Ch. 2 Vocab

Question 1

thinking that doesn’t blindly accept arguments and conclusions; rather, it examines assumptions, assesses the source, discerns hidden values, evaluates evidence, and assesses conclusions

Answer 1

critical thinking

Question 2

the tendency to believe, after learning an outcome, that one would have forseen it

Answer 2

Hindsight bias

Question 3

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

Answer 3

Theory

Question 4

A testable prediction, often implied by a theory

Answer 4

Hypothesis

Question 5

A carefully worded statement of the exact procedures (operations) used in a research study; Ex: Human intelligence may be operationally defined as what an intelligence test measures.

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

A 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

A 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 can be drawn

Answer 11

Population

Question 12

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

Answer 12

Random sample

Question 13

a measure of the extent to which two variables change together, and thus of how well either variable predicts the other

Answer 13

Correlation

Question 14

a statistical index of the relationship between two variables

Answer 14

correlation coefficient

Question 15

a graphed cluster of dots, each of which represents the values of two variables; slope suggests the direction of the relationship b/t the two variables; amount of scatter suggests the strength of the correlation (little scatter=high correlation)

Answer 15

scatterplot

Question 16

the 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 to observe the effect on some behavior or mental process

Answer 17

experiment

Question 18

in an experiment, the group exposed to the treatment, that is, to one version of the independent variable

Answer 18

experimental group

Question 19

in an experiment, the group not exposed to the treatment; 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 about whether the research participants have received the treatment or a placebo

Answer 21

double-blind procedure

Question 22

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

Answer 22

independent variable

Question 23

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

Answer 23

confounding variable

Question 24

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

Answer 24

dependent variable

Question 25

the extent to which a test measures or predicts what is supposed to be

Answer 25

validity

Question 26

numerical data used to measure and describe characteristics of groups; includes measures of central tendency and measures of variation

Answer 26

descriptive statistics

Question 27

the most frequently occurring score(s) in a distribution

Answer 27

mode

Question 28

the arithmetic average of a distribution, obtained by adding the scores and then dividing by the number of scores

Answer 28

mean

Question 29

the middle score in a distribution; half the scores are above it and half the scores are below it

Answer 29

median

Question 30

a representation of scores that lack symmetry around their average value

Answer 30

skewed distribution

Question 31

the difference between the highest and lowest scores in a distribution

Answer 31

range

Question 32

a symmetrical, bell-shaped curve that describes the distribution of many types of data; most scores fall near the mean and fewer fall near the extremes

Answer 32

normal curve

Question 33

numerical data that allow one to generalize – to infer from sample data the probability of something being true of a population

Answer 33

inferential statistics

Question 34

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

Answer 34

statistical significance

Question 35

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

Answer 35

culture

Question 36

an ethical principle that research participants be told enough to enable them to choose whether they wish to participate

Answer 36

informed consent

Question 37

the post-experimental explanation of a study, including its purpose and any deceptions, to its participants

Answer 37

debriefing

Question 38

a computed measure of how much scores vary around the mean score

Answer 38

standard distribution

Question 39

experimental results caused by expectations alone; any effect on behavior caused by the administration of an inert substance or condition, which the recipient assumes is an active agent

Answer 39

placebo effect