Methods Exam Flashcards
(37 cards)
Why is the distinction between experimental and non-experimental research so important in psychology?
the ability to create causal relationships is the crucial difference. we cannot infer causation from correlation!
Four times researchers might choose to use non-experimental design
the question or hypothesis relates to a single variable rather than a statistical relationship, the research question pertains to a non-causal statistical relationship between variables, the question is about a causal relationship but the IV cannot be manipulated or participants cannot be randomly assigned, or the question is broad and exploratory or is about what it is like to have a particular experience.
Which three approaches to studying change over time do they discuss in the text? What is the fourth overarching design we’ve discussed, and how is that design often used?
cross sectional, longitudinal, cross sequential, and successive independent. that one is a series of cross sectional samples over time. different groups sampled at different points in time, same population. describes changes in the population
correlational research
examines the relationship between two or more variables without manipulating them
why do we consider research between two existing natural groups to be correlational?
there is no manipulation happening in naturalistic observation. you are observing what is happening in natural life
why is how a study was conducted more important than the types of variables or statistics used for determining the type of research design?
a flawed design can lead to inaccurate conclusions that are difficult to rectify
what three types of relationships can be present in correlations between continuous/quantitative variables?
positive, negative, and no correlation
what does it mean for a correlation to be spurious? how does this connect to one of the two main problems with drawing causal conclusions?
correlations that are a result not of the two variables being measured but rather because of a third, unmeasured, variable that affects both of the measured variables. this connects because this further means we cannot draw causal conclusions as there could be a third variable issue
why do we say that correlation does not mean causation?
without manipulation we cannot conclude that a relationship exists because of the third variable issue
c
both are used to examine relationships between variables. regression goes beyond correlation by allowing prediction of one variable based on another, while correlation focuses on the strength and direction of their relationship.
what does it mean to be a significant predictor of an outcome variable in a regression model?
in regression analysis, a predictor variable is considered statistically significant if its relationship with the outcome variable is unlikely to be due to random chance alone.
why is it important if the observer is disguised or undisguised in observational research? what specific word would we use to describe this problem?
it directly impacts the validity and reliability of the data collected. disguised leads to more natural and genuine behavior. reactivity refers to when a measure changes participants’ behavior. the hawthorne effect occurs in an undisguised observation, a type of reactivity when people know they are being observed and studied. they may act different than how they normally would.
what are case studies, and what are some of the ways these can be used in psychological research?
a case study is an in depth examination of an individual. these can be used to study social units and events. more qualitative in nature.
what is archival research, and why has this approach become much more common recently?
data that has already been collected for some other purpose. it is cost effective, available, and provides a unique perspective on historical events and social phenomena
main forms of observational research
naturalistic observation, participant observation, structured observation, case study
what are the three main assumptions in single subject research
1) it is important to focus intensively on the behavior of individual participants. 2) it is important to discover causal relationships through the manipulation of an independent variable and the control of extraneous variables. 3) it is important to study strong and consistent effects that have biological or social importance
what are the main design options available to researchers planning an idiographic research project?
idiographic is based on individual uniqueness. therefore, single case designs, observational methods, case studies, and qualitative studies are the main options
what important step must be present in any multiple baseline design, to boost internal validity?
establish a stable baseline. this means a consistent pattern before introducing the independent variable
what three conditions are multiple baseline designs particularly useful for measuring?
multiple behaviors of one individual, one behavior of one individual across multiple settings, and one behavior across multiple individuals
how do single-subject and group research designs work together, usually?
addressing different aspects of a research question. single subject designs focus on individual participants which can be used to establish internal validity and enable inductive reasoning. while group designs explore the generalizability of findings but require more resources.
multiple treatment-reversal
compares the effects of multiple treatments by alternating them with baseline and each other. allows researchers to assess the effectiveness of different interventions and determine which is the most beneficial
what are the four main types of variables that we can have in an experiment?
independent, dependent, confound, extraneous
identify three main forms of control that can be present in experimental designs
randomization, replication, and reduction of variance
what does it mean for a single variable to have 2 or 3 levels?
it can take on only a limited number of distinct values, these values are treated as distinct and qualitative
