Ethical Considerations
This ethical principle ensures that participants know the aims and procedures of a study before agreeing to participate.
What is informed consent?
In an experiment, this variable is manipulated by the researcher to observe its effects.
What is the independent variable?
In experimental research, this type of variable is neither the independent nor dependent variable, but if not controlled, it can influence the results.
What is an extraneous variable?
A sampling technique where every member of the target population has an equal chance of being chosen.
What is random sampling?
Unlike its counterpart, this observational method allows the researcher to blend in with the group being studied without the participants realizing they are being observed.
What is covert participant observation?
This ethical principle requires researchers to fully explain the true nature of a study and any deception used after the experiment is completed.
What is debriefing?
This type of experiment is conducted in an artificial environment where extraneous variables are controlled.
What is a lab experiment?
In a repeated measures design, participants take part in all conditions. What is the main issue that arises, and how can researchers control for it?
What are order effects, and they can be controlled by counterbalancing?
This widely used sampling method is prone to researcher bias, as the participants are selected based on their availability and willingness to participate.
What is opportunity (convenience) sampling?
A researcher studying parental discipline methods follows an interview schedule but also allows parents to elaborate on their experiences. This type of interview balances structure and flexibility.
What is a semi-structured interview?
In some cases, participants cannot give informed consent themselves due to age or vulnerability. Instead, this type of consent must be obtained from a guardian or representative.
What is proxy consent (or parental consent)?
Unlike lab experiments, this type of experiment takes place in a real-life setting where extraneous variables cannot be fully controlled.
What is a field experiment?
This effect occurs when participants alter their behavior because they believe they know the purpose of the experiment. It threatens the validity of a study.
What are demand characteristics?
A researcher ensures that 30% of their sample is male and 70% is female to reflect the target population. However, they still use random sampling within each subgroup. What technique are they using?
What is stratified random sampling?
A researcher is studying a rare psychological condition and gathers data through personal interviews, medical records, and behavioral tests over several years. This method cannot be replicated and has issues with generalizability.
What is a case study?
This controversial 1973 study placed participants into roles of "prisoners" and "guards," demonstrating the power of situational factors in influencing behavior but was criticized for severe ethical violations.
What is the Stanford Prison Experiment?
This type of experiment occurs when researchers take advantage of naturally occurring changes in variables, making it impossible to establish direct causation due to the lack of control over extraneous variables.
What is a natural experiment?
This experimental design method involves pairing participants with similar characteristics across different conditions to control for individual differences.
What is a matched pairs design?
A psychologist wants to study undocumented workers but has no official list to select from. Instead, they ask one participant to recruit another, and so on. What sampling technique is this, and what is its main limitation?
What is snowball sampling, and its main limitation is sample bias because participants recruit similar individuals?
In a study on organizational culture, a researcher initially distributes surveys but realizes that direct engagement is needed. They begin informally interacting with employees while taking mental notes. This shift in methodology illustrates a transition into this specific type of research approach.
What is participant observation?
This ethical issue was a major concern in the Stanford Prison Experiment, where participants suffered extreme emotional distress due to their assigned roles.
What is psychological harm?
This research method does not use random assignment and instead groups participants based on inherent traits. While it resembles an experiment, its inability to control confounding variables prevents researchers from making causal claims.
What is a quasi-experiment?
A researcher investigates how caffeine affects memory. Participants consume either caffeine or a placebo and then complete a memory task. However, the researcher unintentionally gives more encouraging feedback to the caffeine group. This is an example of what type of bias, and how can it be prevented?
What is experimenter bias, and it can be prevented using a double-blind procedure?
A researcher decides to systematically select every 10th person from a list of 1,000 students to form a sample of 100. However, this method could introduce bias if there is a hidden cyclical pattern in the list. What is this technique called?
What is systematic sampling?
A researcher is investigating PTSD in war veterans. Instead of relying on a single data collection method, they conduct interviews, analyze medical records, and observe therapy sessions. This approach increases credibility by utilizing multiple perspectives and is known as what?
What is method triangulation?