Download Research Methods | PSYC 202 - Intro Psy as a Social Science and more Quizzes Psychology in PDF only on Docsity!
Definition of psychology
The scientific study of mental processes and behavior. TERM 2
Science
DEFINITION 2 A set of procedures to systematically and objectively observe facts about a phenomenon. TERM 3
Mental processes
DEFINITION 3 The private processes we have that are unobservable to other people. TERM 4
Mind-Body Problem
DEFINITION 4 How do mind and body interact? TERM 5
Goals of Science
DEFINITION 5 Prediction Understanding Application Research is primarily concerned with understanding and application.
Prediction
Estimating the likelihood of a certain phenomenon occurring. We can predict without understanding why. TERM 7
Understanding
DEFINITION 7 Adding a causal explanation to prediction. Involves theory TERM 8
Application
DEFINITION 8 Applying understanding to real-world events and problems. TERM 9
Challenges of Science
DEFINITION 9 Multiple causes (which may be across multiple levels - biological, social, personal, etc.) Factors interact. Variability Sampling TERM 10
Normal distribution
DEFINITION 10 Mean, median, and mode are all the same score.
Sample
A smaller subgroup of the population; should look somewhat like the population. TERM 17
Random sampling
DEFINITION 17 Every member of the population has equal opportunity to be in the sample Most likely to achieve a representative sample It's almost impossible for sampling to be totally random TERM 18
Representative sample
DEFINITION 18 Matches both the mean and variability of the population. TERM 19
Biased sample
DEFINITION 19 Bad because of generalizability. TERM 20
Generalizability
DEFINITION 20 The degree to which findings about a sample will apply to the population as a whole. Unrepresentative samples can lead to faulty generalizations about how an entire population would respond.
Hypothesis
A testable (i.e. falsifiable) proposition that concerns the relationship between 2 or more variables. TERM 22
What does it mean that a hypothesis must be
falsifiable?
DEFINITION 22 To say that a proposition is true, you must be able to prove that it's false. TERM 23
Variable
DEFINITION 23 Any factor that can vary (i.e. have more than 1 variable) TERM 24
Where do hypotheses come from?
DEFINITION 24 Theory (e.g. Theory of Relavity) Informal observation Previous research Applied problems (e.g. safe-sex behavior) TERM 25
Correlational Method
DEFINITION 25 Measure existing (nothing is manipulated) levels of 2 variables in the sample. Compute a correlation coefficient.
Characteristics of the true experiment
There's an at least one independent and dependent variable. The independent variable is manipulated, and the dependent variable is measured. There's a minimum of 2 conditions: experimental, and control. Group averages on the dependent variable are compared. Control Situational and subject variables accounted for Random assignment TERM 32
Independent variable
DEFINITION 32 The variable that you believe is the cause, and that you try to manipulate. TERM 33
Dependent variable
DEFINITION 33 The theoretical effect; should see changes as you manipulate teh IV; the level of DV DEPENDS on the level of the IV TERM 34
Condition
DEFINITION 34 One level of the independent variable. In a good experiment, there's a minimum of 2. TERM 35
Experimental condition
DEFINITION 35 The group that is exposed to the manipulation of the independent variable.
Control condition
The group that does not receive the manipulation of the independent variable and serves as a comparison to the experimental condition. TERM 37
The purpose of control
DEFINITION 37 There must be no variability from one condition to the next so that you know the outcome results only from the manipulation of the independent variable. TERM 38
Random assignment
DEFINITION 38 Each person participating in a study has an equal chance of being chosen for each condition. The resulting groups will on average be functionally equivalent. TERM 39
Between-subjects design
DEFINITION 39 Different participants, equivalent at the start of the study, are in each condition. TERM 40
Within-subjects design
DEFINITION 40 Each participant is exposed to all conditions of an independent variable, helping to rule out alternative explanations fro results.
Advantages of case studies
Enable scientists to study phenomena closely May challenge teh validity of a theory or widely held scientific belief Provide rich descriptive information Can be a source of new ideas and hypotheses that may then be examined using other research methods TERM 47
Disadvantages of case studies
DEFINITION 47 Poor for determining cause and effect b/c there's little opportunity to rule out alternative explanations Lack of generalizability Lack of objectivity in the way data are gathered and interpreted because they're often based largely on the researcher's subjective impressions TERM 48
Confound / confounding variable
DEFINITION 48 A variable that presents an alternative explanation for the results of an experiment. A key reason why causal conclusions can't be drawn from correlational research. Threatens the validity of research TERM 49
Internal vs. external
validity
DEFINITION 49 Internal validity: the degree to which a study clearly establishes cause and effect. External validity: the generalizability of the results of a study TERM 50
Theory
DEFINITION 50 A tentative explanation of observed facts and their relationships.
