Ch.1 Flashcards
Overconfidence
The tendency to be more confident than correct to overestimate the accuracy of ones beliefs and judgements.
Hindsight bias
The tendency to believe, after learning an outcome, that one would have foreseen it. (I-knew-it-all-along)
Critical thinking
Thinking that does not blindly accept arguments and conclusions. Rather, it examines assumptions, discerns hidden values, evaluates evidence, and assesses conclusions.
Scientific method
Francis bacon invented
Theory
An explanation using an integrated set of principles that organizes and predicts observations.
Hypotheses
Testable predictions, often implied by a theory.
Operational definitions
Statement of procedures (operations) used to define research variables. Ex. Human intelligence may be operationally defined as what an intelligence test measures.
Replicate
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.
Case study
A observation technique in which one person is studied In depth in the hope of revealing universal principles.
Survey
A technique for ascertaining the self-reported attitudes or behaviors of people, usually by questioning a representative, random sample of them.
False consensus effect
The tendency to overestimate the extent to which others share beliefs and behaviors.
Population
All the cases in a group, from which samples may be drawn for a study.
Random sample
A sample that fairly represents a population because each member has an equal chance of inclusion.
Naturalistic observations
Observing and recording behavior in naturally occurring situations without trying to manipulate and control the situation.
Correlate
A measure of the extent to which two factors vary together and thus of how well either factor predicts the other.
Scatter plots
A graphical cluster of dots, each of which represents the values of two variables. Slope of points suggests the directions of the relationship between the two variables. The amount of scatter represents the strength in correlation.
Illusory correlation
The perception of a relationship where none exists.
Experiment
Research method in which an investigator manipulates one or more factors (independent variables) to observe the effect in some behavior or mental process (dependent variable). By random assignment of participants, the experiment aims to control other relevant factors.
Double-blind procedure
Experiment where the research staff and the participants are ignorant about whether the participants have received a treatment or placebo.
Placebo effect
Effect experimental results caused by expectations alone; any effect on behavior caused by the administration of an inert substance or condition, which is assumed to be an active agent.
Experimental condition
The condition of an experiment that exposes participants to the treatment, that is, to one version of the independent variable.
Control condition
The condition of an experiment that contrasts with the experimental condition and serves as a comparison for evaluating the effect of the treatment.
Random assignment
Assigning participants to experimental and control conditions by chance, thus minimizing pre existing differences between those assigned to different groups.
Independent variable
A experimental factor that is manipulated; the variable whose effect is being studied.
Dependent variable
The outcome factor; the variable that may change in response to manipulations of the independent variable.
Mode
The most frequently occurring score(s) in distribution.
Mean
The arithmetic average of a distribution, obtained by adding the scores then dividing by how many there are.
Median
The middle score in distribution; half the scores re above, half below.
Range
Difference between the highest and lowest scored in the distribution.
Standard deviation
Computed measure of how much scores may vary around the mean score.
Statistical significance
A statistical statement of how likely it is that an obtained result occurred by chance.
Culture
The enduring behaviors, ideas, attitudes, and traditions shared by a large group of people and transmitted from one generation to the next.