Unit 2: Chapter 2- Doing social psychology research

Question 1

Why is learning about research methods in social psychology useful?

Answer 1

-makes you a better consumer of information.

Question 2

Describe the steps in doing research in social psychology.

Answer 2

[Bad question, jsut define your basic research steps from other courses]

Question 3

Outline several ways for generating research ideas.

Answer 3

(witnessing an event/ experiecning a tragedy can aso prompt ideas)

The most reliable way to get ideas for new research, therefore, is to read about research already published

Question 4

Distinguish between a hypothesis and a theory, and describe the connection between the two.

Answer 4

[learned]

Question 5

Distinguish between applied research and basic research and describe how basic research and applied research are connected.

Answer 5

Research whose goal is to increase the understanding of human behavior, often by testing hypotheses based on a theory

Research whose goal is to make applications to the world and contribute to the solution of social problems.

Question 6

Define conceptual variables and operational definitions. How are they related? Give an example of a conceptual variable and its operational definition.

Answer 6

When a researcher first develops a hypothesis, the variables typically are in an abstract, general form. These are conceptual variables.

The specific procedures for manipulating or measuring a conceptual variable.

Question 7

Summarize the advantages and disadvantages of using self-reports and observations to measure variables.

Answer 7

The advantage of observational methods is that they avoid our sometimes faulty recollections and distorted interpretations of our own behavior. Actions can speak louder than words. Of course, if individuals know they are being observed, their behaviors, like their self-reports, may be biased by the desire to present themselves in a favorable light. p. 30

Question 8

Define construct validity. Why is it necessary to establish construct validity in research?

Answer 8

he extent to which the measures used in a study measure the variables they were designed to measure and the manipulations in an experiment manipulate the variables they were designed to manipulate

[because duh]

Question 9

Define interrater reliability. Why is it necessary to have interrater reliability in the measurement of variables?

Answer 9

The degree to which different observers agree on their observations

[because duh]

Question 10

What is the purpose of descriptive research? Describe the methods used to conduct descriptive research.

Answer 10

The goal of descriptive research in social psychology is, as the term implies, to describe people and their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors.

Surveys, archival research etc

Question 11

What are the advantages and disadvantages of using observation, archival records, and surveys to conduct research?

Answer 11

A: You can study things that may be unethical in a laboratory
D: Correlation is not causation

Question 12

Define random sampling. Why is it important to use random sampling in designing surveys?

Answer 12

A method of selecting participants for a study so that everyone in a population has an equal chance of being in the study

-To not bias the results [Election example of surveying only rich people]

Question 13

What is the purpose of correlational research? List the advantages and disadvantages of correlational research.

Answer 13

Research designed to measure the association between variables that are not manipulated by the researcher

Cannot determine causation

Question 14

What does correlation is not causation mean?

Answer 14

[Mastered]

Question 15

What is the purpose of experimental research? List the characteristics of an experiment.

Answer 15

To discover a causal relationship.

1. Control over variables
2. Random assignment to groups

Question 16

Differentiate between random sampling and random assignment.

Answer 16

[Mastered]

Question 17

Distinguish between independent variables and dependent variables in experimental research.

Answer 17

[Mastered]

Question 18

Define subject variable and give an example.

Answer 18

A variable that characterizes preexisting differences among the participants in a study. Gender/ethnicity etc

Question 19

Define internal validity and external validity.

Answer 19

[Mastered]
Did the I variable cause the effect?
Can the results be generalized?

Question 20

What is a meta-analysis?

Answer 20

A set of statistical procedures used to review a body of evidence by combining the results of individual studies to measure the overall reliability and strength of particular effects.

Question 21

Why are deception and confederates used in social-psychological experiments?

Answer 21

To not confound the results from things llike social desireability etc

Question 22

Why is ethics an important issue in social-psychological research?

Answer 22

[Mastered]

Question 23

Describe the measures that researchers in social psychology must take to protect the welfare of human participants in their research.

Answer 23

Informed consent
debriefing
Review boards

Question 24

What are the competing arguments for and against science as value free?

Answer 24

Although many people hold science to a standard of complete objectivity, science can probably never be completely unbiased and objective because it is a human enterprise

Question 25

What are the two main factors that make up construct validity? (A)

Answer 25

(1) the manipulations in an experiment really manipulate the conceptual variables they were designed to manipulate and (2) the measures used in a study (experimental or otherwise) really measure the conceptual variables they were designed to measure.