Aaron Jennings Chapter Two Vocab Flashcards
Thinking that does not blindly accept arguments and conclusions. Rather, it examines assumptions, discerns hidden values, evaluates evidence, and assesses conclusions
Critical thinking
An explanation using an integrated set of principles that organizes observations and predicts behaviors or events.
Theory
A testable prediction, often implied by a theory
Hypothesis
A statement of the procedures used to define research variables. For example a human intelligence may be operationally defined as what an intelligence test measures
Operational definition
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
Replication
An observation technique in which one person is studied in the in the hope of revealing universal principles
Case study
It’s technique for ascertaining the self-reported attitudes or behaviors of a particular group, usually by questioning a representative, random sample of the group
Survey
All the cases in a group being studied, from which samples may be drawn.
Population
A sample that fairly represents a population because each member has an equal chance of inclusion
Random sample
Observing and recording behavior in naturally occurring situations without trying to manipulate and control the situation
Naturalistic observation
A measure of the extent to which two factors very together, and thus of how well either factor predicts the other
Correlation
A statistical index from the relationship between two things (between -1 and positive one)
Correlation coefficient
A graphed cluster of dots, each of which represents the values of two variables. The slope of the points suggest the direction of the relationship between the two variables. The amount of scatter suggest the strength of the correlation
Scatterplot
The perception of a relationship where none exists
Illusory correlation
A research method in which an investigator manipulates one or more factors (independent variables) to observe the effects on some behavior or mental process (dependent variables). By random assignment of participants, the experimenter aims to control other relevant factors
Experiment
Assigning participants to experimental and control groups by chance, thus minimizing pre-existing differences between those assigned to the different groups
Random assignment
An experimental procedure in which both the research participants and the research staff are ignorant about whether the research participants have received the treatment or a placebo. Commonly used in drug evaluation studies.
Double-blind procedure
experimental results caused by expectations alone any effect on behavior caused by the administration of inert substance or condition, what the recipient assumes is an active agent
Placebo
In an experiment, the group that is exposed to the treatment, that is, to one version of the independent variable
Experimental group
In an experiment, the group that is not exposed to the treatment; contrast with the experimental group and serves as a comparison for evaluating the effect of the treatment
Control group
The experimental factor that is manipulated; the variable whose effect is being studied
Independent variable
A factor other than the independent variable that might produce an affect in an experiment
Confounding variable
The outcome factor; the variable that may change in response to manipulations of the independent variable
Dependent variable
The most frequently occurring scores in a distribution
Mode
The arithmetic average of a distribution, obtained by adding the scores and then dividing by the number of scores
Mean
Middle score in a distribution; have the scores are above it and half below it
Median
The difference between the highest and lowest scores in a distribution
Range
A computed measure of how much scores very around the mean score
Standard deviation
A symmetrical, bell shaped curve that describes the distribution of many types of data; most scores fall near the mean and fewer and fewer near the extremes
Normal curve
A statistical statement of how likely it is that an obtained result occurred by chance
Statistical significance
The enduring behaviors, ideas, attitudes, and traditions shared by a group of people and transmitted from one generation to the next
Culture
An ethnical principle that research participants be told enough to enable them to choose whether they wish to participate
Informed consent
The postexperimental explanation of a study, including its purpose and any deceptions, to its participants
Debriefing
The tendency to believe, after learning outcome, that one would have foreseen it. Also known as the I knew it all along phenomenon
Hindsight bias
