CH. 1.3

3 Major Research Strategies

- longitudinal research - cross-sectional research - sequential research

3 major steps of scientific method

1) Identifying questions of interest 2) Formulating an explanation 3) Carrying out research that either lends support to the explanation or refutes it

Most children experience long-term emotional damage if their parents get a divorce. A) MYTH B) TRUTH

A) MYTH

Using spanking as a discipline technique is an important tool to help prevent children from becoming spoiled. A) MYTH B) TRUTH

A) MYTH

The strength and direction of a relationship between two factors is represented by a(n) __________. A) correlation coefficient B) associative coefficient C) experimental factor D) predictable factor

A) correlation coefficient

Are babies more likely to remember new male faces or new female faces? A) theoretical research B) applied research

A) theoretical research

How do parents of two different races differ in their disciplinary tactics for middle schoolers? A) theoretical research B) applied research

A) theoretical research

Anger is influenced by the way we interpret things. A) theory B) hypothesis

A) theory

Parenting styles affect the personality development of children. A) theory B) hypothesis

A) theory

Letting babies "cry it out" is a safe and effective method for dealing with some sleep problems. A) MYTH B) TRUTH

B) TRUTH

Do children learn to read more quickly if their parents are following along with their finger when they read to their child? A) theoretical research B) applied research

B) applied research

Do wilderness programs help decrease substance abuse problems in teenagers? A) theoretical research B) applied research

B) applied research

Will children with ADHD pay attention better when given rewards in the classroom? A) theoretical research B) applied research

B) applied research

Parents who use more praise with their children have children who behave better. A) theory B) hypothesis

B) hypothesis

People who have more negative thoughts are more likely to score higher on a scale that measures depression. A) theory B) hypothesis

B) hypothesis

Students who use Pearson's online interactive features while studying perform better on tests than students who skip these features. A) theory B) hypothesis

B) hypothesis

The therapist serves students from two different schools, so he places all of the children from one school in an "exercises group" and all of the children from the other school in a "control group." In this study, he shows that children in the exercises group are rated by their parents as paying better attention compared to the control group. Why is this a problem? A) He failed to use random assignment. B) The parent ratings of child behavior may be biased. C) Both of the above.

C) Both of the above.

The therapist shows that after doing the exercises, all the children in his clinic do better on a computerized test of attention. Why is this a problem? A) There is not a control group. B) The children may be doing better due to taking the computerized test a second time (rather than due to the exercises). C) Both of the above.

C) Both of the above.

__________ is designed specifically to test some developmental explanation and expand scientific knowledge, whereas __________ is meant to provide practical solutions to immediate problems. A) Applied research; theoretical research B) Qualitative research; applied research C) Theoretical research; applied research D) Qualitative research; theoretical research

C) Theoretical research; applied research

If a journalist uses a correlational study to suggest that eating dark chocolate is good for your health, what mistake is the journalist making? A) assuming that reliability and validity are different from each other B) assuming that reliability and validity are the same thing C) assuming that correlation always equals causation D) assuming that causation never equals correlation

C) assuming that correlation always equals causation

An investigator is studying the effectiveness of two new types of parenting interventions for children with disruptive behavior. In this example, the type of intervention would be the __________ variable, and the amount of disruptive behavior would be the __________ variable. A) correlational; experimental B) dependent; independent C) experimental; correlational D) independent; dependent

D) independent; dependent

The __________ is the process of posing and answering research questions using controlled techniques that include systematic, orderly observation and the collection of data. A) research program B) theoretical orientation C) development of hypotheses D) scientific method

D) scientific method

Computerized axial tomography (CAT) scan

a computer constructs an image of the brain by combining thousands of individual X-rays taken at slightly different angles. Although it does not show brain activity, it does illuminate the structure of the brain.

ethnography

a method borrowed from the field of anthropology and used to investigate cultural questions

hypothesis

a prediction stated in a way that permits it to be tested

experiment

a process in which an investigator, called an experimenter devises two different experiences for participants and then studies and compares the outcomes

field study

a research investigation carried out in a naturally occurring setting

laboratory study

a research investigation conducted in a controlled setting explicitly designed to hold events constant

naturalist observation

a type of correlational study in which some naturally occurring behavior is observed without intervention in the situation.

survey research

a type of study where a group of people chosen to represent some larger population are asked questions about their attitudes, behavior, or thinking on a given topic

meta-analysis

combine the results of many studies into one overall conclusion

theories

explanation and predictions concerning phenomena of interest, providing a framework for understanding the relationships among an organized set of facts or principles

Electroencephalogram (EEG)

reports electrical activity within the brain recorded by electrodes placed on the outside of the skull. That brain activity is transformed into a pictorial representation of the brain, permitting the representation of brain wave patterns and diagnosis of disorders such as epilepsy and learning disabilities.

theoretical research

research designed specifically to test some developmental explanation and expand scientific knowledge

Experimental research

research designed to discover causal relationships between various factors

cross-sectional research

research in which people of different ages are compared at the same point in time PRO: Requires less time to collect data CON: Differences between age groups may be due to some other difference between the cohorts other than age

sequential studies

research in which researchers examine a number of different age groups over several points in time PRO: Combines advantages of the other designs CON: Also includes the disadvantages of the other designs (but to a lesser degree)

longitudinal research

research in which the behavior of one or more participants in a study is measured as they age PRO: High confidence that differences over time are really due to age CON: Takes a long time to see the results

applied research

research meant to provide practical solutions to immediate problems

Psychophysiological methods

research that focuses on the relationship between physiological processes and behavior

Correlation research

research that seeks to identify whether an association or relationship between two factors exists

case studies

study that involves extensive, in-depth interviews with a particular individual or a small group of individuals

sample

the group of participants chosen for the experiment

scientific method

the process of posing and answering questions using careful controlled techniques that include systematic, orderly observation and the collection of data

independent variable

the variable that researchers manipulate in an experiment

dependent variable

the variable that researchers measure in an experiment and expected to change as a result of the experimental manipulation

Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) scan

three-dimensional computer-generated image of brain activity by aiming a powerful magnetic field at the brain. It offers one of the best ways of learning about the operation of the brain, down to the level of individual nerves.