PSYC 3650 EXAM 2 STUDY GUIDE
External validity - Answers - The degree to which the results of a study apply to
individuals and realistic behaviors outside of the study
Internal validity - Answers - the degree to which a study provides casual information
about a character
Reliability - Answers - The degree to which results of a study can be replicated under
similar conditions
Operational definition - Answers - The definition (i.e., concrete explanation) of an
abstract concept used by a researcher to measure or manipulate the concept in a
research study. (How we decide to measure the variables in our study.)
Naturalistic observation - Answers - Observing individuals' behavior in their normal (i.e.,
natural) environment
-Correlational research
-Quasi-experiments
-Must develop a coding scheme which depends on your operational definition
-Requires inter-rater reliability
Inter-rater reliability - Answers - A measure of the degree to which different observers
observe or code behaviors in similar ways
Naturalistic observation advantages and disadvantages - Answers - Advantages:
-Unobtrusive (research method of data collection that does not involve direct contact
with the research participants)
-Can observe natural behaviors
-Nothing is manipulated by researchers
-Gives a realistic picture of behavior
Disadvantages:
-Can be difficult to be unobtrusive
-Time-consuming
-Resource-intensive
-Difficult to make objective observations
-Must train observers
Survey research (Survey/Questionnaires) - Answers - A research study that uses the
survey observational technique to measure behavior
Open-ended response scale (Survey/Questionnaires) - Answers - Participants respond
to survey questions in any manner they feel is appropriate for the question
, Interviews (Survey/Questionnaires) - Answers - A data collection technique that involves
direct questioning of individuals about their behaviors and attitudes
Survey/Questionnaires advantages/disadvantages - Answers - Advantages:
-Inexpensive
-Fast results
-Practical
-Scalability
Disadvantages:
-Not always a correct representation of behavior
-Possibility of a social desirability bias
Systematic observation - Answers - A data collection technique where control is exerted
over the conditions under which the behavior is observed
• Participants know that they're being observed
• Typically examines behaviors that are least affected by measurement
• Cognitive behaviors
• Biological behaviors
• High internal validity
• Low external validity
Archival Data - Answers - • Using existing data, which is commonly collected
periodically by agencies
• Content Analysis: An archival data collection technique that involves analysis of the
content of an individual's spoken or written record
• May involve analyzing transcript, written document, or recording
• No interaction between participant(s) and researcher(s)
• Can be resource intensive & time-consuming
Construct validity - Answers - The extent to which a survey measures the behavior that
it is designed to measure
Case study - Answers - A research design that involves intensive study of particular
individuals and their behaviors
Correlational studies - Answers - A type of research design that examines the
relationships between multiple dependent variables, without manipulating any of the
variables (Correlation = Relationship)
• Looks at specific behaviors to determine if they are related (i.e., not whether one
causes another)
-may be represented on a scatterplot
Third-variable problem - Answers - The presence of extraneous factors in a study that
affect the dependent variable and can decrease the internal validity of the study
External validity - Answers - The degree to which the results of a study apply to
individuals and realistic behaviors outside of the study
Internal validity - Answers - the degree to which a study provides casual information
about a character
Reliability - Answers - The degree to which results of a study can be replicated under
similar conditions
Operational definition - Answers - The definition (i.e., concrete explanation) of an
abstract concept used by a researcher to measure or manipulate the concept in a
research study. (How we decide to measure the variables in our study.)
Naturalistic observation - Answers - Observing individuals' behavior in their normal (i.e.,
natural) environment
-Correlational research
-Quasi-experiments
-Must develop a coding scheme which depends on your operational definition
-Requires inter-rater reliability
Inter-rater reliability - Answers - A measure of the degree to which different observers
observe or code behaviors in similar ways
Naturalistic observation advantages and disadvantages - Answers - Advantages:
-Unobtrusive (research method of data collection that does not involve direct contact
with the research participants)
-Can observe natural behaviors
-Nothing is manipulated by researchers
-Gives a realistic picture of behavior
Disadvantages:
-Can be difficult to be unobtrusive
-Time-consuming
-Resource-intensive
-Difficult to make objective observations
-Must train observers
Survey research (Survey/Questionnaires) - Answers - A research study that uses the
survey observational technique to measure behavior
Open-ended response scale (Survey/Questionnaires) - Answers - Participants respond
to survey questions in any manner they feel is appropriate for the question
, Interviews (Survey/Questionnaires) - Answers - A data collection technique that involves
direct questioning of individuals about their behaviors and attitudes
Survey/Questionnaires advantages/disadvantages - Answers - Advantages:
-Inexpensive
-Fast results
-Practical
-Scalability
Disadvantages:
-Not always a correct representation of behavior
-Possibility of a social desirability bias
Systematic observation - Answers - A data collection technique where control is exerted
over the conditions under which the behavior is observed
• Participants know that they're being observed
• Typically examines behaviors that are least affected by measurement
• Cognitive behaviors
• Biological behaviors
• High internal validity
• Low external validity
Archival Data - Answers - • Using existing data, which is commonly collected
periodically by agencies
• Content Analysis: An archival data collection technique that involves analysis of the
content of an individual's spoken or written record
• May involve analyzing transcript, written document, or recording
• No interaction between participant(s) and researcher(s)
• Can be resource intensive & time-consuming
Construct validity - Answers - The extent to which a survey measures the behavior that
it is designed to measure
Case study - Answers - A research design that involves intensive study of particular
individuals and their behaviors
Correlational studies - Answers - A type of research design that examines the
relationships between multiple dependent variables, without manipulating any of the
variables (Correlation = Relationship)
• Looks at specific behaviors to determine if they are related (i.e., not whether one
causes another)
-may be represented on a scatterplot
Third-variable problem - Answers - The presence of extraneous factors in a study that
affect the dependent variable and can decrease the internal validity of the study
