Unit 2: Research Methods

Hypothesis: expresses a relationship between two variables

Independent variable: whatever is being manipulated

Dependent variable: whatever is being measured in the experiment

Operational definitions:
-explain what you mean in your hypothesis
-how will the variables be measured in "real life" terms

Sampling:
-identify the population you want to study

Experimental method:
-looking to prove relationships
-cause=effect
-laboratory v fields experiments

Confounding variable: is anything that could cause a change in b, that is not a
Ex: if i want to prove that smoking causes heart issues, what are some confounding variables? Lifestyle and family history may also affect the heart

Hawthorne effect:
-but even the control may experience changes
-just the fact that you know you are in an experiment can cause change

Correlational method:
-correlation expresses a relationship between two variable
-does not show causation

Positive correlation:
-the variables go in the same direction

Negative correlation:
-the variables go in opposite directions

Survey method:
-most common type of study in psychology
-measures correlation
-cheap and fast
-need a good random sample

Naturalistic observation:
-watch subjects in their natural environment
-do not manipulate the environment

Correlation coefficient:
-a number that measures the strength of a relationship
-range is from -1 to +1
-the relationship gets weaker the closer you get to 0

Case studies:
-a detailed picture of one or a few subjects
-tell us a great story...but it  is just descriptive research
-does not even give us a correlation data

Statistics: recording the results from our studies

Descriptive statistics: just describes sets of data

Z scores:
-a unit the measure the distance of one score from the mean
-a positive z score means a number above the mean
-a negative z score means a number below the mean

Animal research:
-a clear purpose
-treated in a humane way
-acquire animals legally
-least amount of suffering possible

Human research:
-No coercion-must be voluntary
-informed consent
-anonymity
-no significant risk
-must debrief