Chapter 2
Researching Psychology
By Boundless
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Descriptive research refers to the measurement of behaviors and attributes through observation rather than through experimental testing.
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Correlational research can be used to see if two variables are related and to make predictions based on this relationship.
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Experimental research tests a hypothesis and establishes causation by using independent and dependent variables in a controlled environment.
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Observational studies allow researchers to document behavior in a natural setting and witness events that could not be produced in a lab.
A case study is a method of obtaining in-depth information on a person, group or phenomenon to provide descriptions of specific or rare cases.
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Surveys are a low-cost option for gathering a large amount of data, but they are also susceptible to reporting bias.
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The goal of statistics is to summarize data in a manner that allows for easy descriptions or inferences to be made.
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Statistical inference makes claims about a population of individuals or things, using data drawn from a smaller subset of the population known as a sample.
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In order to be valid, data must be both accurate and precise.
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Ethical guidelines in psychological research serve to minimize harm to participants' mental and physical well-being.
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Animal research raises the controversial question of whether it is ethical to harm animals with the aim of improving human lives.
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Research studies with small sample sizes, high variability, and sampling bias are usually not representative of the general population.
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When interpreting data, a researcher must avoid cognitive bias and be aware of the use of heuristics to avoid drawing incorrect conclusions.