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Define Basic Research.
Curiosity-driven research that expands knowledge without immediate practical goals.
Define Applied Research.
Problem-solving research that aims to address real-world issues directly.
What is a Theory?
An explanation for observed behavior; a starting point for research.
Define Hypothesis.
A testable prediction based on a theory; an educated guess.
What is an Operational Definition?
Defining variables in a study so that it can be replicated by others.
Define Independent Variable (IV).
The variable that is changed or manipulated by the researcher; the cause.
Define Dependent Variable (DV).
The variable that is affected by the independent variable; the effect.
Define Confounding Variable.
An outside factor that can mess with the results of a study.
What is a Control Variable?
Variables kept the same to ensure a fair test.
Define Random Assignment.
Participants have an equal chance of being in any group, making the groups similar at the start.
Define Sampling Bias.
When the sample isn't representative of the population, skewing results.
Define Experimenter Bias.
When the researcher unintentionally influences the results of a study.
What is Hindsight Bias?
The tendency to believe, after learning an outcome, that one would have foreseen it.
What is the Scientific Method?
A systematic approach to ensure findings are solid, involving theory, hypothesis, and operational definitions.
Explain the importance of Operational Definitions.
Ensures variables are defined precisely, allowing for replication of the study.
What is the Hawthorne Effect?
People act differently when they know they're being watched, affecting study results.
Why is Random Assignment important in experiments?
It ensures participants have an equal chance of being in any group, minimizing pre-existing differences and allowing for cause-and-effect conclusions.
What is a double-blind procedure and why is it important?
Neither participants nor researchers know group assignments; minimizes bias.
Why can't we rely on common sense in psychological research?
Common sense is subject to biases like hindsight bias, overconfidence, and perceiving order in random events.
Explain Overconfidence.
The tendency to think we know more than we do, leading to errors in judgment.
Explain Perceiving Order in Random Events.
The tendency to find patterns in randomness, even when they don't exist.
Why are experiments the only way to prove cause and effect?
Experiments manipulate variables and use random assignment to control for confounding factors, allowing for causal inferences.
What is the purpose of a control group in an experiment?
A control group serves as a baseline for comparison; it does not receive the treatment, allowing researchers to assess the treatment's effect.
Compare Random Sampling and Random Assignment.
Random sampling is randomly selecting participants from the population, while random assignment is randomly assigning participants to different experimental groups.
Compare Control Variables and Control Groups.
Control variables are kept constant across all groups, while a control group is a group that does not receive the treatment.
Compare Basic and Applied Research.
Basic research builds foundational knowledge; applied research solves specific problems.