Experimental Designs
Participants are measured before and after an intervention.
Pretest-Posttest Design
An outside factor that may affect results.
Confounding Variable
Participants are randomly assigned to mindfulness training or a control group.
True Experimental Design
Participants are recruited because they meet specific criteria.
Purposive Sampling
Participants must be informed about the study, risks, and benefits before agreeing to participate.
What is informed consent?
Participants receive both treatment and control conditions at different times.
Crossover Design
Variables intentionally kept constant.
Control Variable
Researchers interview veterans about their lived experiences.
Qualitative Research
Participants recruit additional participants.
Snowball Sampling
Researchers must protect participants' identities and personal information.
What is confidentiality?
The feature that most strengthens causal inference.
Random Assignment
Defining a construct using a specific measure.
Operationalization
Researchers collect survey data and then conduct interviews to explain findings.
Mixed-Methods Research
The sample accurately reflects the population.
Representative Sample
The extent to which findings can be applied to populations beyond the sample studied.
What is generalizability (external validity)?
This design lacks random assignment.
Quasi-Experimental Design
The variable manipulated by the researcher.
Independent Variable
A researcher examines the relationship between stress and sleep quality.
Correlational Study
Every member of the population has an equal chance of selection.
Correlational Study
A study recruits only undergraduate psychology students but claims the findings apply to all adults.
What is a threat to generalizability?
Participants are randomly assigned to treatment and control groups.
True Experimental Design
The outcome being measured.
Dependent Variable
A researcher compares two existing classrooms.
Quasi-Experimental Design
Participants are selected because they are easy to access.
Convenience Sampling
Researchers discover a participant is experiencing severe emotional distress during an interview. Their primary ethical responsibility is to do this.
What is protect participant welfare (beneficence)?