Research Types
Experimental and Non-Experimental
What are cognitive biases?
Systematic errors in thinking. These biases are like shortcuts our brains take to make processing information easier and quicker, but they often lead us to incorrect conclusions or irrational decisions.
What is the goal of psychology?
To decode human behavior and mental processes through scientific study.
Single vs. Double Blind Procedures
Single-Blind Procedure: Participants do not know whether they are in the experimental or control group. Double-Blind Procedure: Neither participants nor researchers know who is in the experimental or control group.
Informed Consent & Assent
Informed Consent: Participants must be fully informed about the research and its potential risks and benefits before agreeing to participate. Informed Assent: For minors or individuals with diminished capacity, assent is obtained in addition to consent from a legal guardian.
What are the 4 types of Non-Experimental Research
Meta-Analysis, Naturalistic Observation, Correlation, Case Study
Social-Desirability Bias
What are the 3 parts of the scientific attitude?
Curiosity, Skepticism, Humility
What is random assignment and why is it used?
When participants are randomly assigned to either the experimental or control group to ensure that each group is similar before the treatment is applied. This assures that everyone has the same chance of getting in either group.
Confidentiality & Anonymity
Confidentiality: Participant information must be kept private and secure. Anonymity: When possible, data should be collected without identifying information.
Which is the only type of research that shows cause-and-effect
Experimental
Which bias is when after an event has occurred, we believe we predicted it beforehand even if we had no way of knowing what would happen.
Hindsight Bias
Theory
A structured explanation based on principles that guide research and understanding that helps us organize our observations and make predictions about behavior
Independent, Dependent, Cofounding Variables
IV: The variable that is measured manipulated by the experimenter
DV:The variable that is measured to see how it is affected by changes in the IV.
Cofounding: An external factor that could influence the results of an experiment, making it difficult to establish a clear cause-and-effect relationship.
Deception & Debriefing
Deception: In some studies, researchers may use deception to create a realistic situation or avoid demand characteristics. Debriefing: After the study, participants must be fully informed about the research, including any deception used, and given the opportunity to ask questions.
What Non-Experimental research method hints at relationships
Correlation
Bias in which one tends to search for, interpret, and remember information that confirms our preexisting beliefs or opinions.
Confirmation Bias
Cognitive
Mental activities related to thinking, knowing, and remembering. This involves perception, memory, problem-solving, decision-making, and reasoning.
Experimental vs. Control Group
Experimental Group: The group in an experiment that receives the treatment or manipulation. Control Group: The group in an experiment that does not receive the treatment, allowing researchers to compare results and draw conclusions about the treatment’s effect.
Qualitative vs. Quantitative
Qualitative Research: Focuses on in-depth understanding and rich descriptions of phenomena. Quantitative Research: Emphasizes numerical data and statistical analysis.
What are the three different correlations?
Positive, Negative, None
This bias occurs when we overestimate the accuracy of our knowledge and judgments.
Overconfidence Bias
What are important guidelines all researchers must follow?
Ethical Guidelines
Placebo
A harmless, inactive substance or treatment given to the control group to compare its effects with those of the actual treatment
Quantitative measurement tools
Likert scales, Psychological tests, Psychological measures, Surveys