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What Is a Case Study in Psychology?

A case study is a research method used in psychology to investigate a particular individual, group, or situation in depth. It involves a detailed analysis of the subject, gathering information from various sources such as interviews, observations, and documents. In a case study, researchers aim to understand the complexities and nuances of the subject under …

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Correlational Research in Psychology: Definition and How It Works

Correlational research is a type of scientific investigation in which a researcher looks at the relationships between variables but does not vary, manipulate, or control them. It can be a useful research method for evaluating the direction and strength of the relationship between two or more different variables. When examining how variables are related to …

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Naturalistic Observation: Definition, Examples, and Advantages

Naturalistic observation is a psychological research method that involves observing and recording behavior in the natural environment. Unlike experiments, researchers do not manipulate variables. This research method is frequently used in psychology to help researchers investigate human behavior. This article explores how naturalistic observation is used in psychology. It offers examples and the potential advantages …

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Psychological Research Methods: Types and Tips

Psychological research methods are the techniques used by scientists and researchers to study human behavior and mental processes. These methods are used to gather empirical evidence. The goal of psychological research methods is to obtain objective and verifiable data collected through scientific experimentation and observation.  The research methods that are used in psychology are crucial …

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What Are Practice Effects?

Sometimes in psychology experiments, groups of participants are required to take the same test more than once. In some cases, performance can change from the first instance of testing and the next simply due to repeating the activity. Definition: A practice effect is any change that results merely from the repetition of a task. What …

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What Is a Single-Blind Study?

In psychology, a single-blind study is a type of experiment or clinical trial in which the experimenters are aware of which subjects are receiving the treatment or independent variable, but the participants of the study are not. A study in which both the experimenters and participants are unaware of who is receiving the independent variable and …

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Institutional review board

What Is an Institutional Review Board?

In psychology research, an institutional review board (also known as an IRB) is a group of individuals who review and monitor research that involves human subjects. Institutional review boards help ensure that the rights, welfare, and safety of participants are protected. They also help safeguard that psychology studies follow ethical and research guidelines such as …

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Extraneous variable

What Is an Extraneous Variable? Definition and Challenges

An extraneous variable is anything in a psychology experiment other than the independent and dependent variables. The variables can present challenges and introduce errors, so it is important for experiments to control these extraneous factors. Researchers accomplish this by holding the extraneous variables constant across all conditions of the experiment. In this article, learn more about …

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