Slides for Reserch Methods Quiz.pdf Flashcards
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Slides for Reserch Methods Quiz.pdf Flashcards
Slides for Reserch Methods Quiz.pdf Flashcards
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What is an Independent Variable (IV)?
The Independent Variable (IV) is what you change or control in an experiment. It is the factor that you think will cause something to happen. For example, in testing how sunlight affects plant growth, the amount of sunlight is the independent variable.
What is a Dependent Variable (DV)?
The Dependent Variable (DV) is what you measure or observe to see if the independent variable had an effect. It is what changes because of what you did. In the same plant experiment, the height of the plant is the dependent variable because it changes depending on how much sunlight it gets.
What is empirical research?
Empirical research is a method of inquiry that relies on direct or indirect observation and experimentation to gather data. It involves the collection of evidence through various methodologies to test hypotheses and answer research questions.
What is a hypothesis?
A hypothesis is a testable statement or prediction about the relationship between two or more variables. It provides a basis for conducting research and can be confirmed or refuted through empirical investigation.
What does it mean for a hypothesis to be testable?
A hypothesis must be formulated in a way that allows it to be tested through observation or experimentation.
What does it mean for a hypothesis to be specific?
A specific hypothesis clearly defines the variables involved and the expected relationship between them.
What does it mean for a hypothesis to be falsifiable?
A good hypothesis can be disproven, meaning there must be a possibility of obtaining results that contradict the hypothesis.
What is confirmation bias?
Confirmation bias is the tendency to search for, interpret, and remember information in a way that confirms one's preexisting beliefs or hypotheses while giving disproportionately less consideration to alternative possibilities. This cognitive bias can lead to faulty reasoning and flawed conclusions.
Which of the following is NOT one of the three primary principles outlined in the Belmont Report: A) Respect for Persons, B) Beneficence, C) Justice, D) Volunteerism?
D) Volunteerism
What does the principle of Respect for Persons in the Belmont Report entail?
Respect for Persons involves treating people with dignity and ensuring they agree to participate in research with full understanding, informed consent, and privacy.
What does the principle of Beneficence in the Belmont Report entail?
Beneficence involves doing your best to help participants and avoiding causing harm through effective research design.
What does the principle of Justice in the Belmont Report entail?
Justice means ensuring that the benefits and burdens of research are shared fairly among all groups, and giving special consideration to specifically vulnerable populations.
What is a placebo?
A placebo is a treatment or intervention that has no therapeutic effect but is used as a control in experiments to assess the true impact of the actual intervention. Participants in the placebo group think they are receiving treatment, but they are not, which helps measure the effect of the real treatment by comparison.
What principle is the Hawthorne Effect an example of? A) Attrition B) Reactivity C) Placebo D) Maturation
B Reactivity
What does reactivity refer to?
Reactivity refers to the way individuals change their behavior in response to being observed or measured in a study.
What were the aims of the Hawthorne studies? What were some of the changes test? What was discovered about workers' productivity in the Hawthorne studies?
The Hawthorne studies aimed to determine how different working conditions affected productivity. Researchers tested various changes including alterations in lighting, rest breaks, and work hours. Workers' productivity improved simply because they were being observed.
What are Spillover Effects in the context of reactivity? Provide an example of Spillover Effects.
Spillover Effects are changes in one behavior affecting other areas due to awareness of the study. Ex: Extra breaks might lead to more workplace socializing.
What is Contamination in experimental conditions? Provide an example of Contamination.
Contamination occurs when experimental conditions unintentionally affect other groups or variables. Ex: Control group students learn about the new teaching method and their performance improves.
What is Social Desirability in the context of reactivity? Provide an example of Social Desirability.
Social Desirability is when participants modify responses to appear more favorable. Ex: Overstating charitable donations to seem more generous.
What are Demand Effects? Provide an example of Demand Effects.
Demand Effects occur when participants change behavior based on what they think the researcher expects. Ex: Reporting more exercise because they think the researcher expects high activity levels.
What is Compensatory Rivalry? Provide an example of Compensatory Rivalry.
Compensatory Rivalry is when control group participants work harder in response to the experimental group's advantages. Ex: Control group employees increase effort when they learn the experimental group gets new equipment.
What is Resentful Demoralization? Provide an example of Resentful Demoralization.
Resentful Demoralization occurs when the control group becomes demotivated due to perceived unfairness. Ex: Control group feels discouraged when the experimental group gets special benefits.
What are Novelty Effects? Provide an example of Novelty Effects.
Novelty Effects refer to behavior changes due to the newness of the intervention. Ex: Increased productivity from new software because it's exciting.
What are Guinea Pig Effects? Provide an example of Guinea Pig Effects.
Guinea Pig Effects occur when participants alter behavior simply because they are being studied. Ex: Participants eat healthier because they know they're part of a diet study.
What is regression to the mean?
Regression to the mean is a statistical phenomenon where extreme values on one measurement tend to be closer to the average mean on subsequent measurements.
Why does regression to the mean occur?
Regression to the mean occurs because random variation can lead to extreme scores, but over time the scores will generally move back toward the average.
What is an example of the post hoc fallacy? A) A study shows that increased exercise leads to weight loss. B) A city implements a new traffic law and observes a decrease in accidents the following month, concluding the law caused the decrease. C) A new medication reduces symptoms of a disease in a controlled trial. D) After starting a new diet, a person experiences a headache and believes the diet caused it, but then considers other factors.
B. A city implements a new traffic law and observes a decrease in accidents the following month concluding the law caused the decrease.
What does the term 'post hoc fallacy' mean?
It means 'after this therefore because of this'. It's the mistake of assuming that if one event happens after another, the first event caused the second. This isn't always true.
Provide an example of the post hoc fallacy involving a farmer and fertilizer.
Example 1: A farmer notices that after he started using a new fertilizer, his crop yield increased. He concludes that the fertilizer must be the reason for the increased yield, ignoring other factors like weather or soil quality.
Which of these is NOT a method researchers use to deal with participants dropping out (attrition)? They can plan for potential participant dropout from the outset and implement strategies to reduce it. B) Remove the demographic the participants represent from the study entirely C) Still include all the data of participants in the group they were originally assigned to in final reports D) Increase the duration of the study in order to find more subjects
D. Increase the duration of the study in order to find more subjects. They can plan for potential participant dropout from the outset and implement strategies to reduce it. - Anticipate and Work to Minimize - Remove the demographic the participants represent from the study entirely - Lost Type Omission - Still include all the data of participants in the group they were originally assigned to in final reports - Analyze by ‘intent to treat”