2 Flashcards
Scientific Method
a set of rules that governs the collection and analysis of data gained through observation studies or experiments
Naturalistic Observation
the observation of the behaviour of people or animals in their natural environments
Clinical Observation
the observation of the behaviour of people or animals who are undergoing diagnosis or treatment
Correlational Study
the examination of relations between two or more measurements of behaviour or other characteristics of people or animals
Experiment
a study in which the researcher changes the value of an independent variable and observes whether this manipulation affects the value of a dependent variable. only experiments can confirm the existence of cause-and-effect relations among variables
Hypothesis
a statement usually designed to be tested by an experiment that tentatively expresses a cause-and-effect relationship between two or more events
Theory
a set of statements designed to explain a set of phenomena; more encompassing than a hypothesis
Case Study
a detailed description of an individual’s behaviour during the course of clinical treatment or diagnosis
Survey Study
a study of people’s responses to standardized questions.
Variable
anything capable of assuming several values
Manipulation
setting the values of an independent variable in an experiment to see whether the value of another variable is affected
Experimental Group
a group of participants in an experiment, the members are exposed to a particular value of the independent variable which has been manipulated by the researcher
Control Group
a comparison group used in an experiment, the members are exposed to the naturally occurring or zero value of the independent variable
Independent Variable
the variable that is manipulated in an experiment as a means os determine cause-and-effect
Dependent Variable
the variable that is measured in an experiment
Normal Fallacy
the false belief that one has explained the causes of a phenomenon by identifying and naming it; for ex. believing that one has explained lazy behaviour by attributing it to ‘laziness’
Operational Definition
the definition of a variable in terms of the operations the researcher performs to measure or manipulate it
Validity
the degree to which the operational definition of a variable accurately reflects the variable it is designed to measure or manipulate
Confounding of Variables
inadvertent simultaneous manipulation of more than one variable. the results of an experiment involving confound variables permit no valid conclusions about cause and effect
Counterbalancing
a systematic variation of conditions in an experiment such as the order of presentation of stimuli so that different participants encounter them in different orders; prevents confounding of independent variables with time-dependent processes such as habitation or fatigue
Reliability
- the repeatability of a measurement; the likelihood that if the measurement was made again it would yield the same value
Interrater Reliability
the degree to which two or more independent observing agree in their rating of another organisms behaviour
Random Assignment
procedure in which each participant has an equally likely chance of being assigned to any of the conditions or groups of an experiment
Placebo
an inert substance that cannot be distinguished in appearance from a read medication; used as the control substance in a single-blind or double blind experiment
Single-Blind Study
an experiment in which the researcher but not the participant knows the value of the independent value
Double-Blind Stud
an experiment in which neither the researcher nor the participant knows the value of the independent value
Correlational Study
he examination of relations between two or more measurements of behaviour or other characteristics of people or animals
Matching
a systematic selection of participants in groups in an experiment (or more often a correlational study) to ensure that the mean values of important participant variables of the groups are similar
Replication
repetition of an experiment or observational study to see whether previous results will be obtained
Sample
a selection of elements from a larger population
Generalization
- the conclusion that the results obtained from a sample apply also to the population from which the sample was taken from
Informed Consent
agreement to participate in an experiment after being informed about the nature of the research and any possible risks and benefits
Confidentiality
privacy of participants and non-disclosure of their participation in a research project
Debriefing
- full disclosure to participants of the nature and purpose of a research project after its completion
Descriptive Statistics
mathematical procedures for organizing collections of data (such a determining the mean, range etc)
Measure of Central Tendency -
a statistical measure used to characterize the value of items in a sample of numbers
Mean
measure of central tendency; the sum of a group of values divided by their number
Median
measure of central tendency; midpoint of a group of values arranged numerically
Measure of Variability
a statistical measure used to characterize the dispersion in values of items in a sample of numbers
Range
difference between the highest and lowest score
Standard Deviation
a statistic that expresses the variability of a measurement; square root of the average of the squared deviations from the mean
Correlation Coefficient
a measurement of the degree to which two variables are related
Inferential Statistics
mathematical procedures for determining whether relations or differences between samples are statistically significant
