Name that research method
“A health organization conducts an online form asking people about their exercise habits and dietary choices to gauge public health trends.”
Surveys
“A researcher analyzes college students to find out if there is an association between the amount of caffeine consumed daily and the levels of anxiety”
Correlational study
“A study was done comparing twins: one is raised in an enriched environment with access to books, educational toys, and stimulating activities, while the other group is raised in a more deprived environment with limited resources. The researcher measures cognitive abilities and academic performance in both over several years.”
Nature vs nurture
Give me an example of an operational and conceptual variable
conceptual: intelligence
During a music festival, a group of friends tries a new substance. One friend reports seeing vibrant colors and hearing music differently, while another experiences confusion and paranoia after taking it
What type of drug was used?
Hallucinogen
“A medical researcher examines a single patient with a rare disease, documenting their treatment process, symptoms, and outcomes in detail”
Case Studies/ Case Histories
“A group of volunteers is brought into a laboratory to participate in a study where they are randomly assigned to either a group that listens to calming music or a group that sits in silence. Researchers then measure their stress levels.”
Experiment in the lab
“A psychologist investigates the phenomenon of phantom limb sensations in amputees. Many individuals report feeling sensations, such as itching or pain, in limbs that are no longer physically present. Using brain imaging techniques, the psychologist observes changes in brain activity related to the areas of the cortex that correspond to the missing limbs.”
Mind brain problem
Academic success of students was measured by college students' GPA scores. Is this qualitative or quantitative?
Quantitative
A patient is brought to a neurologist after a car accident. The doctor observes the following symptom
Which lobe is likely damaged?
Temporal
“A researcher watches and records how children interact during recess to study social behavior and group dynamics, without intervening in their play.”
Naturalistic Observations
“A coastal community experiences a sudden increase in sea level due to a natural disaster. Researchers compare the mental health outcomes of residents before and after the event without any intervention.”
Natural Experiment
A psychologist is hired by a technology company to improve the usability of a new smartphone app designed for elderly users.
Human factors
“A psychologist is conducting a study on parenting styles and their effects on child development. To gather data, the researcher surveys families from three different countries: the United States, Japan, and Brazil.”
What type of sample is this
Cross cultural sample
“A middle-aged man visits a psychologist after experiencing significant changes in his behavior and personality. His friends report that he has become impulsive, emotionally unstable, and has difficulty planning tasks.
Which lobe of the brain is most likely damaged in this scenario?”
Frontal
“A researcher examines the effects of a natural disaster on community mental health by comparing data from the affected area to data from a similar area that was not affected”
Natural experiment
“A biologist sets up two similar gardens—one with organic fertilizer and the other with synthetic fertilizer—and measures plant growth over the season in a natural outdoor environment.”
Experiments in the field
“The individual conducts a thorough assessment, including a clinical interview and standardized questionnaires, to evaluate her client’s symptoms and mental health history. After the evaluation, they discuss potential treatment options, including therapy and medication.”
Psychiatrist
“Love is a force that connects all living beings on a spiritual level”
is this falsifiable?
Not falsifiable
“A young woman is referred for evaluation after a traumatic brain injury from a fall. She exhibits the following symptoms:
identify the damaged lobe.
Parietal lobe
“Environmental scientists conducts a study in two nearby forests—one that has controlled access and one that is freely accessible to the public. They monitor wildlife populations in both areas to see the effect of human activity on wildlife behavior”
Experiment in the field
“A psychologist wants to investigate the effects of school environment on student anxiety levels. They compare two high schools: one that has a strict discipline policy and another that has a more relaxed approach to discipline. The researcher surveys students in both schools about their anxiety levels using a standardized questionnaire”
Quasi experiment
“A company is experiencing high employee turnover and low job satisfaction. They hire a psychologist to assess the workplace environment and identify potential areas for improvement.”
I/O Psychologists
“A researcher investigates the effectiveness of a new study technique on college students' test performance. During the study, participants are informed that they will be evaluated on their understanding of the material. The researcher observes that participants who are aware that their performance will be assessed seem to study harder and perform better than those who do not receive this information.”
What type of threat to internal validity is this?
Demand characteristic
What is epigentics?
Deals with changes in gene expression without modification of DNA. Basically, certain genes can be “activated” by experience.