Consumers & Producers of Research
What is the main difference between a producer and a consumer of research?
Producers conduct research; consumers apply research findings.
Why does experience usually lack a comparison group?
Experience is based on personal observations without a control group.
What is the difference between a variable and its levels?
A variable is a concept that can change; levels are its specific values.
Name one ethical violation in the Tuskegee Syphilis Study.
Varies; example: Lack of informed consent.
Why is a random sample important in research?
It increases external validity and reduces bias.
How do theories and data interact in empirical research?
Theories generate hypotheses tested by data, which can support or challenge the theory.
Name two biases that affect intuition.
Varies; either: Being swayed by a good story, availability heuristic, present/present bias, confirmation bias, and/or bias blind spot.
What is the difference between a measured and a manipulated variable?
Measured variables are observed; manipulated variables are controlled by researchers.
What are the three main principles of the Belmont Report?
Respect for persons, beneficence, and justice.
What is the difference between a population and a sample?
Population is the entire group of interest; a sample is a subset studied.
Give an example of basic and applied research.
Varies; Example:
Basic: Studying memory processes; Applied: Research on improving student learning techniques.
What is one major advantage of research over intuition and experience?
Research uses systematic methods to minimize bias.
What are the three types of research claims?
Frequency, association, and causal claims.
What does an institutional review board (IRB) do?
Reviews research proposals to ensure ethical treatment of participants.
Give an example of a biased sampling method.
Convenience sampling.
What is the purpose of the peer-review process in science?
To ensure research quality, validity, and credibility before publication.
What is one way to distinguish legitimate journalism from disinformation?
Varies; example: Look for sources that cite peer-reviewed research.
Which three criteria must be met to establish a causal claim?
Covariance, temporal precedence, and internal validity.
When is deception permissible in psychological research?
When justified and followed by debriefing.
What does a correlation coefficient (r) tell us?
The strength and direction of a relationship between two variables.
Name one of Merton’s norms of science and explain how it promotes credibility.
Varies; either universalism, communism, or disinterestedness.
Where can psychology students find credible research articles?
PsycINFO, Google Scholar, and peer-reviewed journals.
What type of claim is supported by a study showing a correlation of r = -.60 between stress and sleep quality?
Association claim.
Name one type of research misconduct and explain why it is unethical.
Data fabrication - making up data or results that never actually existed.
OR
Data falsification - manipulating existing data by altering, omitting, or changing it in a way that misrepresents the true findings of a study.
Why can’t correlation alone establish causation?
It does not account for third variables or establish temporal precedence.