Chapter 2 Flashcards
(28 cards)
applied research
research designed to increase the understanding of ____ and solutions to ____. Real-world problems by using current social psychological knowledge
theory
an organized system of ideas that seeks to explain why 2 or more events are related
variables
factors in scientific research that can be measured and measured and that are capable of changing (varying)
operational definition
a very clear description of how a variable in a study has been measured
deception
a methodological technique in which the researcher misinforms participants about the true nature of what they are experiencing in a study
confederate
a trained member of the research team who follows a script designed to give participant’s a particular impression about what is going on
institutional review boards (IRBs)
a panel of scientists and nonscientists who ensure the protection and welfare of research participants by formally reviewing researcher’s methodologies and procedures prior to data collection
debriefing
a procedure at the conclusion of a research session in which participants are given full information about the nature and hypotheses of the study
sample
a group of people who are selected to participate in a research study
popiulation
all the members of an identifiable group from which a sample is drawn
effect size
a quantitative measure f the magnitude f the difference between 2 groups
observational research
a scientific method involving systematic qualitative and/or quantitative descriptions of behavior
naturalistic observation
a descriptive scientific method that investigates behavior in its natural environment
participant observations
a descriptive scientific method where a group is studied from within by a researcher who records behavior as it occurs in its usual natural environment
observer bias
occurs when preconceived ideas held by the researcher affect the nature of the observations made
archival research
a descriptive scientific method in which already existing records are examined
correlational research
research designed to examine the nature of the relationship between two or more naturally occurring variables
surveys
structured sets of questions or statements given to a group of people to measure their attitudes beliefs, values, or behavioral tendencies
social desirability bias
a type of response bias in surveys in which people respond to a question by trying to portray themselves in a favorable light rather than responding in an accurate and truthful manner
implicit association test (IAT)
a technique for measuring implicit attitudes and beliefs based on the idea that people will give faster responses to presented concepts that are more strongly associated in memory
random selection
a procedure for selecting a sample of people to study in which everyone in the population has an equal chance to be chosen
correlation coefficient
a statistical measure of the direction and strength of the linear relationship between 2 variables
experimental method
research designed to test cause-effect relationships between variables
external validity
the extent to which a study’s findings can be generalized to people beyond those in the study itself
