Ch 1 Research Methods

Question 1

scientific study

Answer 1

concerned with establishing and testing theories of behavior and mental processes

Question 2

organized body of knowledge

Answer 2

psychologists rely on scientific research in attempts to study behavior and mental processes of animals and humans

Question 3

pseudoscience

Answer 3

false science

Question 4

scientific method

Answer 4

• requires formulation of hypothesis and theory
• must have operationally defined terms and observable results

Question 5

operational definitions

Answer 5

• defines and explains the procedures used within the experiment
• allows other researchers to duplicate an experiment
• specifies how to measure a behavior

Question 6

3 goals in research psychology

Answer 6

• describe
• explain
• predict

Question 7

correlational research

Answer 7

assesses or measures relationships between 2 variables

Question 8

correlation

Answer 8

assesses a relationship between variables that an experimenter has no control over

Question 9

correlation coefficient

Answer 9

• a measure of the relationship between 2 variables expressed in quantitative terms
• gives a numerical value of the strength of a correlation between 2 variables
• ranges from -1 to 1

Question 10

correlation studies

Answer 10

do NOT tell us why a relationship exists, correlation does not give causation

Question 11

experimental methods

Answer 11

ways to gather information

Question 12

experiments

Answer 12

a research method in which the investigator manipulates a variable under carefully controlled conditions

Question 13

naturalistic observation

Answer 13

• observing subject in their natural environment with no interaction with subject
• be aware of observer bias

Question 14

case study/case history

Answer 14

an in depth study of a single person or a small group, but not always applicable to others

Question 15

longitudinal study

Answer 15

• used in developmental studies, study of one person for a long time
• preferred method for developmental psychologists

Question 16

cross sectional study

Answer 16

• also used in developmental studies
• study many different age groups or a cross section of ages at one time

Question 17

independent variable

Answer 17

a condition or event that an experimenter manipulates in order to see its impact on the subjects in an experiment

Question 18

placebo

Answer 18

drug or treatment that has no medicinal value often used in drug studies

Question 19

dependent variables

Answer 19

behavior or action that will change as a result of the independent variable

Question 20

extraneous variables

Answer 20

factors in an experiment that need to be minimized or eliminated so as not to affect the dependent variable

Question 21

experimental group

Answer 21

receives actual drug or treatment that is being studied

Question 22

control group

Answer 22

• receives the placebo, no actual drug or treatment given
• only perception of a drug or treatment

Question 23

ways that researchers organize their data

Answer 23

• Mode (most often occuring score)
• Mean (the average score)
• Median (scores arranged from least to greatest and the score that represents halfway point is median)

Question 24

ethical guidelines from APA

Answer 24

FOR HUMANS
- right to obtained information remaining private
- voluntary participation (Nuremburg Code)
- informed consent
- debriefed
- no lasting harm
- research is important and not done on a whim
FOR ANIMALS
- only trained and experienced experts care for animals
- housing requirements
- right kind of food
- proper temperature
- no unnecessary pain or discomfort