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Chapter 2
Research Methods; Human Development; Larry Nelson
53
Psychology
Undergraduate 2
09/28/2011

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Term
description of correlational design
Definition
The investigator obtains information on participants without altering their experiences
Term
strengths and weaknesses of correlational design
Definition
Permits study of relationships between variables.
Does not permit inferences about cause-and-effect relationships.
Term
description of laboratory experiment
Definition
controlled lab conditions, manipulation of independent variable, notes effect on dependent variable; random assignment of treatments
Term
strengths and weaknesses of laboratory experiment
Definition
Permits inferences about cause and effect relationships.
Findings may not generalize for the real world.
Term
description of field experiment
Definition
randomly assigns participants to treatment conditions in natural settings
Term
strengths and weaknesses of field experiment
Definition
Permits generalization of experimental findings to the real world
Control over the treatment is less than in lab
Term
description of natural/quazi-experiment
Definition
comparison of already existing treatments in real world, carefully sampling participants to ensure that their characteristics are as much alike as possible
Term
strengths and weaknesses of natural experiment
Definition
permits study of many real-world conditions that cannot be experimentally manipulated
Findings may be due to variables other than the treatment
Term
Describe Longitudinal design
Definition
same group of participants at different ages
Term
strengths and weaknesses of longitudinal design
Definition
can study common patterns and individual differences between early and later events and behaviors
Age-related changes may be distorted because of biased sampling, selective attrition, practice effects, and cohort effects. Theoretical and methodical changes in the field of study can make findings obsolete.
Term
describe a cross-sectional design
Definition
study of groups of participants differing in age at the same time
Term
strengths and weaknesses of cross-sectional design
Definition
more efficient than the longitudinal; not plagued by selective attrition, practice effects, or changes in field
Does not permit study of individual trends; age differences can be distorted because of cohort effects
Term
describe a sequential design
Definition
conducts several similar cross-sectional or longitudinal studies (called sequences) at varying times
Term
strengths and weaknesses of sequential design
Definition
may permit both longitudinal and cross-sectional comparisons. reveals cohort effects. permits tracking of age-related changes more efficiently than longitudinal design.
May have the same problems as longitudinal and cross-sectional strategies
Term
microgenetic design
Definition
presents children with a novel task and follows their mastery over a series of closely spaced sessions
Term
strengths and weaknesses of microgenetic design
Definition
offers insights into how change occurs

requires intensive study of moment-by-moment behaviors; time required for participants to change is difficult to anticipate; practice effects may distort developmental trends
Term
correlation coefficient
Definition
number from 0-1 whose magnitude implies the strength of the correlation and whose sign implies the direction
Term
independent variable
Definition
the variable manipulated by the researcher in an experiment by randomly assigning participants to treatment conditions
Term
dependent variable
Definition
the variable the researcher expects to be influenced by the independent variable in an experiment
Term
naturalistic observation
Definition
observation of behavior in natural contexts
Term
structured observation
Definition
observation of behavior in a lab, conditions same for all participants
Term
hypothesis
Definition
a prediction about behavior drawn from a theory
Term
reliability
Definition
the consistency, or repeatability, of measures of behavior
Term
validity
Definition
the extent to which measures in a research study accurately reflect what the investigator intended to measure
Term
random assignment
Definition
an unbiased procedure for assigning participants' to treatment groups, such as drawing numbers out of a hat or flipping a coin. increases chances that participants characteristics will be equally distributed across treatment conditions in an experiment.
Term
matching
Definition
a procedure for assigning participants with similar characteristic in equal numbers to treatment conditions in an experiment. ensures the group will be equivalent on factors likely to distort the results.
Term
observer influence
Definition
the tendency of participants to react in the presence of an observer and behave in unnatural ways
Term
observer bias
Definition
the tendency of observers who are aware of the purpose of the study to see and record what is expected rather than participants' actual behaviors
Term
Problems with self-analysis of child
Definition
May under/over estimate abilities
Influenced by self perceptions
Term
Problems with parents providing information about child
Definition
May be overly positive/negative
does not have direct experience with child at school
Term
problems with teachers providing information about child
Definition
may not have enough real experience with the child
Term
problem with peers providing information about child
Definition
influenced by peer perceptions, which may be inaccurate
Term
biased sampling
Definition
failure to select participants who are representative of a population
Term
selective attrition
Definition
people drop out of a study, resulting in a biased sample
Term
practice effects
Definition
changes in participants' natural responses are a result of repeated testing
Term
cohort effects
Definition
the effects of cultural-historical change on the accuracy of finding: children born in one period of time are influenced by particular cultural and historical conditions
Term
strengths/limitations of naturalistic observation
Definition
Reflects participants every day behaviors

Cannot control conditions.
Accuracy influenced by observer bias/influence.
Term
strengths and weaknesses of structured observation
Definition
Equal opportunity to display behavior.
Permits study of behaviors rarely seen in everyday life.

May not have typical behavior of everyday life.
Accuracy influenced by observer bias/influence.
Term
Clinical interview
Definition
Flexible interviewing procedure in which the investigator obtains a complete account of the participants thoughts
Term
strengths and limitations of clinical interview
Definition
Comes as close as possible to the way they think in everyday life. Breadth and depth of info in short time.

Inaccurate reporting.
Flexible procedure --> comparison of individuals' responses difficult.
Term
structured interview
Definition
self report instruments in which each participant is asked the same question in the same way
Term
strengths/weaknesses of structured interview, questionnaires, and tests
Definition
permits comparisons of participants' responses and efficient data collection. Researchers can assist by specifying answer alternatives they might not have thought about on their own
Term
psychophysiological methods
Definition
methods that measure the relationship between physiological processes and behavior
Term
strengths and limitations of psychophysiological methods
Definition
Reveals which nervous system contributes.
Infers perceptions/thoughts/emotions of infants and young children who cannot report them clearly

Cannot be certain of the meaning of autonomic or brain activity.
Many factors can influence a physiological response.
Term
clinical, or case study method
Definition
a full picture of one individual's psychological functioning, obtained by combining interviews, observations, test scores, and psychophysiological assessments
Term
strengths and limitations of clinical/case study method
Definition
provides rich descriptive insights into factors that affect development

may be biased by researchers' theoretical preferences. Findings cannot be applied to individuals other than the participant.
Term
Ethnography
Definition
participant observation of a culture or distinct social group; by making extensive field notes, the researcher tries to capture the culture's unique values and social processes
Term
strengths and limitations of ethnography
Definition
provides more complete description than can be derived from single observational visit, interview, or questionnaire

May be biased by researchers' values and theoretical preferences. Findings cannot be applied to individuals and settings other than the ones studied
Term
protection from harm
Definition
right to physical/psychological protection from harm. if in doubt, seek opinion of others.
Term
informed consent
Definition
clear explanation of all aspects of research must be provided. with children, also need consent from parents/school officials, etc. there is a right to discontinue at any time.
Term
privacy
Definition
right to conceal identity, also in written reports and informal discussions about research
Term
knowledge of results
Definition
right to be informed of results of research
Term
beneficial treatments
Definition
if experimental treatments are beneficial, control group has right to alternative beneficial treatments if available.
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