2 - Research Methods: Thinking Critically With Psychological Science

Question 1

Tendency to believe, after learning an outcome, that one would have foreseen it. I-knew-it-all-along phenomenon

Answer 1

Hindsight Bias

Question 2

Thinking that does not blindly accept arguments and conclusions. Rather, it examines assumptions, assesses the sources, discerns hidden values, evaluates evidence, and assesses conclusions

Answer 2

Critical Thinking

Question 3

An explanation using an integrated set of principles that organizes observations and predicts behaviors or events

Answer 3

Theory

Question 4

Testable prediction, often implied by a theory. If, then statement

Answer 4

Hypothesis

Question 5

Carefully worded statement of the exact procedures used in a research study

Answer 5

Operational Definition

Question 6

Repeating the essence of a research study, usually with different participants in different situations, to see whether the basic finding extends to other participants and circumstances

Answer 6

Replication

Question 7

Descriptive technique in which one individual or group is studied in depth in the hope of revealing universal principles

Answer 7

Case Study

Question 8

Observing and recording behavior in naturally occurring situations without trying to manipulate and control the situation

Answer 8

Naturalistic Observation

Question 9

Technique for ascertaining the self-reported attitudes or behaviors of a particular group, usually by questioning a representative, random sample of the group

Answer 9

Survey

Question 10

A flawed sampling process that produces an unrepresentative sample

Answer 10

Sampling Bias

Question 11

All those in a group being studied, from which samples may be drawn

Answer 11

Population

Question 12

Sample that fairly represents a population because each member has an equal chance of inclusion

Answer 12

Random Sample

Question 13

Measure of the extent to which two variables change together, and this of how well variables predict the other

Answer 13

Correlation

Question 14

A statistical index of the relationship between two variables (from -1.0 to +1.0). Perfect, strong, weak, no correlation. Positive/negative

Answer 14

Correlation Coefficient

Question 15

A graphed cluster of dots, scattered

Answer 15

Scatterplot

Question 16

Perception of a relationship where none exists

Answer 16

Illusory Correlation

Question 17

A research method in which an investigator manipulates one or more factors (independent variables) to observe the effect on some behavior mental process (dependent variable). By random assignment of participants, the experimenter aims to control other relevant variables

Answer 17

Experiment

Question 18

In an experiment, the group exposed to the treatment, aka, to one version of the independent variable

Answer 18

Experimental Group

Question 19

In an experiment, the group NOT exposed to the treatment. Contrasts with the experimental group and serves as a comparison for evaluating the effect of the treatment

Answer 19

Control Group

Question 20

Assigning participants to experimental and control groups by chance, thus minimizing preexisting differences between the different groups

Answer 20

Random Assignment

Question 21

An experimental procedure in which both the research participants and the research staff are ignorant (blind) about whether the research participants have received the treatment or a placebo. Most commonly done in drug-evaluation studies

Answer 21

Double-blind Procedure

Question 22

Experimental results caused by expectations alone

Answer 22

Placebo Effect

Question 23

The experimental factor that is manipulated; variable whose effect is being studied

Answer 23

Independent Variable

Question 24

A factor other than the independent variable that might produce an effect in an experiment

Answer 24

Confounding variable

Question 25

The outcome factor; the variable that may change in response to manipulations of the independent variable

Answer 25

Dependent Variable

Question 26

Extent to which a test or experiment measures or predicts what it is supposed to

Answer 26

Validity

Question 27

Numerical data used to measure and describe characteristics of groups. Includes measures of central tendency and measures of variation

Answer 27

Descriptive Statistics

Question 28

A bar graph depicting a frequency distribution

Answer 28

Histogram

Question 29

Most frequently occurring score(s) in a distribution

Answer 29

Mode

Question 30

Arithmetic average of a distribution, obtained by adding the scores and the dividing them by the number of scores

Answer 30

Mean (not same as average)

Question 31

Middle score in a distribution

Answer 31

Median

Question 32

Representation of scores that lack symmetry around their average value

Answer 32

Skewed Distribution

Question 33

Difference between the highest and lowest in a distribution

Answer 33

Range

Question 34

Computed measure of how much scores vary around the mean score

Answer 34

Standard Deviation
Sum of deviations (squared)/# of scores=standard deviation)

Question 35

A symmetrical, bell-shaped curve that descries that distribution of many types of data; most scores fall near the mean (~68% of scores fall within one standard deviation of it). Looks like bell

Answer 35

Normal Curve (Normal Distribution)

Question 36

Numerical data that allows one to generalize

Answer 36

Inferential Statistics

Question 37

Statistical statement of how likely it is that an obtained result occurred by chance

Answer 37

Statistical Significance

Question 38

Enduring behaviors, ideas, attitudes, values, and traditions shared by a group of people and transmitted from one generation to the next

Answer 38

Culture

Question 39

An ethical principle that research participants be to enough to enable them to choose whether they with to participate

Answer 39

Informed Consent

Question 40

Post-experiment explanation of a study, including its purpose and any deceptions

Answer 40

Debriefing