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Unit 2: Scientific Inquiry

Terms in this set (53)

Lesson 5: Research Methods
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Workbook 5.1 (3 questions)
100%
1. Which option refers to quantitative research methods?
survey, experiment, correlation study
2. Match each term with its definition.
quantitative data = represents numbers and facts that can be measured
qualitative data = represents attitudes and opinions that can be observed but not measured
3. Match each term with its definition.
survey = a collection of data, self-reported by a large, random sample of participants
case study = an in-depth examination of a single person, group, or event
focus group = a guided discussion, typically involving 4 to 10 people, to gather opinions on a particular topic
Unit 2 Session
Code: PDE9
1. Correlational studies tell us the _______ between to variables.
relationship
2. In order to to examine a cause and effect relationship between variables, a researcher must conduct a(n) _________ study.
experimental
3. Imagine that a group of psychologists want to investigate if playing violent video games causes increased aggressive behavior in children and teens.
If they choose to: Survey parents from all over the country asking if their child plays violent video games, and if they have been in trouble for violence with their school or the police.
They are conducting a(n):
Correlational study
4. Please explain why you chose your answer to the question above.
The study would show there is a relationship between playing violent video games and increased aggressive behavior. But it could be influenced by a third variable. Those in the study could already be prone to increased aggressive behavior because of their environment, and not just because they play violent video games.
5. __________ tells us if a study can be repeated by the same or by different researchers and produce the same results. Whereas ________ tells us is a study produces accurate, truthful results, that measured what it set out to measure.
Reliability; Validity
Lesson 6: Research Procedures
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Workbook 6.1 (4 questions)
100%
1. A psychologist reads about an experimental study of a new treatment for depression and notices that it was only tested on men.
How could the psychologist use systematic replication to repeat the study?
She could repeat the study on a mixed group of men and women to see if the results of the depression treatment are the same.
2. Which of the following is the correct order of the research process?
research question, hypothesis, data collection and analysis, reflection
3. Which statement accurately describes the meaning of a valid study?
A valid study is one which has accurate results true to its original aims.
4. What is the difference between internal and external validity in psychological testing?
- External validity means that test results apply to the wider population.
- Internal validity means that test results are due to the independent variable and no other factor.
Project: Applying the Scientific Method (4 questions)
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1. In order, what are the four steps involved in the scientific method?
observe, predict, test, reflect
2. What is systematic replication?
repeating a study with differences in design in order to show external validity
2. Which situation describes a focus group?
gathering a group of teens from a local high school to "pick their brains" about their opinions on a topic
3. Qualitative research is a scientific method for
gathering attitudes or preferences
5. Which scenario describes the step of data collection?
Researchers conduct an experiment to gather information about how subjects respond to changes in an independent variable.
6. Dr. Martell is conducting research on a new medication. The results of the study found that participants who used the medication were less depressed.
Using systematic replication in another study with a different design and a different set of participants, researchers came up with the same results.
How do the two studies show external validity
They show that the results of the test can be applied to other populations.
Checkpoint: Research Procedures (9 questions)
100%
1. What is the difference between quantitative and qualitative information?
Quantitative information typically involves numerical data, while qualitative information involves non-numerical data.
4. A psychologist is interested in a study that finds a strong link between nutrition and well-being in American residents.
How could this psychologist repeat the study using systematic replication?
repeating the study on people who live in the Caribbean to see if it produces the same results
7. Dr. Martell is conducting research on a new medication. The results of the study found that participants who used the medication were less depressed.
In another study with a similar design and similar participants, another set of researchers used direct replication to come up with the same results.
Why is direct replication important?
- It can check for dishonest practices.
- It builds confidence in the testing process.
- It can help ensure research findings are true.
8. Dr. Martell is conducting research on a new medication. The results of the study found that participants who used the medication were less depressed.
However, he also found that these participants were also exercising and meditating. In a similar study, other researchers were unable to replicate his results.
What were the problems with his study?
- Dr. Martell's study lacked internal validity. He was unable to indicate for certain that the study results were due to the medication or to the exercise and meditation.
- Dr. Martell's study lacked reliability. His study could not be repeated by other researchers.
9. How does replication of a test help show its reliability?
- checks for dishonest results
- allows for new discoveries
- checks that the study's design was good
Lesson 7: Data Analysis
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Workbook 7.1 (2 questions)
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1. Measures of central tendency
- include the mean, median, or mode
- indicate the values that are most common or typical of a set of data
2. Which are examples of measures of dispersion in a data set?
variance, range, standard deviation
Workbook 7.2 (3 questions)
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1. Match each key term with the correct definition.
statistical significance = the likelihood that a relationship between variables did not occur purely by chance
effect size = the measure of strength between variables
correlation coefficient =the statistical value that describes the linear relationship between two variables
2. In this graph, what does the pattern of data points indicate?
a positive correlation between number of hours playing violent video games and number of acts of aggression
3. Milo was interested in how other people his age dealt with stress at school so he surveyed them individually. Many respondents reported that they would work for hours on homework, staying up until after midnight working on school assignments. Then they would wake up at 6 a.m. for school. The same students also said they often felt depressed about how they were performing in their classes.
What are some conclusions Milo might make from this data?
- Too much homework could result in depression.
- A lack of sleep could result in depression..
Lesson 8: Methods and Perspectives of Development
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Workbook 8.1 (2 questions)
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1. The cross-sequential method combines which characteristics of cross-sectional and longitudinal methods?
- observing more than one age group in the population
- following the same groups over a period of time
2. Microgenetic research methods are best for studies that require
frequent observations to record the small yet significant changes that may occur over a shorter period of time
Checkpoint: Methods and Perspectives of Development (10 questions)
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1. The mean of a data set is
the average value
2. What is the mode of a data set?
the most frequently occurring value
3. Which statement describes standard deviation?
It shows the average distance of each score from the mean of a dataset.
4. What is used to provide a meaningful summary of data?
descriptive statistics
5. Dr. Matthews is conducting a study on the relationship between social media and depression. Her results suggest that there is a moderate relationship between time spent on social media and depressive symptoms.
What statistical calculation would she have used to arrive at these results?
correlation coefficient
6. What is statistical significance?
the likelihood that a relationship between variables does not occur purely by chance
7. According to the graph, what is the type of correlation between variables?
zero
8. Malia is interested in observing cognitive development in children and wants to design a study that will allow her to observe small changes in how 6-year-olds learn to solve problems. She plans to collect data from each child every week for three months.
Which design is her best choice?
microgenetic
9. A cross-sectional method is a type of research design
that studies multiple individuals in different stages of life at one time
10. Which design could be used to collect data about the same group of individuals over a number of years?
longitudinal
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