Unit 0 Research Principles

Psychology Midterm Study Guide Fall Semester 2024 The midterm exam consists of multiple-choice questions and one AAQ Units 0- 3.1 will be covered on the midterm. This serves as a guide for you to go back and review the material. Please note that this is not just a vocabulary list. You must be able to apply the concepts. o Complete sentences are not necessary. o Remember the importance of using the Testing Effect Unit 0 Research Principles Terms & Concepts  Psychology o Behavioral Psychology o Biological Psychology o Cognitive Psychology o Evolutionary Psychology o Psychodynamic Psychology o Social-cultural Psychology o Humanistic Psychology For each of the following, fill in the correct field of psychology (i.e. behavioral psychology, cognitive psychology, etc.). Focuses on fulfilling personal goals, becoming self-actualized, 13 humanistic personal growth Focuses on mental activities like thinking, memory, problem 14 Behavioral solving, forming language Focuses on physical processes and influences on behavior like 15 Biological genes, hormones, neurotransmitters, etc. Focuses on physical behavior, conditioning, observational 16 cognitive learning Focuses on how the people and culture around us influence 17 Social-cultural our behavior Focuses on unconscious wishes, childhood experiences, 18 psychodynamic repressed memories, etc. Focuses on how natural selection has influenced our genes 19 evolutionary and, as a result, our behavioral differences with our ancestors Terms & Concepts  Hindsight Bias  Hypothesis  Falsifiable Hypothesis  Operational Definition  Replication  Case Study  Naturalistic Observation  Survey Sampling Bias o Effect Size o Self-Report Bias o Social Desirability Bias  Quantitative vs Qualitative  Population  Random Sample  Representative Sample  Convenience Sampling  Correlation  Correlation Coefficient  Scatterplot  Correlation v. Causation  Confounding Variable or Third Variable  Meta-Analysis  Experiment  Experimental Group  Control Group  Random Assignment  Double-blind Procedure  Single-blind  Placebo Effect  Independent Variable  Dependent Variable  Validity  Descriptive Statistics o Mode (Measure of Central Tendency) o Mean (Measure of Central Tendency) o Median (Measure of Central Tendency) o Range (Measure of Variation) o Standard Deviation (Measure of Variation)  Histogram  Skewed Distribution o Positive skew o Negative skew  Normal Curve  Bimodal Distribution  Descriptive Statistics vs Inferential Statistics  Statistical Significance  Confederates  Ethics: o Informed Consent o Debriefing/ Deception o APA (American Psychological Association) and its role in research o Informed Consent o Protection from harm o Confidentiality Major Questions  1. In an experiment, how should the researchers go about choosing a random sample from their population? Be specific about the difference between the terms “population” and “participants.” a. There are 4 sleep stages; we cycle through them from NREM-1, NREM-2, NREM-3, to REM. We go through about 5 different cycles a night and the sleep stages vary in length. Every 90 minutes we cycle through the sleep stages and then restart. NREM3 decreases throughout the night. 2. What is the difference between random sampling and random assignment? a. Random sampling is picking participants randomly to represent a population and random assignment is splitting participants into groups randomly for the experiment they are needed in. 3. Describe how a double-blind procedure is performed by a team of researchers. a. \The participants or the researchers neither know who’s involved in the experimental or control group 4. What is meant by the phrase “correlation does not equal causation?” a. This phrase means that just because two things happen together does not mean that one causes the other to happen. 5. What is the “confounding/ third variable problem?” Give an example. a. A third factor that affects both of the other variables; example: hot chocolate sales and hyperthermia could both be caused by the cold weather b 6. When using descriptive statistics, which would be the most commonly used measure of central tendency? a. The mean 7. If researchers find that they have a skewed distribution, which measure of central tendency should be used to describe the data? a. The median 8. What is the significance of inferential statistics and “p value?” a. A p-value of under 0.05 means the results are likely real 9. Of all of the research methods, which is the best to use? Why? a. Experiments because they show cause and effect by controlling variables 10.What are the basic ethical guidelines that researchers must follow, and who approves their proposals for research? a. Protect participants from harm, debrief them, informed consent, approved by an IRB 11.When obtaining informed consent, how much information do the researchers have to provide for the participants? a. Cannot reveal details that could ruin results but inform them enough For each of the following, provide a basic description, advantage, and disadvantage. 1 2 1 3 Term Case Study Naturalistic Observation Description One individual or small group is studied in depth in the hope of revealing universal principles Observing and recording behavior in naturally occurring situations without trying to manipulate and control the situation Advantage(s) Allows for examination of unusual behavior Subjects behave “normally” outside of a lab setting so this study does not disturb the subject Disadvantage(s) Cannot determine cause and effect relationships Observations by researchers may be subjective 1 4 Survey A technique for ascertaining the self-reported attitudes or behaviors of a particular group, usually by questioning a representative random sample of the group. 1 5 Experiment Research method in which an investigator manipulates one of more factors to observe the effect on some behavior or mental process Quick way to get information on people’s beliefs and behaviors Response bias, wording/expectati on effect