Psychology Chapter 2 Experimental Research Vocabulary Basic Research

Psychology Chapter 2 Experimental Research Vocabulary

Basic Research A type of research that involves investigating theoretical issues to add to the scientific knowledge base. While this type of research contributes to our understanding of the human mind and behavior, it does not necessarily help solve immediate practical problems.

Applied research A type of research that focuses on solving practical problems. Rather than focusing on developing or investigating theoretical questions, researchers are interested in finding solutions to problems that impact daily life. For example, researchers focused on applied research might investigate which treatments for a psychiatric condition lead to the best outcomes. This research is directly applicable and can help people improve their day-to-day lives.

Hypothesis An idea or explanation that is tested through study and experimentation An educated guess about the relationship between two variables

Variable Any factor that is capable of change.

Independent Variable Is the variable that researchers change or alter so they can observe its effects.

Dependent Variable Is the variable that changes in relation to the independent variable. Example: The number of hours you study (the independent variable) affects your performance on an exam (the dependent variable).

Experimental Group The group to which an independent variable is applied. Example: if a new drug is being tested on a group of people, the experimental group is the group that gets the drug.

Control Group The group that is treated in the same way as the experimental group except that the experimental treatment (the independent variable) is not applied. This group would not actually get the drug.

Placebos are substances that are made to resemble drugs but do not contain an active drug. A placebo is made to look exactly like a real drug but is made of an inactive substance, such as a starch or sugar. Placebos are most often used in drug research studies.

Self-fulfilling Prophecy A situation in which a researcher’s expectations influence that person’s own behavior, and thereby influence the participant’s behavior.

Single-blind Experiment An experiment in which the participants are unaware of which participants received the treatment. (But the researcher knows).

Double-blind Experiment An experiment in which neither the experimenter nor the participants know which participants received the treatment.

Placebo Effect A change in a participant’s behavior that results from a belief that the treatment will have an effect, rather than the actual treatment.