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Psyc 345 > Research Methods > Flashcards

Research Methods Flashcards

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1
Q

Why are experiments harder to do in psychology?

A

Because people (unlike animals) think, anticipate, and remember.

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2
Q

What are some of the methodologies to study psychology?

A

Field studies, surveys/questionnaires (most common), archival data, lab experiments (best/only way to study cause and effect).

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3
Q

What are the 6 steps in doing research?

A

Step 1: Questions of interest, and literature review
Step 2: Testable hypothesis, operationally defined
Step 3: Research method, choose participants, collect data
Step 4: Analyze data, accept or reject the hypothesis
Step 5: Seek scientific review, publish, replicate
Step 6: Build theory

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4
Q

What are some of the issues associated with step 1?

A

We rarely have grand ideas, are mostly building off someone elses ideas or building off of our own (psychology research is like bricks in the wall, one piece at a time)

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5
Q

Why do we need to operationally define things?

A

Because often in psych, there are multiple testable hypotheses associated with research questions-operationally definitions help with this.

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6
Q

What are some other important aspects of step 3 when we define our research method and choose participants?

A

Controls and confounds.

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7
Q

What is the reason that we shouldn’t have “pet” theories in psych and why peer review is important?

A

Because pet theories create bias, peer review helps work around this bias.

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8
Q

What is the replication crisis (step 5)

A

When trying to replicate studies from the 60s-70s, we are finding conflicting results.

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9
Q

Where can we find hypotheses?

A

From previous research and theories

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10
Q

What is a hypothesis?

A

Explanation of why an event/outcome occurs-ideintifies underlying causes of event/phenomenon

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11
Q

What are theories?

A

Organized set of principles used to explain observved phenomena (built up over-time).

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12
Q

What are the 3 criteria of theories?

A

Simplicity, comprehensiveness, generativity

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13
Q

What kind of theory do we prefer? All encompassing or mini?

A

Mini

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14
Q

What is basic research?

A

Goal is to increase understanding of human behaviour (grants typically don’t like this). Tests a specific hypothesis from a specific theory.

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15
Q

What is applied research?

A

Goal is to enlarge our understanding of naturally occuring events-find solutions to practical problems

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16
Q

What was Albert Bandura’s social learning theory?

A

We learn from observing the behaviours of others and the outcomes of that

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17
Q

What are conceptual variables versus operational definitions?

A

Conceptual: Abstract or general variables
Operational: states specifically how conceptual variables will be manipulated/measured.

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18
Q

What is the reliability?

A

The consistency of a measurement

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19
Q

What is test-retest reliability?

A

Consistency of a measurement overtime (do you get different results per test?)

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20
Q

What is interrater reliability?

A

Consistency across judges (2 types: have someone else fill out your inventory about themselves, OR have a friend fill it out about you)

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21
Q

What is validity?

A

Refers to the accuracy of a measurement. Should reflect the desired underlying psychological process (IQ test should measure intelligence, not impulsivity).

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22
Q

What are descriptive research designs?

A

Case studies, naturalistic observations, surveys

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23
Q

What is the purpose of a descriptive research design?

A

To observe, collect, and record data

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24
Q

What are some advantages of descriptive research designs?

A

Develop early ideas, measure actual behaviour, easier to collect data

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25
What are some disadvantages of descriptive research designs?
Little/no control over variables, bias, cannot explain cause and effect
26
What is experimental research?
Involves manipulation and control of variables
27
What is the purpose of experimental research?
To find cause and effect
28
What is an advantage of experimental research?
Precise control
29
What are the disadvantages of experimental research?
Ethics, limits to what we can test
30
What is correlational research?
2 or more variables are measured, assess the relationship between these variables.
31
What is the correlation coefficient?
Describes the linear relationship between two variables (goes from -1 to positive 1).
32
What are some advantages to correlational research?
Study associations of naturally occuring variables that cannot be manipulated, examine difficult/unethical phenomena, freedom in settings of variables (lab versus mall or airport survey)
33
What are some disadvantages to correlational research?
Correlation is NOT CAUSATION
34
What is a survey?
When a representative sample of people are asked questions about their attitudes or behaviours.
35
Why are representative samples important?
For generalizing!
36
What is random sampling?
Every person in a particular population has exactly the same probability of being in a study
37
What are some examples of skewed/non-representative data?
Dewey versus Truman, Clinton versus Trump, and Nenshi (2017)
38
How are political examples of non-representative data a double-edged sword?
Because results from the surveys spur people to vote more for the candidate said to lose
39
What are some issues with survey research?
Assumes people are willing to report on their own behaviour/beliefs etc, social desirability, wording effect
40
What is social desirability?
Responding in a way that portrays oneself in a positive light (masking feelings, controversial attitudes)
41
What is the wording effect?
When the wording of a statement impacts responses-prompting, options left out, poor wording, double barrelled questions, leading questions
42
What is naturalistic observation?
Careful observation of behaviours in natural (or) lab setting. No manipulation/control of variables. Are externally valid
43
What is the observer effect?
When being observed (or observing someone else) affects behaviour (Hawthorne, Clever Hans)
44
Who was Clever Hans?
A counting horse-watched owner for cues as to when to stop counting.
45
What is archival research?
Examining existing records for a new research purpose
46
What is an example of archival research?
The Flynn Effect (IQ increases over the years)
47
What are some of the problems with archival research?
Certain behaviours are difficult to observe, longitudinal (40-50% of the sample is lost on 3rd test period), incomplete data, wanting to do more than describe a behaviour
48
What is random assignment?
All participants have an equal chance of being assigned 1 or 2 groups.
49
What is a between-subjects design?
When only half the participants receive the manipulation (the other half is the control)
50
What is a within subjects design?
All participants receive all levels of manipulation
51
What are extraneous variables?
Any variable other than the IV that affects the DV
52
What are nuisance variables?
Influences on the DV that affect all groups equally-makes it harder to see an effect
53
What are confounds?
Influences on the DV that systematically differ between conditions (renders findings meaningless)
54
What are some examples of extraneous variables?
Time of day, delivery of information, setting, temperature.
55
What is the placebo effect?
Improvement from the mere expectation of improvement
56
What is an expectancy effect?
When the experimenters expectation influences the outcome
57
What are demand characteristics?
Cues participants pick up on that make them behave differently.
58
What is a double-blind experiment?
Neither the researcher nor the participant knows what group they're in. Can help to remove the experimenter from certain steps
59
What is internal validity?
Extent to which research yields clear causal info- caused the effects obtained on the dependent variable.
60
What is one of the main threats to internal validity?
Extraneous variables (confounds in particular)
61
What is external validity?
The extent to which results can be generalized
62
What are field experiments?
Experiments conducted in the real world
63
What are some advantages and disadvantages to field experiments?
Advantage-people act naturally | Disadvantage- Less control
64
What is experimental realism and how do we keep it real?
When people become more comfortable due to the situation feeling real in an experiment. Achieve this through cover stories.
65
What is mundane realism?
If it looks and feels like the real world
66
What are single factor experiments?
Simple designs, ask one question, usually with a yes or no answer.
67
What are multi-factor experiments?
More than one independent variable. Can be main effects-effect of each IV, or interaction effects-effects of one IV on another.
68
What is deception?
Providing participants with false info
69
Why would we use deception?
To add realism
70
What are confederates and why would we use them?
People who act like participants. Use them to help with expectancy effects, and also to study conforming
71
What must you pass in order to have ethical clearance?
REB (research ethics board)
72
What are some things that ensure a study is ethical?
No harm to participants, informed consent, know what you're getting into, avoid deception IF Possible, debriefing, education, dehoaxing, desensitizing.
73
What is an advantage of survey research?
Can ask questions about things that are too unethical to be tested in a lab

Psyc 345 (6 decks)

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