Psychology Research Methods

the group in an experiment or study that does not receive treatment by the researchers and is then used as a benchmark to measure how the other tested subjects do.

• independent variable

• control group

• dependent variable

• random sample

the variable that is changed or controlled in a scientific experiment to test the effects on the other variable

• independent variable

• dependent variable

the variable being tested and measured in a scientific experiment

• independent variable

• dependent variable

Positive or negative correlation?

The more tv a child watches, the fewer chores they complete

• positive correlation

• negative correlation

Positive or negative correlation?

The longer the movie, the more popcorn people eat

• positive correlation

• negative correlation

Positive or negative correlation?

The taller a person is, the more likely they are to hit their head on a door frame

• positive correlation

• negative correlation

Positive or negative correlation?

The more shoes a person buys, the less money they have

• positive correlation

• negative correlation

The first step of the scientific method; a researcher notices a phenomenon and wonders why it occurs

• observation/form a question

• form a hypothesis

• test hypothesis

• analyze the results

• draw a conclusion

The second step of the scientific method; the researcher makes a prediction as to why a phenomenon occurs

• observation/form a question

• form a hypothesis

• test hypothesis

• analyze the results

• draw a conclusion

The third step of the scientific method; the researcher tries to find out why a phenomenon occurs by completing an experiment

• observation/form a question

• form a hypothesis

• test hypothesis

• analyze the results

• draw a conclusion