Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

Winter Semester 2024 > Research Methods Exam > Flashcards

Research Methods Exam Flashcards

1
Q

How do we generally investigate causal claims?

A

Experiments

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What are the 3 criteria for establishing causation?

A
  1. Covariance
  2. Temporal Precedence
  3. Internal Validity
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Explain Covariance

A

An association establishes that A causes B or B causes A

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

Explain Temporal Precedence

A

directionality, figuring out what came first; did A cause B? or did B cause A?

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Explain Internal Validity

A

is there a third variable that is associated with both A and B independently that could interfere with causation?

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

What is an experiment?

A

the manipulation of one variable and the measurement of another

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

independent variables can have multiple…

A

conditions

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

what are the two types of varaibles?

A
  1. independent
  2. dependent
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

explain independent variables

A

manipulated (ex. note taking methods)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

explain dependent variables

A

measured (ex. academic performance)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

what is a control group?

A

receives no treatment; placebo group

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

what is a treatment group?

A

receives the treatment

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

what things should you keep in mind when choosing variables and methodology?

A
  1. replicability
  2. generalizability
  3. ability to make causal claims
  4. outside interfering varaibles
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

why do we need experiments?

A

allows us to draw conclusions about causation

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

what is the easiest criteria to establish?

A

covariance

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

what happens when results are explained by systemic differences (confounds)?

A

we cannot infer causation

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

what are confounds?

A

alternative explanation for the change in the dependent variable

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

what are the two types of confounds?

A
  1. design confounds
  2. selection effects
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

what are design confounds?

A

mistakes when designing the experiment

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

example of a confound within this claim: alcohol use increases your risk of lung cancer

A

individuals who use alcohol may be more likely to also smoke
confound: smoking

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

what is a selection effect

A

errors in the selection or participation of participants

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

unsystematic variability is not the same as…

A

confound

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

whats a secondary way that selection bias occurs?

A

when people volunteer for a study

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

how do you prevent confounds?

A

make sure researchers treat participants the same and try to make sure there aren’t parts of the experiment that vary systematically

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
Q

how do you prevent selection effects?

A

random assignment

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
26
Q

what is a way to make sure groups are equal?

A

matched groups

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
27
Q

why can dealing with confounds be difficult?

A

time
measuring more variables
resources
more complicated study designs
lots of variables
missed variables

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
28
Q

what are the three types of validity?

A
  1. statistical
  2. construct
  3. internal
29
Q

explain statistical validity

A

statistical significance resulting from a statistical test (t-test, ANOVA, effect size)

30
Q

explain construct validity

A

operationalization of variables

31
Q

explain external validity

A

info about participants and their characteristics

32
Q

what does construct validity ask within the note taking experiment?

A
  1. did the study do a good job of measuring academic performance?
  2. how well did they manipulate the note taking condition?
33
Q

explain potential design confounds in the pasta experiment

A
  1. individuals in the large bowl group had tastier pasta
  2. what if the medium and large bowl groups ate at different times?
34
Q

explain potential selection effects in the pasta experiment

A

individuals who received the large bowl love pasta, while those who received the medium bowl don’t

35
Q

what is the difference between qualitative research and quantitative research?

A

quantitative: tests hypotheses or theories
qualitative: explores ideas formulation hypotheses and theories

36
Q

how is qualitative research analyzed?

A

summarizing, categorizing, interpreting

37
Q

how is quantitative research analyzed?

A

math and statistical analysis

38
Q

how is qualitative research expressed?

A

words

39
Q

how is quantitative research expressed?

A

numbers, graphs, tables, fewer words

40
Q

how is qualitative research sampled

A

few responses

41
Q

how is quantitative research sampled?

A

many responses

42
Q

how are qualitative questions formatted?

A

open-ended

43
Q

how are quantitative questions formatted?

A

close-ended or multiple choice

44
Q

when do you use qualitative research?

A

to understand something

45
Q

when do you use quantitative research?

A

confirm or test something

46
Q

how do you analyze qualitative data?

A
  1. prepare and organize data
  2. review and explore your data
  3. identify recurring themes
  4. develop a data coding system
  5. assign codes to the data (labelling)
47
Q

what is a mixed method of research?

A

combines quantitative and qualitative research to answer research questions

48
Q

what do results look like in research in humanities

A

products of research are predominately intellectual and intangible, results contribute to an academic discipline

49
Q

what are the 6 reasons research ethics matter?

A
  1. protecting participant safety
  2. maintaining scientific integrity
  3. upholding human rights and dignity
  4. ensuring social responsibility
  5. building trust in research and institutions
  6. complying with legal and regulatory compliance
50
Q

how do we know a manipulation works?

A

manipulation check; measuring the independent variable to make sure that it actually worked

50
Q

what is a null effect?

A

no significant difference or relationship between the things you’re studying; the independent variable did not effect the dependent variable

51
Q

what is the file drawer problem?

A

studies that don’t find a difference stay in the file-drawer or aren’t published, because of this, no one knows that someone has conducted a particular study

52
Q

what are the 6 components checked in pre-registration of a study?

A
  1. demonstrated credibility
  2. lasting reproducibility
  3. constructive review
  4. increased likelihood of acceptance
  5. a more complete scientific record
  6. keeps your options open
53
Q

peer review before results are known to…

A

align scientific values and practices

54
Q

when does stage 1 of peer review occur?

A

between the design study and collecting and analyzing data

55
Q

when does stage 2 of peer review occur?

A

between writing the report and the publishing of the report

56
Q

how could we miss an effect?

A

obscuring factors

57
Q

what are the 3 forms of obscuring factors?

A
  1. weak manipulation of the IV
  2. insensitive measure of the DV
  3. floor and ceiling effects of the IV or DV
58
Q

what is weak manipulation?

A

not very strong or clear creation of changes or differences between groups

59
Q

what is insensitive measurement?

A

inaccuracy of the research tools

60
Q

what are floor and ceiling effects?

A

very high or very low clusters of results

61
Q

what are control variables?

A

factors that a researcher keeps constant or under control during an experiment; helps to rule out other possible explanations

62
Q

what is the difference between systematic and unsystematic variables?

A

systematic variables are related to the study’s purpose and are controlled or accounted for, unsystematic variables are not directly linked to the study and are random or uncontrolled

63
Q

what are obscuring factors?

A

things that make it difficult to see of understand the true relationship between variables

64
Q

what is a pilot study?

A

a small-scale preliminary investigation conducted before the main study; helps researchers identify potential problems and refine their approach

65
Q

what is P-hacking?

A

intentionally fish for a specific p-value; lower than 0.05

66
Q

what is HARKing?

A

Hypothesis After Results are Known

67
Q
A

Winter Semester 2024 (7 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2024 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions