and the ones most likely to appear on the exams.
ABAB Designs - Single-case designs that observe systematic changes in the
participant's behavior as the treatment and no-treatment conditions alternate. The
initial baseline period is followed by a treatment period, a treatment reversal period,
and a second treatment period. An ABA design would lack the reinstatement of
treatment (the second B phase). The research question would be answered but it
would be quite unethical to leave the subject in the “no treatment” condition if the
treatment works.
Analog Study - A study conducted in the laboratory under conditions that are
purportedly analogous to real life. To study depression we might try to induce
depression in animals or in “non-patient “ humans (how about college students?).
The weakness of analog studies is their low “external validity.” Does depression in all
adults function the same as it does with college students ?
Between-Group Designs - Designs in which two or more separate groups of
participants each receive a different kind of treatment. They are often easier to
design and conduct than within group designs.
Case Study Method - A research method consisting of the intensive description or
study of one person (usually a client or patient who is in treatment). The case of
"Anna O" was a famous case study reported by Freud and Breuer.
Confidentiality - In research on human subjects, the principle of protecting individual
participants' data from public scrutiny.
Confound - A situation in which extraneous variables are not controlled or cannot be
shown to exist equally in one's experimental and control groups. When there is a
pf3
pf4
pf5

Partial preview of the text

Download Chapter 4 Study Guide: Research Methods and Designs in Psychology - Prof. Harvey Richman and more Study notes Psychology in PDF only on Docsity!

Chapter 4 Study Guide These are the same important terms and ideas that are summarized at the end of the chapter. Additional information that I've added to these will be in italicized text. I have also added additional important terms and ideas at the end of the alphabetical list. As you study, pay particular attention to 1. the definitions for which the titles appear in BOLD print, 2. the italicized information I've added, and 3. the additional terms I've added at the bottom of the list. These are the most important ideas and the ones most likely to appear on the exams. ABAB Designs - Single-case designs that observe systematic changes in the participant's behavior as the treatment and no-treatment conditions alternate. The initial baseline period is followed by a treatment period, a treatment reversal period, and a second treatment period. An ABA design would lack the reinstatement of treatment (the second B phase). The research question would be answered but it would be quite unethical to leave the subject in the “no treatment” condition if the treatment works. Analog Study - A study conducted in the laboratory under conditions that are purportedly analogous to real life. To study depression we might try to induce depression in animals or in “non-patient “ humans (how about college students?). The weakness of analog studies is their low “external validity.” Does depression in all adults function the same as it does with college students? Between-Group Designs - Designs in which two or more separate groups of participants each receive a different kind of treatment. They are often easier to design and conduct than within group designs. Case Study Method - A research method consisting of the intensive description or study of one person (usually a client or patient who is in treatment). The case of "Anna O" was a famous case study reported by Freud and Breuer. Confidentiality - In research on human subjects, the principle of protecting individual participants' data from public scrutiny. Confound - A situation in which extraneous variables are not controlled or cannot be shown to exist equally in one's experimental and control groups. When there is a

confound, one cannot attribute changes in the dependent variable to the manipulation of the independent variable_. If a confound is present, the research cannot be internally valid._ Control Group - The group in an experimental design that does not receive the treatment of interest. In the perfect experimental design, the experimental and control groups are similar on all variables except the treatment variable. Controlled Observation - A research method similar to naturalistic observation in which carefully planned observations are made in real-life settings, except that the investigator exerts a degree of control over the events being observed. Correlation Coefficient - A statistic (usually symbolized by r) that describes the relationship between two variables. r ranges between –1.00 and +1.00; its sign indicates the direction of the association, and its absolute value indicates the strength. Correlation Matrix - An array that displays the correlations between all possible pairs of variables in the array. Correlational Methods - Statistical methods that allow us to determine whether one variable is related to another. In general, correlational methods do not allow us to draw inferences about cause and effect. See Table 4 - 2 Cross-Sectional Design - A research design that compares different groups of individuals at one point in time. Debriefing - In research on human subjects, the legal requirement that researchers explain to participants the purpose, importance, and results of the research following their participation. Deception - Deception is sometimes used in research when knowing the true purpose of a study would change the participants' responses or produce nonveridical (false) data. Though generally considered undesirable, it is acceptable when no other method will work and when the potential benefit is considered to outweigh the risks.

dimension in common. For example, on a multi scale personality questionnaire, one groups of scale may correlate with each other (extraversion, liveliness, impulsivity) but not with scales from another group (depression, anxiety, obsessiveness) which correlate with each other. See Table 4 - 3 Fraudulent Data - Data that are fabricated, altered, or otherwise falsified by the experimenter. Incidence - The rate of new cases of a disease or disorder that develop within a given period of time. Incidence figures allow us to determine whether the rate of new cases is stable or changing from one time period to the next. For example, in recent years incidence of Body Dysmorphic Disorder has been increasing whereas incidence of Conversion Disorder has been decreasing. Independent Variable - The variable in an experimental design that is manipulated by the investigator. Informed Consent - In research on human subjects, the legal requirement that researchers inform potential participants about the general purpose of the study, the procedures that will be used, any risks, discomforts, or limitations on confidentiality, any compensation for participation, and their freedom to withdraw from the study at any point. Internally Valid - An experiment is considered internally valid to the extent that the change in the dependent variable is attributable to the manipulation of the independent variable. E.g., how sure are we that the people in a treatment outcome study improved because of the treatment and not because of some other unknown factor? Longitudinal Design - A research design that compares the same group of individuals at two or more points in time. A good research method but costly, time consuming, and difficult to conduct. Subject "attrition" (loss of subjects over time) is a problem. Matching - A term used when research participants in the experimental and control groups are "matched" or similar on variables (e.g., age, sex) that may affect the outcome of the research.

Mixed Designs - Research designs that combine both experimental and correlational methods. In this design, participants from naturally occurring groups of interest (e.g., people with panic disorder and people with social phobia) are assigned to each experimental treatment, allowing the experimenter to determine whether the effectiveness of the treatments varies by group classification. Multiple Baseline Designs - Design used when it is not possible or ethical to employ a treatment reversal period. In this design, baselines are established for two (or more) behaviors, treatment is introduced for one behavior, and then treatment is introduced for the second behavior as well. By observing changes in each behavior from period to period, one may draw conclusions about the effectiveness of the treatments. Naturalistic Observation - A research method in which carefully planned observations are made in real-life settings. For example, visiting a classroom several times during the course of a day. Placebo Effect - The case where the expectations for the experimental manipulation cause the outcome rather than (or in addition to) the manipulation itself. Placebo effects can be quire powerful. Prevalence - The overall rate of cases (new or old) within a given period of time. Prevalence figures allow us to estimate what percentage of the target population is affected by the illness or disorder. (e.g. substance abuse / dependence is more prevalent among men while depression is more prevalent among women) Retrospective Data - Data based upon people's reports of past experiences and events_. People's recall is often NOT very accurate._ Risk Factor - A variable (e.g., demographic, environmental) that increases a person's risk of experiencing a particular disease or disorder over his or her lifetime. Scatterplot - A visual representation of the relationship between two variables. The scatterplot consists of an x-axis (labeled to reflect one variable), a y-axis (labeled to reflect the other variable), and a number of data points, each corresponding to one person's scores on both variables. It is a visual representation of a "correlation." See figures 4 - 1 and 4 - 2.