Research in Psychology
What is Psychology?
Psychology is a set of disciplines focused on the study of behaviour and experience at various levels of analysis - from cells to societies.
Openness to testing by other experts is a feature of Pseudoscience - true or false?
False - Lack of openness to testing by other experts is a feature
The independent variable explains or predicts change or variation - true or false.
True
What is correlation?
A correlation is present when the value of one variable provides information about the value of another variable. (there's a relationship between the variables)
Referencing is marked - true or false?
False
What is the difference between Quantitative and Qualitative?
Qualitative - quality of the research, information rich, interviews etc
Quantitative - data, numerical, questionnaires etc
What are the two types of hypotheses?
Null & alternate hypotheses
Correlation implies causation - true or false?
False
(Just because there's a correlation (or relationship) between the variables doesn't necessarily mean one causes the other, this would be causation)
The design of a study is...
...the set of decisions regarding how a research
question will be answered in terms of the
structure in which data will be collected
What is the assignment worth?
30%
Give an example of a method of Qualitative Research
Interviews etc.
What is a Hypothesis?
An educated guess based on observations
What is a variable?
Something in the world that can vary and that we can manipulate (change), measure (evaluate), or both manipulate and measure
What are the three quantitative study designs?
1. Descriptive designs 2. Correlation designs 3. Causal designs
When is your assignment due?
November 8th
What is the difference between Control Group and Treatment Group?
Treatment group - one that is treated by the researcher
Control group - receives no treatment (or fake treatment) in an effort to control placebo effect
What is the third step of the Scientific Method?
Formulate Hypothesis
Quantitative Research is...
...a formal, objective, systematic process in which numerical data are used to obtain information about the world.
Give one type of study in the Correlational Design
Cross-sectional study or Longitudinal Study or Cohort Study or Quasi-experimental Study or Single Subject Obervational Study
What must be included at the start of the assignment?
Cover Page
To be as representative of the entire population as possible
What is Systematic Empiricism?
Learning based on validated methods of observation
(This approach contrasts with casual observation or intuition because it involves planned methods for collecting and analyzing data in order to answer specific questions or test hypotheses.)
What type of group must be set up in order to minimise the effects of extraneous variables?
Control Group
(Allows researchers to compare results and account for the impact of extraneous variables - if both the experimental and control groups are affected equally by extraneous variables, their impact can be ruled out)
Reminder: An extraneous variable is any variable that is not the independent variable or the dependent variable, but it can still affect the outcome of the experiment if not controlled
What is causal inference?
Causal inference refers to the process of drawing conclusions about a causal relationship between variables.
(In other words, it involves determining whether a change in one variable (the independent variable) directly causes a change in another variable (the dependent variable). This goes beyond merely identifying a correlation (or association) between variables, as it aims to establish a cause-and-effect relationship)
What happens if you plagiarise?
Assignment is void and you're brought in front of the academic board