Psychology Research Jargon You Should Know

Applied Research

Applied research is a type of research that focuses on solving practical problems. Rather than focusing on developing or investigating theoretical questions, researchers are interested in finding solutions to problems that impact daily life. For example, researchers focused on applied research might investigate which treatments for a psychiatric condition lead to the best outcomes. This research is directly applicable and can help people improve their day-to-day lives.

Basic Research

Basic research is a type of research that involves investigating theoretical issues to add to the scientific knowledge base. While this type of research contributes to our understanding of the human mind and behavior, it does not necessarily help solve immediate practical problems.

Case Study

A case study is an in-depth study of a single individual or group. In a case study, nearly every aspect of the subject’s life and history is analyzed to seek patterns and causes for behavior.

Correlational Research

Correlational studies are used to look for relationships between variables. There are three possible results of a correlational study: a positive correlation, a negative correlation, and no correlation.

Cross-Sectional Research

Cross-sectional research is a type of research method often used in developmental psychology but also utilized in many other areas including social science, education, and other branches of science. It involves examining a "cross-section" of a population (for example, first through fifth graders) at a single point in time.

Demand Characteristic

A demand characteristic is a term used in psychological research to describe a cue that makes participants aware of what the experimenter expects to find or how participants are expected to behave.

Dependent Variable

The dependent variable is the variable that is being measured in an experiment. Researchers will alter one or more independent variables and then measure the dependent variable or dependent variables to determine if there were any changes as a result.

Double-Blind Study

A double-blind study is a type of study in which neither the participants nor the experimenters know who is receiving a particular treatment. This helps eliminate the possibility that the researchers will give subtle clues about what they expect to find and influence the behavior of the participants.

Experimental Method

The experimental method involves manipulating one variable to determine if changes in one variable cause changes in another variable. By using this method, researchers can determine if cause and effect relationships exist between different variables.

Hawthorne Effect

The Hawthorne effect is a term referring to the tendency of some people to work harder and perform better when they are participants in an experiment. Individuals may change their behavior due to the attention they are receiving from researchers rather than because of any manipulation of independent variables.

Independent Variable

The independent variable is the variable of interest that the researcher systematically varies. By varying the independent variable, the researcher can then measure the effect, if any, on the dependent variable. Doing this allows scientists to determine if there is a cause and effect relationship between two different variables (n other words, if changes in one variable lead to changes in another).

Longitudinal Research

Longitudinal research is a type of research method used to examine long-term effects and relationships. The studies take place over an extended period of time, such as several weeks, years, or even decades.

Naturalistic Observation

Naturalistic observation is a research method commonly used by psychologists and other social scientists. This technique involves observing subjects in their natural environment. This type of research is often utilized in situations where conducting lab research is unrealistic, cost-prohibitive, or would unduly affect the subject's behavior.

Random Assignment

Random assignment refers to the use of chance procedures in psychology experiments to ensure that each participant has the same opportunity to be assigned to any given group.

Reliability

Reliability refers to the consistency of a measure. A test is considered reliable if we get the same result repeatedly. For example, if a test is designed to measure a trait (such as introversion), then each time the test is administered to a subject, the results should be approximately the same. Unfortunately, it is impossible to calculate reliability exactly, but there are several different ways to estimate reliability.

Replication

Replication is a term referring to the repetition of a research study, generally with different situations and different subjects, to determine if the basic findings of the original study can be generalized to other participants and circumstances.

Selective Attrition

In psychology experiments, selective attrition describes the tendency of some people to be more likely to drop out of a study than others. This tendency can threaten the validity of a psychological experiment.

Validity

Validity is the extent to which a test measures what it claims to measure. It is vital for a test to be valid in order for the results to be accurately applied and interpreted.

A Word From Verywell

This list just scratches the surface of all the terms and topics that are part of the psychology research process. It does, however, provide an overview of some of the basic concepts with which you should be familiar.