Rationale
The ________ of an APA-style research paper is designed to introduce the topic of the paper, review existing research on the topic, and discuss why additional research is needed.
INTRODUCTION
What is the primary benefit of an experimental design relative to a non-experimental design?
Experimental designs allow for researchers to establish cause and effect relationships between two variables (e.g., X causes Y).
What is the difference between a POPULATION versus a SAMPLE?
What is the difference between an INDEPENDENT VARIABLE (IV) and a DEPENDENT VARIABLE (DV)?
An INDEPENDENT VARIABLE is the variable that a researcher manipulates to examine if it causes changes in the dependent variable.
The DEPENDENT VARIABLE is the outcome that is measured by the researcher.
If the significance level is .05, then p < .05 would indicate that the results are ________________.
STATISTICALLY SIGNIFICANT
In science, a(n) _________ is formulated based on observation and insights, and consists of a series of tentative premises about ideas and concepts that lay the foundation for empirical research about a phenomenon.
THEORY
What defines a "true" experiment?
True experiments are defined by random assignment to experimental conditions and tight experimental control.
________ validity is the extent to which the results of a study can be generalized or applied to other respondent groups, different settings, or contexts.
EXTERNAL VALIDITY
The ___________ of a variable involves translating an abstract theoretical concept into a concrete specification of procedure and measure so that it may be observed, recorded, and replicated.
OPERATIONALIZATION
What is a null hypothesis?
The null hypothesis is the starting assumption that there is "no effect" (i.e., that the researcher's hypothesis is not true).
A(n) _________ is a concrete, specific, and testable prediction about specific relationships in a study.
HYPOTHESIS
When an experiment is not possible due to logistical or ethical reasons, a researcher may be able to establish causality using a(n) ____________.
QUASI-EXPERIMENT
What is the difference between random sampling and random assignment to conditions?
Random sampling is a technique used to ensure that the sample is representative of a population of interest. (It refers to HOW research participants are acquired).
Random assignment to conditions is a technique that is used to test cause and effect relationships by ensuring that participants are assigned to experimental conditions at random. (It refers to what happens to research participants once they are in the study).
________ refers to the consistency of a measurement over items, time points, or raters.
RELIABILITY
___________ is the probability of obtaining a statistically significant effect, if that effect actually exists.
STATISTICAL POWER
When a researcher speaks about a "gap" in the literature, they are referring to ...?
A "gap" = a limitation of the existing research, an unanswered question, and/or unexplored area of research that has not yet been explored.
________ validity is the extent that inferences of causality can be made about the obtained relationship between the independent variable and the dependent variable (Crano, Brewer, & Lac, 2015).
INTERNAL VALIDITY
A ___________ is a calculation completed before data is collected to determine the the sample size needed to be able to detect an effect (if there is an effect to detect).
POWER ANALYSIS
________ validity is the extent to which the operationalization of a variable represents a reliable and valid representation of the theoretical construct it is meant to represent.
CONSTRUCT VALIDITY
What is meant by the phrase, "social psychology's replication crisis"?
Refers to the idea that many key findings in social psychology cannot be independently replicated or reproduced by researchers outside of the original research team.
Name at least three major areas of focus within the field of social psychology.
https://www.socialpsychology.org/social.htm
https://opentextbc.ca/socialpsychology/
Responses could include: Social cognition, Self, Attitudes, Persuasion, Person Perception, Obedience, Power, Conformity, Attraction, Close Relationships, Helping, Altruism, Moods/Emotions, Aggression, Group Behaviour, Stereotypes/Prejudice/Discrimination, Competition, Cooperation,
What are the three conditions of causality?
(1) Association, (2) temporal precedence, and (3) no alternative explanations.
In psychology, __________ is the method most frequently used to test the generalizability of research results across populations, different settings, or contexts.
REPLICATION
How might a researcher test the effectiveness of an experimental manipulation?
ACCEPTABLE ANSWERS: Pilot test or a manipulation check
Name at least one caution that researchers should be aware of when using null hypothesis significance testing (NHST).
(1) NHST is heavily influenced by sample size. (2) There is always a risk of Type 1 or Type 2 error when using NHST. (3) NHST tells a researcher nothing about the actual size, magnitude, or importance of the effect. (4) NHST only works when the assumptions of a specific statistical test are met. (5) Many people misinterpret p-values and NHST results.