Chapter 2: Research Methods

Question 1

What is a science?

Answer 1

Universe operates under certain laws; laws are discoverable and testable.

Question 2

What is a hypothesis?

Answer 2

Specific, testable prediction from a theory.

Question 3

What is the scientific method?

Answer 3

The use of process of testing a hypothesis through experimentation.

Question 4

What is deductive reasoning?

Answer 4

Reasoning applied from general applications to specific situations.

Question 5

What is inductive reasoning?

Answer 5

Reasoning from specific situations to general truths (theories).

Question 6

What is hypothetico-deductive?

Answer 6

Educated guesses on how the world works and then designing observations to invalidate/validate hypotheses.

Question 7

Psychology VS Pseudo-psychology

Answer 7

Psychology: using scientific method

Pseudo-psychology: no use of scientific method

Question 8

What is an Independent variable?

Answer 8

IV - factor that CHANGES, it is the cause and is controlled

Question 9

What is a Dependant variable?

Answer 9

Thing EXPECTED TO CHANGE and measured/observed because of IV (Depends on IV)

Question 10

What is pseudo-psychology?

Answer 10

No use of scientific method, based on beliefs that can be harmful and not on facts.

Ex. Astrology, pop psychology online, and hypnosis

Question 11

What are the steps to scientific method?

Answer 11

A topic is identified, a literature is conducted, a testable hypothesis, variables, research design selected, data are collected, participants and analyzed, the study is published/reviewed, theory is developed, and the cycle continues

Question 12

What is a sample?

Answer 12

Group of participants representatives of population

Question 13

What is a population?

Answer 13

Entire group you’re interested in

Question 14

What is random selection?

Answer 14

Every person in the population has equal opportunity to join

Question 15

What is a random assignment?

Answer 15

Every person in sample has chance of being chosen for a condition

Question 16

What is an Experimental group?

Answer 16

Group EXPOSED to IV

Question 17

What is a Control group?

Answer 17

Group NOT EXPOSED to IV

Question 18

What is Descriptive Research?

Answer 18

Case studies, surveys, naturalistic observations

Question 19

What is Experimental Research?

Answer 19

Manipulation and control of variables

Question 20

Advantages VS Disadvantages of Descriptive Research

Answer 20

Advantages - Reflective of human behaviour, low cost
Disadvantages - No control over variables, bias, Hawthorne effect

Question 21

Advantages VS Disadvantages of Experimental Research

Answer 21

Advantages - Control over variables, eliminate outside variables
Disadvantages - Bias, sometimes unethical

Question 22

What is Experimental Bias?

Answer 22

Experimenter’s feelings/expectations can influence experiment

Question 23

What is a double-blind procedure?

Answer 23

Neither participant or researcher knows anyone

Question 24

What is a Self-fulfilling Prophecy?

Answer 24

Un-witting creation of researcher that leads to predicted results

Question 25

What is the Placebo Effect?

Answer 25

A real improvement not because of the fake thing, but because the person believed they’ll get better and thinks it’s real.

Question 26

What are Demand Characteristics?

Answer 26

Elements may tip you off due to influences

Question 27

What is the Hawthorne Effect?

Answer 27

People act differently when being observed

Question 28

What is Social Desirability Bias?

Answer 28

Tendency to give socially approved answers to questions about oneself

Question 29

What are the two ways psychologists use to make sense of research results?

Answer 29

Descriptive or inferential statistics

Question 30

What are Descriptive Statistics?

Answer 30

Used to organized and summarize data

Question 31

What are Inferential Statistics?

Answer 31

Used to interpret data and draw conclusions after summarizing data

Question 32

What does descriptive statistics include?

Answer 32

Mean - average of all scores Standard deviation - how participants’ scores vary from one another

Question 33

What does inferential statistics include?

Answer 33

P-value - If LOWER than 0.5 then its “statistically significant” T-TESTS & ANIVAS

Question 34

What is HARKing?

Answer 34

Hypothesizing after the results are known; misrepresents research processes by creating false impression

Question 35

HARKing - P-hacking:

Answer 35

Misuse of statistics or selective results to make non-significant results appear significant

Question 36

What is Correlation Research?

Answer 36

Shows how two or more things relate to one another

Question 37

Correlation Coefficient

Answer 37

Strength and nature of relationship (-1.00 to +1.00)

Question 38

Positive Correlation

Answer 38

When one variable increases, the other increases Ex. When you eat ice cream, you gain half a pound

Question 39

Negative Correlation

Answer 39

When one variable increases, the other decreases Ex. When you exercise, your weight decreases

Question 40

Code of Ethics - Canadian Psychological Association

Question 41

REBS - Research Ethics Boards

Answer 41

Considered Ethics police - research oversight group evaluating research to protect participants in study

Question 42

TCPS 2 has ethical guidelines that are the standard. What are they?

Answer 42

Obtain inform consent Protect participants from harm and discomfort Protect confidentiality Must be voluntary Provide complete debriefing - reveal to participants information after study Don’t lie - deception/incomplete disclosure

Question 43

The Canadian Council on Animal Care

Answer 43

Overseas research involving animals as subjects

Question 44

CCAC - What are policies with animals regarding research?

Answer 44

Animals are used only if research promises significant benefit to humans/animals Humane methods Smallest number of animals Animals used as last resort

Question 45

Correlation is not causation.

Answer 45

TRUE. Stress and depression are related, but not what caused each other.

Question 46

What is Cause and Effect?

Answer 46

Natural law of if somethings in motion, it has an effect on other things