Research in Psychology–Key Learning Goals
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Explain science’s main assumption, and describe the goals of the scientific enterprise
Clarify the relations among theory, hypotheses, and research
Outline the steps in a scientific investigation
Identify the advantages of the scientific approach
Describe the experimental method, IV and DV, and experimental and control groups
Explain how experiments can vary in format and design
Describe the featured study on how expectations influence reactions to positive and
negative outcomes
Evaluate the major advantages and disadvantages of the experimental method
Explain the role of naturalistic observation, case studies, and surveys in psychological
research
Evaluate the major advantages and disadvantages of descriptive/correlational research
Describe three measures of central tendency and one measure of variability
Distinguish between positive and negative correlations
Discuss correlation in relation to prediction and causation
Clarify the meaning of statistical significance
Articulate the importance of replication in research
Recognize sampling bias and placebo effects in research
Recognize problems with self report data and experimenter bias in research
Contrast the pros and cons of deception in research with human subjects
Discuss the controversy about the use of animals as research subjects
Summarize the major ethical principles governing psychological research
Terms –Chapter 1
Hypothesis
Theory
Operational Definition
Participants/Subjects
Techniques
Journal
Peer Review
Independent Variable
Dependent Variable
Control Group
Extraneous Variables
Random Assignment
Naturalistic Observation
Between Subjects Design
Within Subjects Design
Case Study
Survey
Descriptive Statistics
Median
Mode
Variability
Correlation
Correlation Coefficient
Negative Correlation
Size/Strength of Correlation
Statistical Significance
p<.05
Sample
Sampling Bias
Placebo Effects
Social Desirability Bias
Double Blind Procedure (single blind not specifically mentioned)
Internet Mediated Research
Deception
Abstract
Introduction
Results
Discussion
Anecdotal Evidence
Naive Realism
Data Collection
Experiment
Experimental Group
Confounding Variables
Reactivity
Statistics
Mean
Standard Deviation
Positive Correlation
Inferential Statistics
Replication
Placebo
Experimenter Bias
Debriefing
Methods
References