Summary: Applied Research Methods: Development And Mental Health

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• Which types of research can be conducted with observations, correlations and experiments respectively

  Observations; finding phenomena
  
  correlations and quasi experiments; finding relationships
  
  experiments; finding causal explanations
  
  all of them; developing and testing theories of experience and behavior

• Why are testability and falsifiability considered important features of a theory

  Because otherwise, we cannot distinguish science from pseudoscience (purely on induction) and we can not compare studies based on their degree of falsifiability (Karl Popper).
  
  Testability: theory can only be good, when it can be tested
  
  falsifiability: theory can only be good, when it can be wrong

• What is the internal validity of a study

  The observed mean difference is because of a causal relationship (or alternative relationships) (not confounding variables, but IV makes results) highest when we have a true experiment
  Did the intervention rather than a confounded variable cause the results?

• What is the external validity of a study

  External validity is the extent to which you can generalize the findings of a study to other situations, people, settings, and measures.

• How can correlations not be interpreted

  As causality --> correlation does not equal causation

• Does correlation imply causality? If yes, why? If not, why not?

  No, as A can cause B, B can cause A or both of them may be caused by a third variable

• How does the temporal order of two variables help to establish a causal relation between them?

  Establishing temporal precedence helps as it can help to approximate cause-effect relationships between variables as the cause must occur temporarily before the effect.
  
  Oorzaak moet dus voor gevolg/effect

• What do you have to do to test whether two variables of experiments?

  Conduct a true experiment which controls for any alternative explanations for the findings

• What are independent, dependent and control variables of experiments?

  Independent Variables (manipulated by the experimenter): What is a good independent variable ? One that can be causal and manipulated
  Dependent Variables (measured by experimenter): What is a good dependent variable ? Measurable, likely to be related to IV and have construct validity. Beware of floor effects and ceiling effects – too low scores or too high scores in all conditions
  Control Variables (controlled by experimenter): Holding them constant Can be turned into independent variables (experiment becomes quasi-experiment – no randomization)

• What does it mean if an experimental independent variable is a within-subject variable?

  Every subject experiences every level of the independent variable: counterbalancing. Order can effect the results or lead to learning effects