Ch. 2 Key Terms Flashcards
observation
the action or process of observing something or someone carefully or in order to gain information
hypothesis
a supposition or proposed explanation made on the basis of limited evidence as a starting point for further investigation.
prediction
a thing predicted; a forecast
experiment
a scientific procedure undertaken to make a discovery, test a hypothesis, or demonstrate a known fact.
variable
not consistent or having a fixed pattern; liable to change
experimental group
In a psychology experiment, the experimental group (or experimental condition) refers to the group of participants who are exposed to the independent variable. These participants receive or are exposed to the treatment variable
control group
In the design of experiments, treatments are applied to experimental units in a treatment group. In comparative experiments, members of a control group receive a standard treatment, a placebo, or no treatment at all.
data
facts and statistics collected together for reference or analysis
correlation
a mutual relationship or connection between two or more things
statistics
the practice or science of collecting and analyzing numerical data in large quantities, especially for the purpose of inferring proportions in a whole from those in a representative sample
mean
average value calculated by taking the sum of all values and dividing by the total number of values.
distribution
the action of sharing something out among a number of recipients
probability
the extent to which something is probable; the likelihood of something happening or being the case.
sample
a small part or quantity intended to show what the whole is like
risk
a situation involving exposure to danger.
model
a physical and/or mathematical and/or conceptual representation of a system of ideas, events or processes
conceptual model
A conceptual model is a representation of a system. It consists of concepts used to help people know, understand, or simulate a subject the model represents.
mathematical model
A mathematical model is a description of a system using mathematical concepts and language. The process of developing a mathematical model is termed mathematical modeling.
value
a number signifying the result of a calculation or function
decision making model
All people need to make decisions from time to time. Given limited time in formulating policies and addressing public problems, public administrators must enjoy a certain degree of discretion in planning, revising and implementing public policies
