Lecture 2

Question 1

What is the importance of research in psychology?

Answer 1

Research is mandatory for validating claims and is grounded in objective, tangible evidence.

Question 2

What does empirical research rely on?

Answer 2

Objective, tangible evidence that can be observed repeatedly.

Question 3

What are the two types of reasoning used in psychological research?

Answer 3

Inductive reasoning and deductive reasoning

Question 4

What is deductive reasoning?

Answer 4

Results are predicted based on a general premise.

Question 5

What is inductive reasoning?

Answer 5

Conclusions are drawn from observations.

Question 6

What is a hypothesis?

Answer 6

A tentative and testable statement about the relationship between variables.

Question 7

What is a theory in scientific research?

Answer 7

A well-developed set of ideas that propose an explanation for observed phenomena.

Question 8

What is the difference between longitudinal and cross-sectional research?

Answer 8

• Longitudinal: studies the same group over time
• Cross-sectional: compares multiple segments at a single time

Question 9

What is observer bias?

Answer 9

When observations are skewed to align with the observer’s expectations.

Question 10

What is the purpose of a control group in an experiment?

Answer 10

participants that do not experience the manipulated variable

Question 11

What is the placebo effect?

Answer 11

People’s expectations influence their experience in a given situation.

Question 12

What does the correlation coefficient indicate?

Answer 12

The strength and direction of the relationship between variables.

Question 13

What is a confounding variable?

Answer 13

An unanticipated outside factor that affects both variables of interest.

Question 14

True or False: Correlation indicates causation.

Answer 14

False

Question 15

What is an experimental group?

Answer 15

Participants that experience the manipulated variable.

Question 16

What is the definition of a random sample?

Answer 16

A subset where every member of the population has an equal chance of being selected.

Question 17

What is the purpose of random assignment in experiments?

Answer 17

To prevent systematic differences between groups.

Question 18

What is the difference between a single-blind study and a double-blind study?

Answer 18

• Single-blind: only the researcher knows group assignments
• Double-blind: both researchers and participants are unaware

Question 19

What is the significance of peer-reviewed journal articles?

Answer 19

They ensure quality through feedback from other experts before publication.

Question 20

What does reliability in research refer to?

Answer 20

Consistency and reproducibility of a given result.

Question 21

What is attrition in research studies?

Answer 21

Reduction in the number of research participants over time.

Question 22

Fill in the blank: A _______ is a tentative and testable statement about the relationship between variables.

Answer 22

hypothesis

Question 23

What is an illusory correlation?

Answer 23

Seeing relationships between two things when no such relationship exists.

Question 24

What is confirmation bias?

Answer 24

The tendency to ignore evidence that disproves ideas or beliefs.

Question 25

What is reliability in research?

Answer 25

Consistency and reproducibility of a given result ## Footnote It assesses whether the same test yields the same results repeatedly.

Question 26

What does inter-rater reliability measure?

Answer 26

Agreement among observers on how they record and classify a particular event ## Footnote This is important when multiple people are involved in observations.

Question 27

What is validity in research?

Answer 27

Accuracy of a given result in measuring what it is designed to measure ## Footnote A valid measure is always reliable but not vice versa.

Question 28

What is the role of an Institutional Review Board (IRB)?

Answer 28

Reviews proposals for research involving human participants ## Footnote IRBs must approve research proposals before they can proceed.

Question 29

What is informed consent in research?

Answer 29

Process of informing a research participant about what to expect during an experiment and obtaining their consent to participate ## Footnote It includes potential risks, implications, and confidentiality.

Question 30

What is deception in the context of research?

Answer 30

Purposely misleading experiment participants to maintain the integrity of the experiment ## Footnote It should not be harmful to participants.

Question 31

What is debriefing in research?

Answer 31

Informing participants about the true nature of the experiment after it concludes ## Footnote This is especially important when deception has been used.

Question 32

What unethical practice occurred in the Tuskegee Syphilis Study?

Answer 32

Participants were not informed they had syphilis ## Footnote Many participants spread the disease and died without receiving treatment.

Question 33

What is the function of the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC)?

Answer 33

Reviews proposals for research involving non-human animals ## Footnote It ensures ethical treatment of animal subjects in research.

Question 34

What percentage of psychological research involving animal subjects uses rodents or birds?

Answer 34

90% ## Footnote Rodents and birds are commonly used due to their biological similarities to humans.

Question 35

Why are animals used in psychological research?

Answer 35

When the research would be unethical in human participants ## Footnote Researchers must minimize pain or distress to animal subjects.

Question 36

correlation

Answer 36

relationship between 2 variables; one changes as the other does

Question 37

positive correlation

Answer 37

two variables change, both becoming larger or smaller

Question 38

negative correlation

Answer 38

two variables change in different directions

Question 39

cause-and-effect relationship

Answer 39

changes in one variable cause the changes in the other variable

Question 40

operational

Answer 40

description of what actions and operations will be used to measure the dependent variables and manipulate the independent variables

Question 41

experimenter bias

Answer 41

researchers' expectations of the study

Question 42

participant bias

Answer 42

participant expectations skew the results of the study

Question 43

independent variables

Answer 43

influenced/controlled by the experimenter

Question 44

dependent variable

Answer 44

variable that researcher measures to see how much effect the independent variable had

Question 45

quasi-experimental

Answer 45

Cause and effect cannot be determined from this type of experiment.

Question 46

statistical analysis

Answer 46

determines how likely any difference between experimental groups is due to chance

Question 47

surveys

Answer 47

can be used to gather a large amount of data from a sample from a larger population.

Question 48

cause and effect

Answer 48

changes in one variable cause the changes in the other variable