Ch 2 - Vocab

Question 1

Falsifiable

Answer 1

Being able to see what evidence would count against it.

Question 2

Burden of Proof

Answer 2

the obligation to present evidence to support one’s claim.

Question 3

Hypothesis

Answer 3

A clear predictive statement

Question 4

Replicable results

Answer 4

Those that anyone can obtain, at least approximately, by following the same procedures

Question 5

Meta-analysis

Answer 5

Combines the results of many studies and analyzes them as though they were all one very large study.

Question 6

Pasimony (“stinginess”)

Answer 6

When given a choice among explanations that seem to fit the facts, we prefer the one whose assumptions are fewer, simpler, or more consistent with other well-established theories.

Question 7

Operational definition

Answer 7

A definition that specifies the operations (or procedures) used to produce or measure something, ordinarily a way to give it a numerical value.

Question 8

Population

Answer 8

The entire group of individuals to be considered. - All violinists are good at math (test all violinists)

Question 9

Convenience sample

Answer 9

A group chosen because of its ease of study. (This class, a group to get to easily)

Question 10

Representative sample

Answer 10

Closely resembles the population in its percentage of males and females. (All Americans like football)

Question 11

Random Sample

Answer 11

Every individual in the population has an equal chance of being selected. (How many girls apply red lipstick in the dorm? Pull all names in a hat and draw 5 out)

Question 12

Cross-Cultural Samples

Answer 12

Groups of people from at least two cultures. (Putting supermodels in front of guys and have guys say which is the prettiest).

Question 13

Experimenter bias

Answer 13

The tende4ncy of an experimenter to distort or misperceive the results of an experiment based on the expected outcome.

Question 14

Blind observer

Answer 14

An observer who records data without knowing the researcher’s predictions.

Question 15

Placebo

Answer 15

(a pill with no known pharmacological effects) to another group without telling the children which pill they are taking or what results the experimenter expects.

Question 16

Double-blind study

Answer 16

Both the observer and the participants are unaware.

Question 17

Demand characteristics

Answer 17

Cues that tell participants what is expected of them and what the experimenter hopes to find.

Question 18

Survey

Answer 18

A study of the prevalence of certain beliefs, attitudes, or behaviors based on people’s responses to questions.

Question 19

Correlation

Answer 19

A measure of the relationship between two variables.

Question 20

Correctional study

Answer 20

A procedure in which investigators measure the correlation between two variables without controlling either of them.

Question 21

Correlation coefficient

Answer 21

A mathematical estimate of the relationship between two variables.

Question 22

Scatter plots

Answer 22

Each dot represents a given individual, with one measurement for that individual on the x-axis (horizontal) and another measurement on the y-axis (vertical).

Question 23

Illusory correlation

Answer 23

An apparent relationship based on casual observations of unrelated or weakly related events.

Question 24

Experiment

Answer 24

A study in which the investigator manipulates at least one variable while measuring at least one other variable.

Question 25

Independent variable

Answer 25

The item that an experiment changes or controls.

Question 26

Dependent Variable

Answer 26

The item that an experimenter measures to determine how it was affected.

Question 27

Experimental group

Answer 27

receives the treatment that an experiment is designed to test.

Question 28

Control group

Answer 28

A set of individuals treated in the same way as the experimental group except for the procedure that the experiment is designed to test.

Question 29

Informed consent

Answer 29

A statement that they have been told what to expect and that they agree to continue.

Question 30

Mean

Answer 30

The sum of all the scores divided by the total number of scores

Question 31

Normal distribution

Answer 31

A symmetrical frequency of scores clustered around the mean.

Question 32

Median

Answer 32

arrangement of the scores in order from the highest to lowest.

Question 33

Mode

Answer 33

The score that occurs most frequently

Question 34

Range

Answer 34

A statement of the highest and lowest scores

Question 35

Standard deviation

Answer 35

Measurement of the amount of variation among scores in a normal distribution

Question 36

Inferential statistics

Answer 36

Statements about a large population based on an inference from a small sample

Question 37

P < .05

Answer 37

the probability that randomly generated results would resemble the observed results is less than 5%

Question 38

Statistically significant or statistically reliable

Answer 38

Unlikely to have arisen by chance

Question 39

95% confidence interval

Answer 39

the range within which the true population mean lies, with 95% certainty.

Question 40

Case History

Answer 40

A thorough description of the person, including abilities and disabilities, medical condition, life history, unusual experiences, and whatever else seems relevant.

Question 41

Correlation vs. causation

Answer 41

Correlation tells how strongly two variables are related to each other. Causation needs to manipulate one of the variables directly through research design known as an experiment.

Question 42

Experiment

Answer 42

A study in which the investigator manipulates at least one variable while measuring at least one other variable.

Question 43

Random Assignment

Answer 43

The experimenter uses a chance procedure, such as drawing names out of a hat, to make sure that every participant has the same probability as any other participant of being assigned to a give group.

Question 44

Descriptive Statistics

Answer 44

Mathematical summaries of results.