Scientific Method
System of gathering data so that bias and error in measurement and reduced.
Scientific Method
A set of principles about the appropriate relationship between ideas and evidence
Naturalistic Observation
Observe people or animals in natural environment.
Laboratory Observation
Observe people or animals in a laboratory setting.
Case Studies
Individuals is studied in greater detail, researchers try to learn everything they can about the individual.
Surveys
Ask questions about topic researchers are studying via telephone, internet, or a questionnaire
What are the 4 Descriptive Methods?
Naturalistic Observation
Laboratory Observation
Case Studies
Surveys
Correlation
A measure of the relationship between two variables
Variable
Is anything that can change or vary
Correlation Coefficient
A number derived from the formula for measuring a correlation and indicating the strength and direction of a correlation
Name the elements of finding a Relationship
Correlation
Variable
Correlation Coefficient
How do Correlations also vary in the strength of the association?
Positive Correlation
Negative Correlation
Zero Correlation
Correlation does not prove causation
Positive Correlation
The correlation moves in the same direction.
Negative Correlation
The correlation moves in the opposite direction
Zero Correlation
If there is no relationship between the two variables such that the value of one variable change and the other variable remain constant
Experiment
A deliberate manipulation of a variable to see if corresponding changes in behavior result, allowing the determination of cause-and-effect relationships
Operational Definition
Definition of a variable of interest that allows it to be directly measured.
Independent Variable
Variable in an experiment that is manipulated by the experimenter.
Dependent Variable
Variable in an experiment that represents the measurable response or behavior of the subjects in the experiment.
Experimental Group
Subjects in an experimental who are subjected to the independent variable
Control Group
Subjects in an experiment who are not subjected to the independent variable and who may receive a placebo treatment
Random Assignment
Process of assigning subjects to the experimental or control groups randomly.
Placebo Effect
The phenomenon in which the expectations of the participants in a study can influence their behavior
Experimenter Effect
Tendency of the experimenter's expectations for a study to unintentionally influence the results of the study.
What are Experimental Hazards?
Single-Blind study
Double-Blind study
Single-Blind study
Study in which the subjects do not know if they are in the experimental or the control group
Double-Blind study
Study in which neither the experimenter nor the subjects know if the subjects are in the experimental or control group.
Respecting the rights of human research participants involves what?
Informed consent
Deception
Confidentiality
Debriefing
Animal research
Must be justified and must minimize discomfort to participants
Informed consent
Is an explanation of a study and the responsibilities of experimenter and participant
Deception
Involving the subjects must be justified
Confidentiality
Study information must be maintained
Debriefing
Refers to explaining the research process to the subjects at the end of the study
Empiricsim
Belief that accurate knowledge knowledge can acquired through observation
Theory
A hypothetical explanation of a natural phenomenon
Hypothesis
A falsifiable prediction made by a theory
Empirical method
Set of rules and techniques of observation
Operational definition
A description of a property in concrete, measurable terms.
Measure
A device that can detect the condition to which an operational definition refers.
Validity
Extent to which a meaurement and a property are conceptually related.
Reliability
Tendency for a measure to produce the same measurement
whenever it is used to measure the same thing
Power
Ability of a measure to detect the concrete conditions specified in the operation definition.
Demand Characteristics
Those aspects of an observational setting that cause people to behave as they think they should
Natural Observation
A technique for gathering scientific information by unobtrusively observing people in their natural enviroments
Double-blind
An observation whose true purpose is hidden from both the observer and the person being observed.
NaturalCorrelation
Correlation observed in the world around us.
Third-variable Correlation
The fact that variables are correlated only because each is causally related to a third person
Third-variable Problem
The fact that a causal relationship between 2 variables cannot be inferred from the naturally occuring correlation between them because of the ever-present possiblity of Third-variable correlation
Manipulation
Creation of an artificial pattern of variation in a variable in order to determine its causal powers
Self-Selection
Problem that occurs when anything about a person determines whether he or she will be included in the experimental or control group
Internal validity
Characteristic of an experiment that establishes the causal relationship between variables
External validity
Property of an experiment in which variables have been operationally defined in a normal, typical, or realistic way.
Population
Complete collection of particpants who might possibly be measured
Sample
Partial collection of people drawn from a population
Case Method
Method of gathering scientific knowledge by studying a single individual
Random Sampling
Technique for choosing partipants that ensures that every member of a population has an equal chance of being included in the sample
5 Steps to Scientific Method
Perceiving the Question
Forming a Hypothesis
Testing the Hypothesis
Drawing Conclusions
Report Your Results