Research Methods

Question 1

Basic research

Answer 1

Increasing the scientific knowledge base

Question 2

Applied research

Answer 2

Research to find solutions to specific problems

Question 3

Quantitative data

Answer 3

Numerical type data

Question 4

Qualitative data

Answer 4

Non-numerical and descriptive

Question 5

Descriptive research

Answer 5

Describes general or specific behaviors/attributes that are observed and measured
Doesn’t test specific relationships, allows for further study

Question 6

Case study

Answer 6

Observing one or a few individuals in depth, rare phenomena

Provides lots of information and allows for study that would otherwise be unethical

Unrepresentative to average population

Question 7

Survey method

Answer 7

Allows for private information and lots of data on large groups

People don’t always give accurate responses

Question 8

Wording affect

Answer 8

Possible effects on participants caused by the order or choice of words

Question 9

Self report data

Answer 9

Relies on individuals on rapport other symptoms, behaviors, beliefs or attitude

Question 10

Naturalistic observation

Answer 10

Careful observation of animals or people in their natural environment

Allows for direct observation and useful first stage of research

Doesn’t give the researcher a lot of control, no cause or effect conclusions

Question 11

Laboratory observation

Answer 11

Involves and observing behavior in a contrived and control the situation

Question 12

Observer effect

Answer 12

When people know they’re being watched they are less likely to behave naturally

Question 13

Observer/research bias

Answer 13

Observers who are closely involved in the research may skew observations to fit their research expectations

Question 14

Hawthorne effect

Answer 14

Individuals may change their behavior due to attention they are receiving rather than manipulation of variables

Question 15

Correlational studies

Answer 15

Research used to see if two variables are related and make predictions based on the relationship

Question 16

Correlation is not

Answer 16

Causation

Question 17

Correlation coefficient

Answer 17

Statistical measure of the relationship of variables

Close to plus or minus one is strong
Close to zero is weak

Question 18

Scatterplot

Answer 18

A data display that shows the relationship between two numerical variables

Question 19

Positive correlation

Answer 19

One variable increases so does the other

One variable decreases so does the other

Question 20

Negative correlation

Answer 20

A decrease in one variable and an increase in the other variable

Question 21

Illusory correlation

Answer 21

Perceived as a relationship but nonexistent the correlation coefficient indicates no correlation

Question 22

Third variable problem

Answer 22

Researchers cannot rule out the possibility that a third variable causes both the other variables to increase or decrease

Question 23

Experimental method

Answer 23

Establishes a cause-and-effect relationship and allows researchers to control the situation

Question 24

Variable

Answer 24

Anything that can change in an experiment

Question 25

Independent variable

Answer 25

The factor that the experimenter manipulates If, treatment

Question 26

Dependent variable

Answer 26

The variable that is being measured or tested Then, outcome

Question 27

Operational definition

Answer 27

Definition of the variable in terms of how it is going to be measured, allows replication of the experiment

Question 28

Confounding variable

Answer 28

Differences between the experimental groups and they control group other than those resulting from the independent variable Imperfect experimental control, limits conclusions

Question 29

Population

Answer 29

All individuals in the group which the study applies to

Question 30

Confederate

Answer 30

Individuals who seem to be participants but are actually part of the research team

Question 31

Representative sample

Answer 31

A group that closely matches the characteristics of a full population Larger, randomly drawn

Question 32

Random sample

Answer 32

Select people to participate in the research in a way that everyone in the population has an equal chance of being included

Question 33

Control group

Answer 33

No treatment or some kind of treatment with no effects to compare to other factors that might be causing the effect being examined

Question 34

Experimental group

Answer 34

Group that is exposed to the independent variable

Question 35

Random assignment

Answer 35

All members of a study have an equal chance of being placed in either a control or experimental group

Question 36

Placebo condition

Answer 36

Allows researchers to separate the effects on a variable itself from the expectations of the participants Drug with actual ingredient versus drug without ingredient

Question 37

Single blind studies

Answer 37

Participants don’t know which treatment group they are in, decreases bias

Question 38

Double blind study

Answer 38

Neither the experimenter or the participants know who is in which group Eliminate researcher bias

Question 39

Reliability

Answer 39

Whether or not an experiment can be repeated Degree to which an experiment produces similar scores each time is used

Question 40

Validity

Answer 40

The experiment is testing when it’s supposed to test