Research Methods Study Guide
Case Study
● Definition: A descriptive technique in which one individual or group is studied in depth in
the hope of revealing universal principles.
● Application: A man got hit in the head by a brick, his behaviors had changed after.
Confounding Variable
● Definition: A factor other than the independent variable that might produce an effect in
an experiment.
● Application: My family has a lot of money, and I really need new shoes for school.
Control Group
● Definition: In an experiment, the group that is not exposed to the treatment.
● Application: One group receives a pill, the other receives a placebo pill.
Correlation
● Definition: A measure of the relationship between two variables.
● Application: People who read more books tend to get higher grades.
Debriefing
● Definition: The post-experimental explanation of a study, including its purpose and any
deceptions, to its participants.
● Application: After the experiment, the participants were told that the reason for their the
monitoring of their sleep schedules was to find its connection to emotional reactivity.
Dependent Variable
● Definition: The variable that is measured by the researcher. Any result/change on the
DV should be caused by the change in the IV.
● Application: Essential oil may affect sleeping patterns.
Double-Blind Study
● Definition: An experimental procedure in which both the participants and research staff
are ignorant about whether the participants have received the treatment or a placebo.
Case Study
● Definition: A descriptive technique in which one individual or group is studied in depth in
the hope of revealing universal principles.
● Application: A man got hit in the head by a brick, his behaviors had changed after.
Confounding Variable
● Definition: A factor other than the independent variable that might produce an effect in
an experiment.
● Application: My family has a lot of money, and I really need new shoes for school.
Control Group
● Definition: In an experiment, the group that is not exposed to the treatment.
● Application: One group receives a pill, the other receives a placebo pill.
Correlation
● Definition: A measure of the relationship between two variables.
● Application: People who read more books tend to get higher grades.
Debriefing
● Definition: The post-experimental explanation of a study, including its purpose and any
deceptions, to its participants.
● Application: After the experiment, the participants were told that the reason for their the
monitoring of their sleep schedules was to find its connection to emotional reactivity.
Dependent Variable
● Definition: The variable that is measured by the researcher. Any result/change on the
DV should be caused by the change in the IV.
● Application: Essential oil may affect sleeping patterns.
Double-Blind Study
● Definition: An experimental procedure in which both the participants and research staff
are ignorant about whether the participants have received the treatment or a placebo.
