Research Methods in Psychology: Observation, Correlation, and Experiments, Quizzes of Psychology

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TERM 1 systematic observation DEFINITION 1 scientific method of observing behavior in precisely defined circumstances, time periods, or situations for objective measurement TERM 2 differences in methods DEFINITION 2 1) types of observations made2) circumstances in which observations are made3) how the data from observations are analyzed TERM 3 case study DEFINITION 3 research method involving detailed qualitative descriptions of the behavior of a single individual TERM 4 correlational study DEFINITION 4 examnines the quantitative relationship between two variables or more TERM 5 variables DEFINITION 5 factors, characteristics, or events that may assume a range of values TERM 6 experiment DEFINITION 6 examines the quantitative cause-and-effect relationship between one or more independent variables and one or more dependent variables TERM 7 confidentiality of subjects DEFINITION 7 privacy of research subjects must be rigorously protected TERM 8 deception DEFINITION 8 research technique in which subjects are deliberately misinformed about the purpose of a study TERM 9 informed consent DEFINITION 9 subjects in a research study must be told about the nature of the research as well as their rights and responsibilities as a subject before their participation TERM 10 debriefing DEFINITION 10 the systematic explanation of the purpose and methods of research given to a subject after completion of participation TERM 21 artificiality DEFINITION 21 a problem that can occur in controlled labs that greatly differ from real life or natural environments(i.e. watching TV in a psych lab is not the same as watching TV at home) TERM 22 correlation DEFINITION 22 the co- or joint relationship between variables TERM 23 magnitude DEFINITION 23 strength of a correlation TERM 24 direction of correlation DEFINITION 24 how two variables are related (inversely or directly) TERM 25 direct correlation (positive) DEFINITION 25 high scores on one variable occur with high scores on another variable; low scores on one variable occur with low scores on another TERM 26 inverse correlation (negative) DEFINITION 26 high scores on one variable occur with low scores on another; vice versa TERM 27 scatter diagram DEFINITION 27 also called a scatter plot, a graphic representation of the correlation between two variables; the stronger the relationship, the more the points approach a straight diagonal line TERM 28 correlation coefficient (r) DEFINITION 28 a numerical index of the correlation between two variables TERM 29 advantages of correlational method DEFINITION 29 1) some variables of interest are difficult or impossible to vary systematically; sometimes unethical to do so in an experiment2) collecting data on a variable as it naturally occurs may allow the researcher to observe it over a broader range3) can examine large numbers of variables simultaneously4) often more economical TERM 30 directionality problem DEFINITION 30 the fact that a correlation does not, by itself, indicate if a variable is causing the other TERM 31 longitudinal studies DEFINITION 31 research in which data are collected over time from the same subjects (can address the directionality problem) TERM 32 temporal precedence DEFINITION 32 sequence of occurrence - specifically, in science a cause must occur before its presumed effect TERM 33 third-variable problem DEFINITION 33 when two variables are correlated, neither may cause the other, but rather a third variable may account for both TERM 34 sample DEFINITION 34 small group of people selected from a much larger group for study in a phenomena TERM 35 population DEFINITION 35 the complete set of people of interest from which a sample is drawn TERM 46 reliability DEFINITION 46 pre-req for validity, measure of repeatability or stability of a test TERM 47 validity DEFINITION 47 whether a scale measures what its supposed to measure TERM 48 empirical keying DEFINITION 48 method of test construction in which items are selected based on their predictive power rather than their content TERM 49 MMPI-2 DEFINITION 49 a personality inventory of over 500 statements scored across 4 validity scales and 14 clinical scales TERM 50 validity scales DEFINITION 50 provide information about trustworthiness of responses on the clinical scales TERM 51 personality profile DEFINITION 51 a graphic image from plotting scores from a personality assessment on a specialized graph based on existing normative data TERM 52 ratings DEFINITION 52 a personality assessment where data is obtained through the reports of people who know the individual well; can be highly bias TERM 53 nominations DEFINITION 53 persons nominated by peers to represent or exhibit a characteristic of interestcost is high, out of the question except in the case of schoolchildren TERM 54 composite profile DEFINITION 54 multimethod approach TERM 55 response sets DEFINITION 55 consistent ways of responding to test items regardless of their content, taken to reflect underlying distortion TERM 56 response acquiescence DEFINITION 56 tendency to agree with items, regardless of content TERM 57 response deviation DEFINITION 57 tendency to answer items in an uncommon direction TERM 58 social desirability DEFINITION 58 lying to look good; tendency to answer test items in the most socially accepted direction-to prevent this, we use a lie scale or use neutral items TERM 59 forced choice inventory DEFINITION 59 subjects must select which is more characteristic of them between two statements TERM 60 response styles DEFINITION 60 taken to reflect underlying disposition