Chapter 2 Flashcards
Case study
-Deep, rich investigation of a single case (one participant, small group)
-Used for rare phenomena (e.g. brain injury, cults, diesease, etc.)
-Pros: real-life observation, rich description
-Cons: limited generalizability
Correlational Research
-Observational or survey methodology
-Pros: Easy to get large samples, can ask about wider variety of events than can be manipulated in a lab, easier to ensure generalizability
-Cons: Self-report biases, unknown third variables, etc.)
Correlation
An expression of the relationship between 2 variables
-Positive: Temperature and popsicle consumption
Negative: Temperature and hot coco consumption
Magnitude
-The size of intensity of a phenomena
-Can vary from 1 to -1
Absolute Magnitude
The STRENGTH of a correlational relationship, a larger number=stronger relationship
-E.g. r=87 is stronger than r=+23
Why can’t correlation tell us about causation?
-Only shows the relationship between two variables, not a causal relationship
-Possible third variables
Experiment/Experimental research
Manipulation of one set of variables to assess the effects on other variables
-Pros: Can draw causal inferences
Independent Variable
-Hypothesized variable, what’s being manipulated, must be operationalized/specified, and different levels of it must be randomly assigned
Dependent Variable
-The result of the manipulation of IV
Good research
-Avoids confounds
-Avoids bias
-Feels psychologically “real”
-Treats participants ethically
Confound
-Any alternative variable that covaries with the experimental condition that could explain differences between experimental groups
-Ex. Zendaya being morning experimenter and Dave Chapelle was the evening experimenter. Ppl will be more receptive to Zendaya than Dave
How to avoid confounds
-Rigid Control: Every participant’s experience is controlled/identical except for the manipulation
-Randomly vary as many “nonessentials” as possible so any differences presumable average out
Scientific Method
- Theory
- Hypothesis
- Research
4 Research either supports or refutes the theory - You either discard or revise the theory OR strengthen the theory
Occam’s razor
Theory developed by William of Occam
-The simpler the theory, the better
Operational Definition/Operationalize
-Definitions that qualify (describe) and quantify (measure) variables so that they can be understood objectively
Why might studies not replicate?
-False positive: Produces a seemingly trustworthy result by CHANCE
-Questionable research practices (small, samples, HARKing, P-hacking, Underreporting null effects)
HARKing
-Hypothesizing after results are known
P-hacking
Running statistical tests over and over with different variations until you get a trustworthy result
Best practices for psychological science
-Preregistration
-Meta-Analysis: A type of study that is an analysis of multiple analyses, studies something that’s already been conducted
Descriptive research
Observing behavior to DESCRIBE that behavior objectively and systematically
Positive correlation
When both variables increase or decrease together
Negative correlation
The variables move in opposite directions
Correlation coefficient
A descriptive statistic that provides a numerical value between +1.0 and -1.0 that indicates the strength of the relationships between two variables
Confidentiality
Personal identifying information about participants can’t be shared with others
