01 Research Methods in Psychology Free Online FlashCards

How do a theory and a hypothesis differ?

A theory is an organized explanation of a phenomenon; a hypothesis is a specific, testable prediction derived from that theory.

What is an operational definition?

An operational definition specifies how an abstract idea will be measured or manipulated. For example, memory could be measured by the number of words recalled after a delay.

What is a case study, and what is one limitation?

A case study examines one person or a small group in depth. It can reveal detail about complex cases, but its findings may not generalize broadly.

What is naturalistic observation?

Naturalistic observation systematically examines behavior in its usual setting. Researchers have limited control over events, and being observed may affect behavior.

Name three factors that can distort survey or interview answers.

Survey and interview responses can be affected by memory errors, question wording, or a desire to appear socially acceptable.

What is archival research, and what constraint does it have?

Archival research analyzes records or datasets collected earlier for another purpose. Researchers cannot control how the original information was gathered.

How do longitudinal and cross-sectional designs differ?

Longitudinal studies measure the same people repeatedly over time. Cross-sectional studies compare groups at one point in time.

What is the difference between a population and a sample?

A population is the full group a researcher wants to understand; a sample is the subset actually studied. Selection matters because a sample may not represent the population.

How do reliability and validity differ?

Reliability concerns consistency of measurement. Validity concerns whether a measure or study supports the interpretation being made.

Why does correlation alone not establish causation?

Correlation shows how variables vary together, but it does not establish that one causes the other. A third factor or uncertain direction of influence may explain the association.

What are the independent and dependent variables in an experiment?

Researchers manipulate the independent variable and measure its effect on the dependent variable. A control group provides a comparison condition.

What does random assignment help researchers do?

Random assignment uses chance to allocate participants to conditions, helping reduce pre-existing group differences. It is distinct from random sampling, which affects generalizability.