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Research Methods
Study guide for the Final
71
Other
Undergraduate 3
05/11/2010

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Term
Properties of Science
Definition
Systematic Empiricism, Publicly Verifable Knowledge, Investigates Testable Ideas, Predictions and Theories must be Falsifiable, and Tentative Progress.
Term
Systematic Empricism
Definition
Knowledge gained through controlled organized observation rather than pure thought, common sense, and authority.
Term
Publicly Verifiable Knowledge
Definition
Recipes for observations made so they can be replicated. Ideas are sumbitted for public review (published in books or journals, peer review process)
Term
Investigates Testable Ideas
Definition
That is problems for which observation can clearly decide an answer, such as is smiling contagious. But not like, what is the meaning of life (those questions cannot be answered)
Term
Theories and Predictions must be Falsifiable
Definition
In a scientific theory predictions must be able to be right or wrong. Must be falsifiable or refutable. (Non-Falsifiable: Irrefutbale hypothesis which is a hallmark property of a pseudoscience)
Term
Specifics Theory
Definition
More powerful theories make more specific predictions. The more specific they are more easily falsified.
Term
Sciene is Tentative and Progressive
Definition
Science is a series of conjectures and refutations. You propose then their falsified and you start the whole process over again. Its a gradual progression.
Term
Science vs. Pseudoscience
Definition
Science verifies conclusions through controlled observations and replication, predictions must be falsifiable and theories are tentative.
Term

Sciene vs. Pseudoscience

 

Definition
Pseudoscience verifies conlcusions through anecdotal evidence, predictions are irrefutable, and refusion to revise in light of evidence.
Term
What makes a good research question?
Definition
Needs to be empircally testable, and should be newsworthy.
Term
APA Format
Definition
Title Page, Abstract, Introduction, Method, Results, Discussion, Reference, Tables and Figures (one per page)
Term
Theory
Definition
Interrelated concepts that explain a body of data
Term
Hypothesis
Definition
Predicted answers to question. Relationship between conceptual variables.
Term
Qualitative property
Definition
quality type characteristic like Gender, a nominal or category scale (category)
Term
Quantitative property
Definition
How much of something (like Emotional control), ratio or interval scale
Term
Ratio Scale
Definition
scale has a 0 and it means the absence of the property (like measuring emotional control by brainwaves)
Term
Interval scale
Definition
scale doesnt have a 0 and if it does it doesn't indicate the absence of the property (rating scale 1-10)
Term
Two kinds of questions to ask in a questionairre:
Definition

Free-format=easy to think up but hard to quantify (Ex How would you react if your bestfrined told you she had a "fling" with your boyfriend)

Fixed-Format= hard to create but easy to analyze; uses the likert scale

Term
Problems with Self-reports:
Definition
Reactivity- subjects know that they are being measured
Term
Two kinds of error:
Definition
Unsystematic and Systematic error
Term
Unsystematic Error
Definition

Is a threat to reliability, which is undermined by random error. Random error such as coding errors, participants inattention to and misperception of questions; like noise.

(realiability is typically a concern for surveys but also coding)

Term
Systematic Error
Definition
Is a threat to construct validity and is influenced by other conceptual variables like slef-esteem,mood, self-promotion.
Term
Construct validity
Definition
The extent to which a measured variable actually measures the conceptual variable that it is designed to assess.
Term
face validity
Definition
appears to measure variable
Term
Content validity
Definition
measures all aspects of the concept
Term
Convergent validity
Definition
Does a measure correlate with other measures of the concept (Two surveys that measure iQ should correlate across subjects)
Term
Discriminant validity
Definition
A measure should not correlate with "different" measures (a social competence measure should not correlate with a social dominance)
Term
Two parts to design validity:
Definition
Internal and External
Term
Internal validity
Definition
Does the research design really address the research question
Term
External validity
Definition
do results generalize beyond research setting
Term
The difference between Correlational and Experimental designs
Definition
Correlational measures variables to see if they relate, (correlate) and uses a regression analysis. Experimental manipulates circumstances and measures variables to see if they relate and uses Analysis of variance (ANOVA)
Term
Correlational and Experimental deisgn (cont'd)
Definition
Correlational has a predictor and a criterion whereas a Experimental design has an IV & DV.
Term
How do you increase internal validity?
Definition
by eliminating confounding variables and confounds are alternative explanations for why the DV changes and with them the experimental design doesn't really address the research question.
Term
How do you increase statistical validity?
Definition
by eliminating extraneous variables (noise)
Term
Statistical validity
Definition
Conclusions could be incorrect because of Type I or II error
Term
To eliminate confounding variables:
Definition
Equate groups on confounding property, make confounding property an IV.
Term
To eliminate extraneous variables:
Definition
Eliminate individual differences by using limited populations, and eliminate experimental errors by standardizing the conditions (make sure the procedures are done exactly the same way for each subject)
Term
Pilot Testing
Definition
By doing a pilto study it helps to check for experimental error, confounds, and strength of manipulation.
Term
Kinds of confounds
Definition
Subject bias in which the research hypothesis is apparent to the subject and the subject reacts in a certain way. To avoid this make the subject "blind" to the condition. Experimenter bias the same thing applies here but this time its the experiment who treats subjects a certain way.
Term
What reduces external validity?
Definition
Control; if you control results may not generalize to other settings and subjects.
Term
Correlational designs...
Definition
tend to have more external validity and less internal validity
Term
Experimental designs...
Definition
tend to have more internal validity and less external validity
Term
Replication...
Definition
Increases external validity because any one single research hypothesis will always be limited in terms of what it can show. Advances in sciene occur through the accumulation of knowledge that comes from different tests of the same theory which is where replication lies.
Term
Six APA ethical guidelines (first three):
Definition
1. Perform research with concern for dignity and welfare of participants. 2. Obtain informed consent from participants (person is not a subject but a participant, needs to be in writing). 3. Freedom from coercion (they must be told that they can "withdraw at any time").
Term
cont'd. Six APA guidelines (last three):
Definition
4. Use deception only when necessary. 5. Confidentiality/Privacy (participants should not be associated with their name). 6. Debriefing.
Term
When is it ok to use deception:
Definition
It is ok to use when it is about the process being investigated but its not when you provide false information about their performance.
Term
Confidentiality vs. Anonymity
Definition
Anonymity you can't figure out who the subject was whereas confidentiality you can.
Term
Debriefing
Definition
participants must have an opportunity to obtain info about then nature and results of the research, debriefing should include a question and answer period, and all deceptions must be explained.
Term

Research Design: Non-Experimental

(kinds)

Definition
Naturalistic observation, participant observation, and surveys. Which can also be broken down into observational and survey desgins.
Term
Naturalistic Observation:
Definition
Observe behavior in its naturally occurring environment with not attempt to control or manipulate. These studies have ecological validity. Observations should be unobtrusive.
Term
Ecological validity
Definition
Is the research setting like real life
Term
Problems with Naturalistic observations
Definition
No control hence hard to darw conclusions about causes...
Term
Participant Observation
Definition

Type:Ethongrapy

Observe behavior in its naturally occurring environment.

Observer becomes immersed into a behavioral or social system.

The problem with it is reactivity and jnvasion of privacy.

Term
Designing Questionaires:
Definition
Identify research question, define conceptual variables to be measured, develop questions to measure variables.
Term
Kinds of questions for questionnaire:
Definition

Demographic= social properties like age, sex, income.

Open-ended= answer questions in own words.

Close-ended= limits answers to certain alternatives (Ex. where do you drink? dorm, apartment, bar.)

Partially opend-ended= its close-ended but you add "other", providing a little more freedom.

Term
Format for Close-ended questions:
Definition
Multiple choice, true/false, and rating (ex. likert scale)
Term
What makes a good question?
Definition
precise address a single issue, understandable language, and unbaised.
Term
Bad formed questions...
Definition
threatens reliability consistent results on repeated administration, and validity measuring what you intended.
Term
How do you order questions?
Definition
Put demographic questions last, put related questions together, and intermix objectionable and non-objectionable questions
Term
Sampling
Definition
samples should be representative of population and each person has equal probability of being chosen.
Term
Sampling bias can occur:
Definition
When the sampling frame is not accurate or doesn't exist (eg. homeless)
Term
Nonprobability sampling techinques:
Definition

Snowball sampling- intial subjects led experimenter to other subjects (friends).

Convenience sampling- use whatever subjects are available.

Term
The difference between non-experimental and experimental designs:
Definition
With non-experimental which are made up of observe and self-report; because there is no manipulation there is cause for possible confounds. Experimental designs manipulate conditions.
Term
The experimental design...
Definition
manipulates circumstances to get temporal ordering right and control confounding variables
Term
Two vs. multiple condition experiment
Definition

Two condition= contains experimental and control group, t-test.

Multiple condition= has more than one control and experiment group, ANOVA.

Term
Between vs. Within group differences
Definition

Between= variability due to differences between conditions, systematic variability (=IV or confounds)

Within= variability due to diff. within the conditions, unsystematic variability (=Random nosie)

Term
Repeated measures (aka within-subject design)
Definition
Use same subjects in the different conditions
Term
Advantages & Disadvantages to Repeated measure
Definition

Advantage- makes statistical test more powerful by controlling for individual differences and decreases within group variability.

Disadvantages- carry-over effects, performance on later conditions is affected by previous exposure (practice, fatigue)

Term
Solution to carry-over effects
Definition
Counterbalancing- arranging the order of conditions in a different way to equate them
Term
Quasi-experimental vs. Experimental
Definition

Quasi- subjects are assigned to levels by vrtue of their pre-existing characteristics (which doesn't eliminate possible confounds)

Experimental- subjects are randomly assigned to the different levels

Term
One-way vs. Factorial design
Definition
Factorial there is more than one IV whereas one-way has only one IV.
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