Chapter 4

Question 1

Define a research design

Answer 1

a. The way that you test you hypothesis

Question 2

Define a dependent variable

Answer 2

a. The outcome that is influenced by the independent variable

Question 3

Define a independent variable

Answer 3

a. A variable that influences behavior

Question 4

Define internal validity

Answer 4

a. The extent of our confidence that the independent variable is causing the dependent variable to change

Question 5

History: how can it threaten internal validity?

Answer 5

1. Events that occur outside of the study that influence or account for results of the study.

Question 6

Maturation: how can it threaten internal validity?

Answer 6

1. Changes in participants due to psychological or physical development that cannot be dis-entangled from the experimental manipulation.

Question 7

Repeated testing: how can it threaten internal validity?

Answer 7

1. Repeated testing may influence the results because of the participants’ familiarity with the test and memory of how they responded last time.

Question 8

Selection bias: how can it threaten internal validity?

Answer 8

1. Effect of systematic differences in recruiting participants or assigning participants to study conditions that has an impact on the outcomes.

Question 9

Attrition: how can it threaten internal validity?

Answer 9

1. Loss of participants over time may bias the results if there is a difference between those who withdraw and those who remain.

Question 10

Setting: how can it threaten internal validity?

Answer 10

1. Features of the study may not be generalizable to real life

Question 11

Reactivity: how can it threaten internal validity?

Answer 11

1. Give more focus since they are in a study/ being assessed

Question 12

What are two ways to mitigate threats to internal validity

Answer 12

i. Control groups

ii. Randomization

Question 13

Define external validity

Answer 13

a. How well your results relate to findings outside your study

Question 14

Define confounding variables

Answer 14

a. Uncontrolled alternative explanations for the changes observed in our independent variable

Question 15

Analogue models

Answer 15

a. Creation in a controlled setting conditions that are comparable (analogous) to the phenomenon under study

Question 16

Effect size

Answer 16

a. How large the differences are between groups

b. Effect sizes are usually reported as Hedge’s G or Cohens D

Question 17

Define Epidemiological research

Answer 17

a. The study of incidence, distribution, and consequences of a problem in a population

Question 18

Define incidence

Answer 18

the number of new cases in a given time period

Question 19

Define prevalence

Answer 19

a. The number of people with a disorder at any one time

Question 20

Define statistical significance

Answer 20

a. The probability of seeing your observed affect if your data is small