Ch 2 - Vocab Flashcards
Falsifiable
Being able to see what evidence would count against it.
Burden of Proof
the obligation to present evidence to support one’s claim.
Hypothesis
A clear predictive statement
Replicable results
Those that anyone can obtain, at least approximately, by following the same procedures
Meta-analysis
Combines the results of many studies and analyzes them as though they were all one very large study.
Pasimony (“stinginess”)
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.
Operational definition
A definition that specifies the operations (or procedures) used to produce or measure something, ordinarily a way to give it a numerical value.
Population
The entire group of individuals to be considered. - All violinists are good at math (test all violinists)
Convenience sample
A group chosen because of its ease of study. (This class, a group to get to easily)
Representative sample
Closely resembles the population in its percentage of males and females. (All Americans like football)
Random Sample
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)
Cross-Cultural Samples
Groups of people from at least two cultures. (Putting supermodels in front of guys and have guys say which is the prettiest).
Experimenter bias
The tende4ncy of an experimenter to distort or misperceive the results of an experiment based on the expected outcome.
Blind observer
An observer who records data without knowing the researcher’s predictions.
Placebo
(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.
Double-blind study
Both the observer and the participants are unaware.
Demand characteristics
Cues that tell participants what is expected of them and what the experimenter hopes to find.
Survey
A study of the prevalence of certain beliefs, attitudes, or behaviors based on people’s responses to questions.
Correlation
A measure of the relationship between two variables.
Correctional study
A procedure in which investigators measure the correlation between two variables without controlling either of them.
Correlation coefficient
A mathematical estimate of the relationship between two variables.
Scatter plots
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).
Illusory correlation
An apparent relationship based on casual observations of unrelated or weakly related events.
Experiment
A study in which the investigator manipulates at least one variable while measuring at least one other variable.
Independent variable
The item that an experiment changes or controls.
Dependent Variable
The item that an experimenter measures to determine how it was affected.
Experimental group
receives the treatment that an experiment is designed to test.
Control group
A set of individuals treated in the same way as the experimental group except for the procedure that the experiment is designed to test.
Informed consent
A statement that they have been told what to expect and that they agree to continue.
Mean
The sum of all the scores divided by the total number of scores
Normal distribution
A symmetrical frequency of scores clustered around the mean.
Median
arrangement of the scores in order from the highest to lowest.
Mode
The score that occurs most frequently
Range
A statement of the highest and lowest scores
Standard deviation
Measurement of the amount of variation among scores in a normal distribution
Inferential statistics
Statements about a large population based on an inference from a small sample
P < .05
the probability that randomly generated results would resemble the observed results is less than 5%
Statistically significant or statistically reliable
Unlikely to have arisen by chance
95% confidence interval
the range within which the true population mean lies, with 95% certainty.
Case History
A thorough description of the person, including abilities and disabilities, medical condition, life history, unusual experiences, and whatever else seems relevant.
Correlation vs. causation
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.
Experiment
A study in which the investigator manipulates at least one variable while measuring at least one other variable.
Random Assignment
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.
Descriptive Statistics
Mathematical summaries of results.
