Chapter 1

Question 1

case study

Answer 1

• in-depth analysis of a single case (ex. a single person, single school, single place, etc.)
• sample size: n = 1
• measures variables only (no manipulation)

Question 2

n

Answer 2

• sample size

- ex: if n = 1, n could be Columbine High school

Question 3

N

Answer 3

• target population
• usually greater than the sample size
• ex: if n = Columbine High school, N = all high schools that have had school shootings

Question 4

why can case studies be problematic?

Answer 4

• generalizations aren’t permitted as sample size is too small
• researchers can state results only

Question 5

observational study (what is it, aka, what types of studies are included?)

Answer 5

• method that involves observing people, animals, or phenomena (measures variables only - no manipulation)
• aka: direct observation (done by researcher)
• includes naturalistic studies and lab studies

Question 6

naturalistic studies (what is it, examples, con)

Answer 6

• observing things in their natural or unaltered environment to maximize ecological validity/authenticity of data
• ex. camera in-home to observe; self-reporting (ie. keeping track of fights in a diary)
• con: lack of control

Question 7

lab studies (what is it, examples, con)

Answer 7

• observing things in a controlled environment (researchers set up the environment to expose particular responses)
• ex. observing or filming people in the lab to observe
• con: lack of authenticity (people can change their behaviour if they’re in a lab)

Question 8

survey (what is it, aka, what it’s used for)

Answer 8

• measuring people’s responses to questions or questionnaires (measures variables only - no manipulation)
• aka: indirect observation (done by participants who self-report)
• used to investigate whether there is a relationship between responses, then to calculate correlation

Question 9

can a questionnaire be a method?

Answer 9

No, the method itself is a survey (which contains a questionnaire)

Question 10

what does a correlation convey?

Answer 10

the nature and size of a relationship between 2 variables of interest

Question 11

positive correlation

Answer 11

• similar change between 2 variables

- ie. increase in 1 -> other increases (ex. studying and gpa… the more you study, the higher your gpa will be)

Question 12

negative correlation

Answer 12

• opposite change between 2 variables (inverse relationship)

- ie. increase in 1 -> the other decreases (ex. partying and gpa… the more you party, the lower your gpa will be)

Question 13

strongest relationship between 2 variables

Answer 13

• 1

- indicates size of relationship

Question 14

no relationship between 2 variables

Answer 14

• 0

- indicates size of relationship

Question 15

significant relationship

Answer 15

• is it reliable/consistent?

- not related to size/strength -> doesn’t have to be the strongest, just has to be consistent

Question 16

experiment

Answer 16

• method that involves manipulating the IV to see if this results in a charge to the Dv
• ex. manipulating study strategies to see if it effects your GPA
• best to start with an experiment, and if things go wrong you can always downgrade to a quasi-experiment

Question 17

independent variable (IV)

Answer 17

• the presumed causal variable that is manipulated by the researcher
• ie. study strategies

Question 18

dependent variable (DV)

Answer 18

• the characteristic or behaviour that is (expected to be) affected by the change the researcher makes to the IV
• ie. GPA

Question 19

how do researchers manipulate the IV?

Answer 19

• designing a treatment

- designing a program or workshop

Question 20

quasi-experiment

Answer 20

• enables researcher to test a causal hypothesis
• involves manipulation of IV and measurement of DV
• however, unlike experiments, quasi-experiments DO NOT have random assignment

Question 21

random assignment

Answer 21

each participant has an equal chance of being assigned to either the treatment/experimental or control groups

Question 22

random selection

Answer 22

• each member of the target population has equal chance of being selected to participate in the study
• N/n -> how did you get n from N?

Question 23

treatment/experimental groups

Answer 23

IV is manipulated

Question 24

control groups

Answer 24

IV is not manipulated

Question 25

is random selection necessary in an experiment or quasi-experiment?

Answer 25

• no

- it’s a good design strategy, but not necessary

Question 26

diffusion of treatment

Answer 26

• when the people in the treatment group share the IV info with the control group
• ex. in Maria’s study where the treatment group shared their additional online resources with the control group

Question 27

predictor variable

Answer 27

if measuring variables only