Test #1 Terms

Question 1

Goals of scientific research

Answer 1

describe, predict, determine cause, and understand

Question 2

What to expect in a research article

Answer 2

1) Abstract: summary of the research report
2) Introduction: researcher outlines problem, past research, states hypothesis
3) Method: exactly how study will be conducted, details needed for replication, participant description, procedure
4) Results: findings
5) Discussion
6) References

Question 3

Finding journal articles

Answer 3

Psychinfo: psychology related fields
Web of science: scientific articles
Other library databases: if you don’t have access to these
Internet: most widely available information source

Question 4

Two basic research designs

Answer 4

1) non-experimental method: relationships are studied by observing variables and seeing if there is a correlation between them
2) Experimental method: direct manipulation and control of variables
•The variables do not vary together (one is introduced to see if it impacts the other

Question 5

4 most common relationships found in research

Answer 5

1) Positive linear relationship: increases in one variable are accompanied by increases in the second variable
2) Negative linear relationship: increases in one variable are accompanied by decreases in the second variable
3) Curvilinear relationship: increases in one variable are accompanied by increases and decreases in the second variable (inverted U)
4) No relationship: flat line

Question 6

Correlation coefficient

Mediating variable

Answer 6

CC: a numerical index of the strength of the relationship among variables
MV: a psychological process that occurs between two variables, helping explain the relationship between them
•A certain behaviour can provide insight into how variables relate to each other

Question 7

Behavioural vs Physiological measure

Answer 7

BML: direct observation of behaviours
PM: recording of response of the body

Question 8

Additional considerations when measuring variables

Answer 8

1) sensitivity: particularly important when using behavioural measures as tasks vary in difficulty from person to person, resulting in a ceiling effect
•CE: the IV might appear to have no effect on the DV because participants quickly reach max performance (too easy)
•Floor effect: opposite (task is too difficult)
2) Multiple measures: multiple measures to assess the same variable (order may become an issue)
3) Cost

Question 9

Pilot study

Answer 9

The researcher does a trial run with a small number of participants from the same population (must have ethical support)
•Good for finding issues in your study