WEEK 2 - Research methods in psychology

Question 1

Dangers of misinformed practice

Answer 1

• Bettelheim’s theory of autism
• Frontal lobotomy

Question 2

Theory

Answer 2

A systematic way of organising and explaining observations

Question 3

Hypothesis

Answer 3

The prediction about the relationship of two or more variables

Question 4

A good theory has what?

Answer 4

• Fits the known facts
• Makes new testable predictions
• Is falsifiable

Question 5

Naturalistic Observation

Answer 5

The researcher carefully observes behaviour without intervening

Question 6

Case study

Answer 6

In-depth investigation of an individual person/situation

Question 7

Survey

Answer 7

Using questionnaires or interviews to gather information about specific aspects of behaviour

Question 8

Correlational research

Answer 8

Looking for relationships among variables

Question 9

Experimental research

Answer 9

To establish causation, the researcher manipulates one variable and measures its effect on another variable

Question 10

Population vs Sample

Answer 10

Population - the entire group of people we are interested in studying
Sample - a subset of the population selected for the study

Question 11

Operationalising variables

Answer 11

Turning abstract concepts into concrete variables that we can measure or manipulate

Question 12

Reliability & Validity

Answer 12

Reliability - does the measure produce consistent results
Validity - does it measure what it’s supposed to measure

Question 13

Random assignment

Answer 13

Participants are equally likely to be assigned to the experimental or control condition.

Question 14

Source of bias - participant

Answer 14

• demand characteristics (respond in a way they think the experimenter wants them to respond)
• placebo effects (participants condition improves because they believe the procedures will help them)

Question 15

Source of bias - experimenter

Answer 15

expectancy effects (experimenters expectations and behaviour bring about a change rather than the IV itself)

Question 16

Source of bias - confounding variables

Answer 16

another variable could be producing the observed effect

Question 17

Source of bias - sampling bias

Answer 17

sample is not representative of the population as a whole

Question 18

Research ethics

Answer 18

• informed consent
• maintain participant welfare
• voluntary participant welfare
• ensure confidentiality
• avoid deception when possible
• gain appropriate ethics approval