Chapter 14: Research Methods and Statistics Reference
About 10-15% of the Psych/Soc section is pure research methods and statistics. Passages are built around studies, and questions hinge on whether you can name the study type, identify a confound, spot a bias, distinguish validity from reliability, or read a correlation coefficient. This chapter is a dedicated reference. Every term gets a crisp definition and a simple example.
How to Use This Chapter
Every concept in this chapter is presented with:
- Definition. One sentence.
- Example. One sentence, drawn from research or everyday life.
- Contrast with a nearby concept where confusion is common.
If you are crunching for the test, skim the section headings and self-test on each concept. If you are mid-passage and unsure what “ecological validity” means, jump directly to the section.
In This Chapter
- 14.1 Study Types
- 14.2 Statistics Basics
- 14.3 Validity
- 14.4 Reliability
- 14.5 Bias in Research
- 14.6 Methods, Controls, and Testing Techniques
This is a reference chapter. There is no section test - every practice question across the twelve content chapters already draws from these skills.