Critique Treatment Outcome study NEED in 8hours

Control and Validity Vocabulary Terms

Internal validity - the measurements accurately indicate the variables they are designed to measure AND the results accurately indicate the conclusion that the independent variable (not something else) affects the dependent variable in this particular way.

In other words, the measurements, results, and conclusions that are part of (internal to) the experiment itself are all valid.

Generalizability or External Validity - the results of the study can be applied to circumstances outside the actual study and to people other than the actual subjects of the study. In other words, the results are valid for circumstances and people external to the specific study itself. So, we can generalize our results outside the specific study.

Population - All of the people in a group

Sample - A portion of the population who are directly involved in the study

Representativeness –the extent to which a given sample accurately reflects or represents the particular population as a whole.

Sampling bias – The sample is not reflective or representative of the target population; perhaps demographic characteristics are systematically different from the larger population, or a particular variable has influenced the sample that is selected to participate.

Allocation- Deciding which participants are in which research condition or group

Randomization- Assigning participants randomly to the different research conditions

Experimental control- Minimizing confounding variables in a study by standardizing or holding them constant

Confounds: Anything that varies with the independent and/or dependent variables in a study, and could thus interfere with internal validity.

Demand Characteristics- Subtle clues that may make a participant believe that a specific outcome or behavior is expected

Subject bias- Participants’ behavior is influenced by what they think the experimenter’s expectations are

Experimenter bias- The experimenter gives clues to participants regarding their expectations.

Experimenter intentionally or unintentionally alters results through:

· Choosing participants/samples that will lead to the expected/desired outcome

· Choosing a procedure that influences outcomes: e.g., forcing students to participate in a study for class credit

· Choosing an inappropriate measurement tool

· Providing demand characteristics

Experimenter Effects- Participants’ behavior is influenced by characteristics or individualized behavior of the experimenter or other people who conduct the study (instead of the independent variable)

Incentives for Participation- Rewards for participating in the study, perhaps in a certain way

Subject Bias-

“Good participants” behave according to what they think the experimenter’s expectations are, to help prove the hypothesis.

“Negativistic participants” behave to disprove what they think the experimenter’s hypothesis is.

Placebos – a fake treatment that causes an effect simply because participant thinks it will

Blinding - making participants unaware of their condition

Evaluation Apprehension- Participant’s behavior is a response to the presence of an evaluator

· Performance increases or is consistent with experimenter expectations in order to get a favorable evaluation

· Performance decreases or is inconsistent due to worry about evaluation

Ethics- Ensuring that participants are treated safely, fairly, and are exposed to no unnecessary risks.

Risk - The probability of harm or injury, physical or emotional, as a result of participation in a study

Minimal risk - Probability and magnitude of harm anticipated is not greater than those ordinarily encountered in daily life or routine examination

Informed Consent- Participants are informed of study procedures and any and all potential risks prior to agreeing to participate in a study.

· This includes being informed that they may discontinue their participation in the study at any time

Deception - Participants are misled or wrongly informed about the study’s aims or procedure

Debriefing- Participant is given a general idea of what is being investigated and why

Privacy - individual’s control over the extent, timing, and circumstances of sharing him/herself with others)

Confidentiality- Refers to data; an agreement made regarding the disclosure of information

Anonymity- No identifiers (e.g., name, address, telephone number) are collected that link information/data to the individual from whom they were obtained.

Institutional Review Board- A committee that reviews and approves research involving human subjects and ensures that all human subject research is conducted in accordance with federal, institutional, and ethical guidelines