WGU C180 Study Guide Questions and
Answers Summary Analysis Key
Concepts 100% Distinctions
Guaranteed Grade A+
• What is the scientific method and how is it applied to psychological
research? Answer: The scientific method is the set of assumptions, rules,
and procedures scientists use to conduct research. In addition to
requiring that science is verifiable, the scientific method demands that
procedures are free of personal bias.
• What is the definition of a hypothesis? Answer: A specific and
falsifiable prediction about the relationship between two or more
variables.
• What is an operational definition? Provide an example. Answer: An
operational definition refers to a precise statement of how a conceptual
variable ( abstract idea that form the basis of research hypotheses )
which is turned into a measured variable ( varialbes consisting of
numbers that represent the conceptual variables )
(Conceptual Variable) Depression - (operational definition) Number of
negative words used in a creative story; number of appointments made
with a psychotherapist
,• Why are ethical guidelines needed within psychological research?
Answer: These are needed with psychological research is the prevent
physical and/or emotional harm to the participants.
• What are the various research methods in the field of psychology?
Answer: Descriptive Research
Correlational Research
Experimental Research
• What is descriptive research? Answer: research designed to provide a
snapshot of the current state of affairs.
• What is Correlational Research Answer: research designed to discover
relationships among variables and to allow the prediction of future
events from present knowledge.
• What is Experimental Research Answer: research in which there is a
random assignment of research participants into two groups. This is
followed by a manipulation of a given experience for one group while
the other is not manipulated. One group is the experimental group that
receives the manipulation. The other group is the control group that does
not. The two groups are then compared to determine the influence of the
manipulation.
• What is the relationship between a population and a sample? Answer:
The people chosen to participate in the research, called a sample, are
selected to be representative of all the people that the researcher wishes
,to know about, called the population. "Sampling is the process of
selecting a representative group from the population under study. The
target population is the total group of individuals from which the sample
might be drawn. A sample is the group of people who take part in the
investigation. The people who take part are referred to as "participants"."
• Independent Variable Answer: The variable in an experiment that is
manipulated or compared
• Dependent Variable Answer: The variable in an experiment that is
measured; the outcome of an experiment
• Control Group Answer: The group of subjects in an experiment that
does not receive the independent variable
• Experimental Group Answer: EXPERIMENTAL GROUP is the group
receiving the independent variable
• What does a correlational research design examine? Provide an
example. Answer: research designed to discover relationships among
variables and to allow the prediction of future events from present
knowledge.
• Describe examples of a positive and a negative correlation. Answer:
Correlational-To assess the relationships between and among two or
more variables.
Postiive - As children age they get better at math
, Negative - Age of a child and the number of diapers they use "Negative
correlation, the variables move in inverse, or opposite, directions. As
one variable increases, the other variable decreases. For example, there
is a negative correlation between self-esteem and depression. Positive
correlation is when there is an increase in one variable it is associated
with an increase in another variable. For example: with height and
weight, taller people tend to be heavier."
• What are the differences in interpretations of correlational and
experimental designs? Answer: In correlational studies a researcher
looks for associations among naturally occurring variables, whereas in
experimental studies the researcher introduces a change and then
monitors its effects.
"An experiment isolates and manipulates the independent variable to
observe its effect on the dependent variable, and controls the
environment in order that extraneous variables may be eliminated.
Experiments establish cause and effect. A correlation identifies variables
and looks for a relationship between them."
• What are the four parts of a neuron and its role in neural
communication? Answer: Cell Body (Soma), Dendrites, Axon, Myelin
Sheath
• Cell Body (Soma) Answer: contains the nucleus of the cell and keeps
the cell alive
• Dendrites Answer: a branching, treelike fiber which collects
information from other cells and sends the information to the soma
Answers Summary Analysis Key
Concepts 100% Distinctions
Guaranteed Grade A+
• What is the scientific method and how is it applied to psychological
research? Answer: The scientific method is the set of assumptions, rules,
and procedures scientists use to conduct research. In addition to
requiring that science is verifiable, the scientific method demands that
procedures are free of personal bias.
• What is the definition of a hypothesis? Answer: A specific and
falsifiable prediction about the relationship between two or more
variables.
• What is an operational definition? Provide an example. Answer: An
operational definition refers to a precise statement of how a conceptual
variable ( abstract idea that form the basis of research hypotheses )
which is turned into a measured variable ( varialbes consisting of
numbers that represent the conceptual variables )
(Conceptual Variable) Depression - (operational definition) Number of
negative words used in a creative story; number of appointments made
with a psychotherapist
,• Why are ethical guidelines needed within psychological research?
Answer: These are needed with psychological research is the prevent
physical and/or emotional harm to the participants.
• What are the various research methods in the field of psychology?
Answer: Descriptive Research
Correlational Research
Experimental Research
• What is descriptive research? Answer: research designed to provide a
snapshot of the current state of affairs.
• What is Correlational Research Answer: research designed to discover
relationships among variables and to allow the prediction of future
events from present knowledge.
• What is Experimental Research Answer: research in which there is a
random assignment of research participants into two groups. This is
followed by a manipulation of a given experience for one group while
the other is not manipulated. One group is the experimental group that
receives the manipulation. The other group is the control group that does
not. The two groups are then compared to determine the influence of the
manipulation.
• What is the relationship between a population and a sample? Answer:
The people chosen to participate in the research, called a sample, are
selected to be representative of all the people that the researcher wishes
,to know about, called the population. "Sampling is the process of
selecting a representative group from the population under study. The
target population is the total group of individuals from which the sample
might be drawn. A sample is the group of people who take part in the
investigation. The people who take part are referred to as "participants"."
• Independent Variable Answer: The variable in an experiment that is
manipulated or compared
• Dependent Variable Answer: The variable in an experiment that is
measured; the outcome of an experiment
• Control Group Answer: The group of subjects in an experiment that
does not receive the independent variable
• Experimental Group Answer: EXPERIMENTAL GROUP is the group
receiving the independent variable
• What does a correlational research design examine? Provide an
example. Answer: research designed to discover relationships among
variables and to allow the prediction of future events from present
knowledge.
• Describe examples of a positive and a negative correlation. Answer:
Correlational-To assess the relationships between and among two or
more variables.
Postiive - As children age they get better at math
, Negative - Age of a child and the number of diapers they use "Negative
correlation, the variables move in inverse, or opposite, directions. As
one variable increases, the other variable decreases. For example, there
is a negative correlation between self-esteem and depression. Positive
correlation is when there is an increase in one variable it is associated
with an increase in another variable. For example: with height and
weight, taller people tend to be heavier."
• What are the differences in interpretations of correlational and
experimental designs? Answer: In correlational studies a researcher
looks for associations among naturally occurring variables, whereas in
experimental studies the researcher introduces a change and then
monitors its effects.
"An experiment isolates and manipulates the independent variable to
observe its effect on the dependent variable, and controls the
environment in order that extraneous variables may be eliminated.
Experiments establish cause and effect. A correlation identifies variables
and looks for a relationship between them."
• What are the four parts of a neuron and its role in neural
communication? Answer: Cell Body (Soma), Dendrites, Axon, Myelin
Sheath
• Cell Body (Soma) Answer: contains the nucleus of the cell and keeps
the cell alive
• Dendrites Answer: a branching, treelike fiber which collects
information from other cells and sends the information to the soma
