Research Methods

Question 1

The scientific study of behavior and mental processes

Answer 1

Psychology

Question 2

A research perspective who explains how the brain, nervous system, and other physiological mechanisms produce behavior and mental process

Answer 2

Biological Perspective

Question 3

A research perspective who explains how mental processes such as perception, memory, and problem solving work and impact behavior

Answer 3

Cognitive Perspective

Question 4

A research perspective who explains how external environmental events condition observable behavior

Answer 4

Behavioral perspective

Question 5

A research perspective who explains how other people and cultural context impact behavior and mental processes

Answer 5

Sociocultural perspective

Question 6

Research methods whose main purpose is to provide objective and detailed descriptions of behavior and mental processes

Answer 6

descriptive methods

Question 7

A descriptive research method in which the behavior of interest is observed in the laboratory

Answer 7

Laboratory Observation

Question 8

A descriptive research method in which the researchers study behavior in its natural context

Answer 8

Naturalistic observation

Question 9

A descriptive research method in which the observer becomes part of the group being observed

Answer 9

Participant Observation

Question 10

A descriptive study that includes an intensive study of one person and allow an intensive examination of a single case

Answer 10

Case Study

Question 11

A descriptive research method in which the researcher uses questionnaires and interviews to collect information about the behavior, beliefs, and attitudes of particular groups of people

Answer 11

Survey Research

Question 12

An entire group of individual persons, objects, or items from which samples may be drawn

Answer 12

Population

Question 13

The subset of the population chosen by the investigator for study

Answer 13

Sample

Question 14

A technique to get a representative sample of a population by ensuring each individual has an equal opportunity to be in the sample

Answer 14

Random Sampling

Question 15

A research study in which two variables are measured to determine how they are related or how well either one predicts the other

Answer 15

Correlational Study

Question 16

Any factor than can have more than one value

Answer 16

Variable

Question 17

A statistic that tells us the type and strength of the relationship between two variables

Answer 17

Correlation Coefficient

Question 18

A direct relationship between two variables

Answer 18

Positive Correlation

Question 19

An inverse relationship between two variables

Answer 19

Negative Correlation

Question 20

A number between 0.0 and 1.0 that represents the strength of the correlation with 1.0 being the maximum strength

Answer 20

Absolute value of the correlation coefficient

Question 21

A graphed cluster of dots, each of which represents the values of two variables

Answer 21

Scatterplot

Question 22

An explanation of a correlation between two variables in terms of another third variable that could possibly be responsible for the observed relationship

Answer 22

Third-Variable Problem

Question 23

A correlation in which the variables are related through their relationship with one or more other variables but not through a causal mechanism

Answer 23

Spurious Correlation

Question 24

A control measure where participants are randomly assigned in groups to equalize participant characteristics

Answer 24

Random Assignment

Question 25

The variable that is the hypothesized cause and is therefore manipulated

Answer 25

Independent Variable

Question 26

The variable that is to by directly affected by the manipulation of the independent variable

Answer 26

Dependent Variable

Question 27

The group exposed to the independent variable

Answer 27

Experimental Group

Question 28

The group that is not exposed to the independent variable

Answer 28

Control Group

Question 29

A description of what actions and operations will be used to measure the dependent variables and manipulate the independent variables

Answer 29

Operational Definition

Question 30

Improvement resulting from the mere expectation of improvement

Answer 30

Placebo Effect

Question 31

A harmless pill, medicine, or procedure prescribed for a psychological benefit rather than physiological effect

Answer 31

Placebo

Question 32

Statistical analyses that allow researchers to draw conclusions about the results of a study by determining the probability that the results are due to random variation (chance). The results are statistically significant if this probability is .05 or less.

Answer 32

Inferential Statistical Analyses

Question 33

an experimental procedure in which both the research participants and the research staff are ignorant (blind) about whether the research participants have received the treatment or a placebo

Answer 33

Double-Blind Procedure

Question 34

a statistical procedure for analyzing the results of multiple studies to reach an overall conclusion

Answer 34

Meta-Analysis

Question 35

statistics that describe the results of a research study in a concise fashion

Answer 35

Descriptive Statistics

Question 36

A depiction, in a table or figure, of the number of participants receiving each score for a variable

Answer 36

Frequency Distribution

Question 37

the average extent that the scores vary from the mean for a distribution of scores

Answer 37

Standard Deviation

Question 38

A frequency distribution that is shaped like a bell. About 68 percent of the scores fall within 1 standard deviation of the mean, about 95 percent within 2 standard deviations of the mean, and over 99 percent within 3 standard deviations of the mean.

Answer 38

Normal Distribution

Question 39

the percentage of scores below a specific score in a distribution of scores

Answer 39

Percentile Rank

Question 40

the tendency to believe, after learning an outcome, that one would have foreseen it

Answer 40

Hindsight Bias