Research methods: Chapters 1-4 Flashcards
(114 cards)
1
Q
What is Effect Size?
A
A statistical measure of the strength of a relationship between two variables or the magnitude of an effect.
2
Q
What are Scientific Research Methods?
A
Systematic collection of ideas that organize and explain, generate new knowledge, and can be modified by new research.
3
Q
What is Psychology?
A
The scientific study of human behavior.
4
Q
What is the Scientific Method?
A
Develop theories, collect data, test hypotheses.
5
Q
What are Research Ethics?
A
Cannot conduct harmful experiments on humans or animals.
6
Q
What are Theories?
A
A set of interconnected statements that explain a phenomenon and are supported by evidence. They aim to generate new knowledge. They can be disproven but are never definitively proven.
7
Q
What is Data Collection?
A
Systematic observation and evidence gathering.
8
Q
What are Limitations in research?
A
Ethical constraints prevent direct causation studies in human development.
9
Q
What is Correlation?
A
A relationship between two variables where one does not necessarily cause the other.
10
Q
What is Causation?
A
A relationship where one variable directly affects another.
11
Q
What is the File Drawer Problem?
A
Positive-results bias, where authors are more likely to submit positive results than negative or inconclusive results.
12
Q
What is the Basic-Applied Spectrum?
A
Research that uses knowledge derived from basic research to develop test solutions to real-world problems. Both basic and applied research are important in understanding knowledge.
13
Q
What is Experience and Intuition?
A
Personal experiences can be limited and biased, leading to incorrect assumptions about reality.
14
Q
What is Authority as a Source?
A
Learning from experts can have potential pitfalls, including inherent prejudices and unchallenged perspectives.
15
Q
What is the Theory Data Cycle?
A
A process involving the systematic collection of ideas that accounts for data, is testable, and generates new research.
16
Q
What is Tentative Scientific Knowledge?
A
Scientific knowledge is not absolute; it is always subject to revision based on new evidence.
17
Q
How does Psychology work with Probabilities?
A
Psychology works in probabilities, not absolutes.
18
Q
What is Falsification?
A
The principle that just because there is positive evidence, it doesn’t mean there’s proof.
19
Q
What is Critical Thinking in research?
A
Researchers must be aware of sample limitations and potential contextual influences on data.
20
Q
What are Conceptual/Operational definitions?
A
A conceptual definition explains what a term means in abstract or theoretical terms, while an operational definition specifies how to measure or observe that term in a specific study.
21
Q
What does Frequency measure?
A
Singular, non-manipulated variable and how often the variable occurs.
22
Q
What does Association measure?
A
two non-manipulated variables and their relationship.
23
Q
What is a Causal Relationship?
A
Manipulated variables causing a change in another non-manipulated variable.
24
Q
What is a Zero Relationship?
A
No relationship exists between two variables.
25
What is a Curvilinear Relationship?
A relationship where the change in one variable does not correspond to a constant change in another variable.
26
What is Correlational Research?
Research that examines the relationship between two variables without manipulating and variables.
27
What does 'Correlation does not equal causation' mean?
A principle stating that correlation between two variables does not imply that one causes the other.
28
What is Empiricism?
Emphasizes relying on observable evidence and data for forming conclusions, rather than speculation or intuition.
29
What is Publication in research?
Allows other researchers to review and critique research, essential for the advancement of scientific knowledge.
30
What is Basic Research?
Research that seeks to expand our understanding of human cognition without a direct practical application.
31
What is Empirical Research?
The use of verifiable evidence as the basis for conclusions, collecting data systematically to develop, support, or challenge a theory.
32
What is Prediction in research?
A statement of the specific result the researcher expects to observe from a particular study if the theory is accurate.
33
What are Observations in research?
A set of observations representing the values of some variable, collected from multiple research studies.
34
What is an Expected Outcome?
A term referring to a study in which the researcher has stated publicly what the study's outcome is expected to be before collecting any data.
35
What is Replication?
The process of conducting a study again to test if the result is consistent.
36
What are Merton's Scientific Norms?
A set of four norms stating that scientific claims are evaluated according to their merit, knowledge is created by a community, scientists strive to discover the truth, and scientists question everything.
37
What is Peer Review?
A process in which experts evaluate research before publication to ensure quality and validity.
Scientists make their research available for peer review, replication, and critique to identify and correct errors.
38
What is Applied Research?
Research whose goal is to find a solution to a particular real-world problem.
39
What is Research?
Whose goal is to enhance the general body of knowledge, with regard for direct application to practical problems.
40
What is Subjective interpretation?
Personal understanding that may not accurately reflect reality, such as the behavior of car drivers.
41
What is a Seasonal effect?
Influence of seasonal changes on feelings or behaviors, which may affect the validity of claims.
42
What are Ethical review boards?
Committees that review research proposals to ensure they comply with ethical guidelines and regulations.
43
What is Data fabrication?
Inventing or creating data that was not actually collected.
44
What is a Scientific Journal?
A monthly/quarterly periodical containing peer-reviewed articles on a specific academic discipline/subdiscipline, written for a scholarly audience.
45
What is Popular Media?
News & commentary published/broadcast in the popular media produced for a general audience.
46
What is an Empirical Journal Article?
Presents the result of an original research study (primary source).
47
What is a Review Journal Article?
Summarizes and critically analyzes existing research on a topic without presenting new data (secondary research).
48
What is an Argument?
the process of presenting and defending a claim or thesis statement using evidence and reasoning
49
What is Cross-Checking Sources?
Be skeptical, check the source.
50
What is Comparison in research?
Enables us to compare what would happen both with and without the thing we are interested in.
51
What are Alternative Explanations?
Threat to internal validity.
52
What is Cognitive Bias?
A mental shortcut that relies on immediate examples that come to mind when evaluating a specific topic, concept, method, or decision.
53
What is the Availability Heuristic?
The tendency to notice and remember instances where something is present and ignore instances where it is absent.
54
What is Confirmation Bias?
The tendency to search for, interpret, favor, and recall information in a way that confirms one's preexisting beliefs or hypotheses.
55
What is Bias Blind Spot?
The tendency to see oneself as less biased than others, failing to recognize one's own cognitive biases.
56
What is a Scholarly Article?
A scholarly article that reports the results of original research, typically including methods, data analysis, and conclusions.
57
What is a Review Article?
A scholarly article that summarizes and evaluates the findings of previously published research on a particular topic.
58
What is Meta-Analysis?
A statistical technique for combining the results of multiple studies to reach an overall conclusion.
59
What is Paywalled Content?
Referring to content that requires payment to access, typically behind a subscription or pay-per-view model.
60
What is Open Access Content?
Referring to content that is freely available to the public, without any financial barriers.
61
What is Disinformation?
False information deliberately and often covertly spread (as by the planting of rumors) in order to influence public opinion or obscure the truth.
62
What is Potentially sound reasoning?
Claim based on research which could be considered a form of authority, needing further information about methodology and credibility.
63
What is Unsound reasoning?
Statement based on subjective perception and interpretation, lacking objective analysis.
64
What is Subjective perception?
Personal interpretation that may not be shared by others, affecting the assessment of claims.
65
What is Objective analysis?
An evaluation based on unbiased and measurable criteria rather than personal feelings.
66
What is Personal experience?
Individual perspective that may not apply universally to others.
67
What are Confounds?
Factors that may influence the outcome of a claim, complicating the assessment of its validity.
68
What are Comparison metrics?
Criteria used to evaluate claims, such as comparing scores from practice tests or experiences.
69
What is Research methodology?
Systematic approach to conducting studies that is necessary to validate claims.
70
What is Credibility?
The quality of being trusted and believed in, essential for evaluating claims based on authority.
71
What is Evidence provided?
Data or observations that support a claim, which must be sufficient to validate the assertion.
72
What are Lifestyle changes?
Alterations in behavior that may affect the outcomes of claims, necessitating consideration in evaluations.
73
What is a Specific value/category?
A specific value or category of a variable.
74
What is a Constant factor?
A factor that remains the same across all conditions of a study.
75
What is an Observational variable?
A variable that is observed and recorded without manipulation.
76
What is a Manipulated variable?
A variable that is intentionally changed by the researcher.
77
What is a Concrete variable?
The concrete, measurable form of a conceptual variable.
78
What is the Operationalization process?
The process of turning a conceptual variable into an operational variable.
79
What is a Positive correlation?
As one variable increases, the other variable also increases.
80
What is a Relationship graph?
A graph showing the relationship between two variables.
81
What is a Negative correlation?
As one variable increases, the other decreases.
82
What is No relationship?
No relationship between two variables.
83
What is Study findings accuracy?
The accuracy/truthfulness of a study's findings.
84
What is Measure validity?
Whether a measure accurately assesses the intended construct.
85
What is Generalizability?
The ability to apply findings to a broader population. The extent to which a conclusion can be applied to broader situations beyond specific experiences.
86
What is Real-world generalization?
The extent to which findings can be generalized to real-world settings.
87
What is Statistical reliability?
The accuracy & reliability of statistical analyses.
88
What is a Point estimate?
A single value representing a statistic.
89
What is a Confidence interval?
A range of values likely to contain the true population parameter.
90
What is an Error range?
The range of possible error around a point estimate.
91
What is a Variable relationship?
The relationship between two variables, indicating they change together.
92
What is the Causality requirement?
The cause must precede the effect in time.
93
What is Causal relationship establishment?
The extent to which a study can establish a causal relationship.
94
What is a Controlled study?
A controlled study manipulating an independent variable to observe its effect on a dependent variable.
95
What does Assigning participants to groups randomly ensure?
To ensure equal chance of being in any condition.
96
What is Beneficence?
Ethical principle that emphasizes maximizing benefits and minimizing harm to participants in research.
97
What is Fidelity?
Responsibility, Integrity, Justice, & Respect for People's Rights & Dignity.
98
What is the Informed consent process?
Obtaining voluntary agreement from participants to participate in a study after they have been informed of its purpose, procedures, risks, and benefits.
99
What is Confidentiality + data protection?
Ensuring that the identities of participants are known to the researchers, but their data is kept private and not disclosed to others.
100
What are Vulnerable populations?
Groups that may be at increased risk of coercion or exploitation in research.
101
What does it mean to be Debriefed?
To inform participants about the true nature of a study after its completion, including any deception used.
102
What is the Principle of respect for persons?
Ethical principle that emphasizes treating individuals as autonomous agents with the right to make their own decisions.
103
What is an Anonymous study?
A study in which the identities of participants are not known to the researchers.
104
What is a Confidential study?
A study in which the identities of participants are known to the researchers, but their data is kept private and not disclosed to others.
105
What is the Principle of justice?
Ethical principle that emphasizes fair and equitable selection of participants and distribution of benefits and burdens in research.
106
What is an Institutional review board (IRB)?
A committee that reviews research proposals to ensure they comply with ethical guidelines and regulations.
107
What is Deception in research?
Intentionally withholding information from participants or misleading them about the true nature of a study.
108
What is Data falsification?
Manipulating or altering research data in a way that misrepresents the findings.
109
What is Plagiarism?
Presenting someone else's work or ideas as your own without proper attribution.
110
What is Self-plagiarism?
Reusing one's own previously published work without proper acknowledgement.
111
What are Potential ethical concerns?
Issues that may arise in research, such as coercion, privacy concerns, and potential for sensitive information.
112
What is Coercion?
A subtle form of pressure that may occur even when participation is supposedly voluntary.
113
What are Privacy concerns?
Worries about potential identification of participants even in anonymous surveys.
114
What are Questions an IRB might ask?
Inquiries regarding the protection of participants' rights and the ethical conduct of research.
