Research Methods
Case study
An observation technique in which one person is studied in depth in the hope of revealing universal principles
*qualitative methods (adjectives)
Informed consent
An ethical principle to obtain informed consent of potential participants
Positive correlation
Negative correlation
No correlation
Illusionary correlation
-As one variable increases, the other variable increases as well
-As one variable increases, the other variable decreases
-No apparent relationship between variables
-The perception of a relationship between 2 variables although there is no real correlation
Random assignment
Control group
Experimental group
-How participants were randomly put into either the control group or the experimental group (reduces confounding variables)
-Group not exposed to the independent variable
-Group exposed to the independent variable
Target population
Population of people that the researcher is interested in studying
Surveys
A technique for ascertaining the self-reported attitudes or behaviors of a particular group, usually by questioning a representative random sample of the group
*quantitative methods (numbers)
Confidentiality/anonymity
Participants should be guaranteed that their information should be anonymized; identities should not be revealed if published
Mean
Median
Mode
Range
-Average of the distribution of scores (adding all of them up before dividing by how many scores there are)
-Middle score of a distribution
-Most frequently occurring score in a set of data
-Difference between highest and lowest score
Convenience sampling
When the researcher samples the people who are conveniently available to be participants
Placebo effect
Experimental results are caused by expectations alone, the effect on behavior is caused by the administration of an inert substance which the recipient assumes is the active agent.
Naturalistic observation
Observing/recording behavior in naturally occurring situations without trying to manipulate and control the situation; describes behavior, does not explain it (high ecological validity)
*qualitative methods
Deception
Debriefing
-Used to prevent the participant from learning the complete goal of the study so their behavior will not be influenced (Hawthorne effect) (must get approval from ethics board)
-An ethical principle that urges you to explain the research to participants afterward
Standard deviation
A normal distribution (or normal bell curve)
-Computed measure of how much scores vary around the mean score
-Typical bell curve which describes the distribution of many types of data, most scores falling near the mean and less around the extremes (68% fall within 1 standard deviation)
Stratified sampling
Researchers arrange subjects into smaller subgroups (named strata) based on shared characteristics. Then
a random sample from each subgroup is randomly chosen
Hindsight bias
Tendency to believe after learning an outcome, that one would have foreseen it.
Experiment
Confounding variable
-A research method in which an investigator manipulates one or more factors (independent variable) to observe the effect on some behavioral/mental process (dependent variable)- random assignment of participants, experimenter aims to control other factors
*quantitative methods
-A factor other than the independent variable that might produce an effect in an experiment
Right to withdraw
Can withdraw from the study at any time and should not feel pressure from the experimenter (data must be withdrawn from the study)
Statistical Significance
Null Hypothesis
-A statistical statement of how likely an obtained result to occur by chance
-There is no statistical significance within the experiment, any observed difference is likely due to an observed sampling error
Snowball sampling
When participants recruit more people they know to be part of the study
Single blind experiment
Double-blind experiment
-Experimental procedure in which the researcher knows which participants are in the control group and which are in the experimental group
-An experimental procedure in which neither the researchers nor participants know who is the control group and who is the experimental group.
Cross-sectional study
Longitudinal study
-When researchers compare groups of subjects of different ages at a single point in time
-Researchers examine the same individuals to find any changes for a long period of time
Protection from undue mental stress or physical harm
Not permitted to humiliate a participant or force them to reveal public info; no procedure will have a permanent physical or psychological effect on participants
Correlation coefficient
A measure of the extent to which factors vary together, and thus how well each factor predicts the other
Representative sample
When the participants in the experiment (sample population) actually reflect the target population
*sample population refers to the group of people who were actually studied from the target population
Demand characteristics
Replication
-When a participant figures out what the experiment is about and performs according to what the researcher wants to see
-Repeating the essence of a research study, usually with different participants in different situations to see if the basic finding holds true in varying situations