Ch. 3 Researchc Methods and Study Design

Question 1

archival studies

Answer 1

Studies that explore historical records and search for patterns or insight.

Question 2

attrition

Answer 2

Occurs when participants in a study drop out before completion.

Question 3

between-subjects design

Answer 3

Comparisons are made between one group and another to test for differences.

Question 4

biographical studies

Answer 4

Studies that investigate all relevant details of the life an individual or small group.

Question 5

case studies

Answer 5

Studies that make a deep and comprehensive exploration of a single individual, phenomenon, or disorder.

Question 6

confounding variables

Answer 6

Variables other than the research variables that would explain an experimental effect if one were found; also known as extraneous variables.

Question 7

construct validity

Answer 7

The extent to which a psychometric instrument measures what it purports to.

Question 8

control group

Answer 8

The group that does not receive the treatment in an experiment, and is used as a point of reference for the experimental group.

Question 9

correlational studies

Answer 9

Studies that measure the quantitative relationship between two variables.

Question 10

cross-sectional study

Answer 10

A study design in which data collection or survey of a population or sample occurs at a specific time.

Question 11

debriefing

Answer 11

After participants complete a study or some part of a study, researchers thoroughly review the purpose of the study, hypotheses, and implications.

Question 12

demand characteristics

Answer 12

Researcher expectations that influence participant responses; often, participants subconsciously adapt their behavior and responses to fit what the research hypothesis, which they have guessed.

Question 13

ethnographic studies

Answer 13

Studies that make a deep and comprehensive exploration of an ethnicity or culture.

Question 14

experimental group

Answer 14

The group that receives the treatment in an experiment, in contrast to the control group.

Question 15

experimental hypothesis

Answer 15

The hypothesis that there is an experimental effect and the treatment in responsible for the measured difference.

Question 16

external validity

Answer 16

The extent to which experimental results can be applied to real-world situations.

Question 17

extraneous variables

Answer 17

Variables other than the research variables that would explain an experimental effect if one were found; also known as confounding variables.

Question 18

heritability

Answer 18

The extent to which a behavior is due to genetic factors.

Question 19

homogenous

Answer 19

The same throughout; often used to describe a sample in which participants have similar characteristics.

Question 20

internal validity

Answer 20

How “well-designed” a study is; how valid it is to draw conclusions from the research based on the way it was constructed.

Question 21

meta-analysis

Answer 21

A review of many studies to combine results and find emergent patterns in an area of research.

Question 22

mixed methods

Answer 22

Any two types of research methodology are combined in the same study, such as qualitative and quantitative or between-subjects and within-subjects.

Question 23

null hypothesis

Answer 23

The hypothesis that there is no experimental effect and any differences, if measured, are due to chance.

Question 24

observational studies

Answer 24

A type of research characterized by minimal manipulation in an attempt to investigate phenomena in their naturalistic state.

Question 25

operational definition

Answer 25

The specifications of experimental variables in terms that can be used by other researchers to replicate methodology.

Question 26

p-value

Answer 26

Numerical value that gives the probability that a measured difference occurred due to chance.

Question 27

pearson correlation

Answer 27

A numerical value between -1 and 1 that indicates how two variables correlate; a negative value indicates a direct relationship, a positive value indicates a direct relationship, and values further from zero indicate a stronger relationship.

Question 28

phenomenological method

Answer 28

The use of introspection to explore the nature of phenomena, often related to perception or subjective experience.

Question 29

placebo effect

Answer 29

The phenomenon that if a group of participants simply believes that it has been given a treatment, this can lead to a measurable effect.

Question 30

power

Answer 30

The ability of a study to pick up an effect if one is indeed present; this is related to factors such as large sample size and low variation.

Question 31

predictive validity

Answer 31

The extent to which a psychometric instrument predicts results along a well-known test or in variable of interest.

Question 32

psychometrics

Answer 32

The art and science of measuring psychological processes.

Question 33

qualitative

Answer 33

Descriptive, as opposed to numerical; often used to refer data.

Question 34

quantitative

Answer 34

Numerical, as opposed to descriptive; often used to describe data.

Question 35

randomized block technique

Answer 35

A technique used by researchers who wish to make experimental and control groups similar along a set of variables.

Question 36

reliable

Answer 36

The tendency of a survey or other instrument of measurement to produce similar results under similar conditions and measure what they are purported to.

Question 37

sample size

Answer 37

The number of participants in a study.

Question 38

sampling bais

Answer 38

Occurs when some individuals from a population have a greater likelihood of being selected than others.

Question 39

selection bias

Answer 39

Nonrandom processes in the selection of participants, experimental groups, or any other process that introduce potential bias into a research study.

Question 40

significant difference

Answer 40

A difference between two measurements that is unlikely to be due simply to chance, according to a predetermined threshold.

Question 41

survey studies

Answer 41

Studies that are questionnaires to explore a research variable.

Question 42

twin studies

Answer 42

Studies that incorporate research into different types of twins to gain insight into heritability.

Question 43

type 1 error

Answer 43

Researchers incorrectly reject the null hypothesis, also known as false positive

Question 44

type 2 error

Answer 44

Researchers accept the null hypothesis, also known as false negative

Question 45

within-subjects design

Answer 45

Comparisons are made at different time points for the same group.

Question 46

disclosure

Answer 46

An outline given to participants before the experiment begins that clarifies incentives and expectations while reminding them of their right to terminate the experiment any time.

Question 47

longitudinal method

Answer 47

Involves intervallic measurements of a dependent variable over a long time frame.