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PSY100 Chapter 2
Terms from week 2
Term | Definition |
---|---|
Theory | A set of facts that explains the relationship between two or more variables; broad scope supported by evidence |
Explanatory theory | Tie together facts and draw conclusions |
Predictive theory | Hypothesis made from theories |
Properties of theories | Testable, falsifiable, and parsimonious |
Testability | Ability to be tested on/for |
Falsifiability | Ability to be proven or disproven |
Parsimoneousness | Simplest explanation with the least amount of assumptions needed to be true |
Hypothesis | A proposed explanation for a situation ("If A, then B") |
Construct | A hypothetical internal attribute that cannot be directly observed but is useful for describing and explaining behavior/ variables that are hard to define and cannot be directly observed |
Operational Definition | Observable/measurable definition of constructs (physiological, behavioral, self report) |
Conceptual definition | Textbook/dictionary meaning of something |
Independent variable | Experimental variable that is changed by the experimenter, impacts the dependent variable |
Dependent variable | Experimental variable that is affected by change of the independent variable and is measured |
Descriptive research | Systematic observation and classification of a single variable of interest (large data pools, not casual) |
Types of descriptive research | Surveys, focus groups, case studies, observational research |
Survey | Method where all participants are asked the same questions; quick and easy but not detailed |
Case Study | An in-depth analysis of the behavior of one person or a small number of people; not easily generalizable; focus on non-repeatable/testable events (extraordinary) |
Naturalistic Observation | Passive; observers do not change or interact with behavior |
Participant Observation | Active; scientist is interacting with study group |
Laboratory Observation | Systematic observations made within a lab setting; highly detailed |
Reactivity | Phenomena where participants act differently if they know they are being watched (overproduction of demand characteristics) |
Demand Characteristics | What is being studied in an experiment |
Correlational Research | A measure of the direction and strength of the relationship/association between two variables (how variables are related); NOT CAUSAL |
Directionality Problem | Unknown which variable affects the other (does A cause B or B cause A?) |
Third-variable Problem | Unknown if a third variable affects the other variables (does C affect A and B?) |
Correlation Coefficient | Between +1.0 (positive, variables move in same direction) and -1.0 (negative, variables move opposite), with zero being no correlation |
Experiment | A research method that tests hypotheses and allows researchers to make conclusions about causality between two or more variables |
Causal claims | Cause-and-effect claims; A causes B; certain and tested |
Random Assignment | Each participant has an equal chance of being placed in any experimental group (provides most accurate data) |
Random Sample | Each member of the chosen population has an equal chance of being chosen to participate in a study |
Confound | Irrelevant variable that can alter results; threat to internal validity |
Double-blind experiment | Situation where neither the participant nor the experimenter know which condition/group is being tested |
Quasi-experiment | Experimental design where random assignment is not possible |
Field experiment | Experimental design conducted in the 'real world' with no control over the environment |
External validity | Ability to be generalized (How broad can the findings be applied?) |
Internal validity | Causal validity (Are there confounds in the study? Is the effect due to the test or an outside variable? How well established are the relationships) |
Reliability | The consistency of a measure (same results every time the test is run) |
Validity | Correctness (is the test returning the results you are testing for) |
Replication (Test-retest reliability) | Repeating and experiment and getting the same results |
Interrater Reliability | Close agreement between highly trained raters/scorers of a test criteria |
Descriptive Statistics | Statistical methods that organize data into meaningful patterns and summaries (describes the data) |
Construct validity | How valid are the operationalizations (measures) being used? |
Inferential statistics | Extend conclusions from sample to population based on data (always probabilities, can never be proven) |
Mean | Average of a data set |
Median | Halfway mark in a set of data |
Normal distribution/curve | Symmetrical probability function (bell curve) where majority of the results will fall within a given percentage of the median value |
WEIRD Samples | White, Educated, Industrialized, Rich, Democratic; majority of test populations/samples (issue for external validity) |
Open science | Public access to researchers methods, tools, data, and experiments |
Replication | A study can produce similar results when performed multiple times |
Reproduction | A study/test can be done in the same way it was done the first time (does not guarantee same results) |
Informed consent | Participant consents to be a part of the study after being made fully aware of the conditions and possible risks of the study |
Research Ethics Board | Federally regulated board that assesses ethics of a study before it can be conducted |
Debriefing | Explaining the procedure to the patient after the experiment has finished and giving them all the needed information |
Animal Care Commitee | Federally regulated board that assesses ethics of animal studies before they can be conducted |