Research Methods & Statistics Flashcards
6 cards from real LSP practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 Research Methods & Statistics flashcards as text
What is the difference between a correlational study and an experimental study?
Answer: Correlational studies measure relationships between variables without manipulation; experimental studies manipulate an independent variable to determine causation
Correlational designs measure the strength and direction of relationships between variables but cannot establish causation. Experimental designs manipulate independent variables and use controls to establish cause-and-effect relationships.
What is a p-value in statistical analysis?
Answer: The probability of obtaining results at least as extreme as those observed, assuming the null hypothesis is true
A p-value less than the significance level (typically 0.05) indicates the results are unlikely to have occurred by chance alone, leading researchers to reject the null hypothesis.
What is random assignment and why is it important in experiments?
Answer: Randomly placing participants into experimental and control groups to ensure groups are equivalent at baseline
Random assignment ensures each participant has an equal chance of being in any condition, distributing potential confounding variables evenly across groups and increasing internal validity.
What is the difference between Type I and Type II errors?
Answer: Type I is rejecting a true null hypothesis (false positive); Type II is failing to reject a false null hypothesis (false negative)
A Type I error (alpha) occurs when you conclude there is an effect when there is not. A Type II error (beta) occurs when you conclude there is no effect when there actually is one.
What is a meta-analysis?
Answer: A statistical technique that combines results from multiple studies to derive an overall effect size
Meta-analysis quantitatively synthesizes findings from multiple independent studies on the same topic, providing a more precise estimate of effect size and identifying moderating variables across studies.
What is informed consent in research?
Answer: Ensuring participants understand the study's purpose, procedures, risks, benefits, and their right to withdraw before agreeing to participate
Research informed consent requires clear disclosure of the study's nature, potential risks and benefits, confidentiality protections, compensation if any, and the participant's absolute right to withdraw at any time without penalty.