Ch.2 Research methods Flashcards
Measure
Method of describing a variable’s quantity
Validity
Quality of a measure that leads to correct conclusions
Control group
Experiences all experimental procedures except exposure to the independent variable
Meta-analysis
Statistical review of many previous experiments on a single topic
Cross sectional study
Assessing age related changes w/ the data simultaneously from people of differing ages.
Theory
Set of facts and relationships b/w facts that can explain and predict related phenomena
Experiment
Research method that tests hypotheses and allows researchers to make conclusions about causality
Dependent variable
Measure demonstrates re effects of the control, the result part of the hypothesis
Survey
Descriptive Method where participants are asked the same questions
Random Assignment
Each participant has an equal chance of being placed in any group in an experiment.
Publication bias
Possibility that studies are not representative of all work done on a particular phenomenon.
Statistical Significance
Standard for deciding whether an observed result is because of chance
Reliability
Consistency of a measure including: test-retest, interested, intermethod, and internal consistency
Normal distribution
Symmetrical probability function
Placebo
Inactive substance or treatment that cannot be distinguished from a real active, substance or treatment
Case Study
In depth analysis of the behaviour of one person or a small # of people
Inferential Statistics
Method that allows experimenters to extend conclusions from samples to larger populations
Longitudinal Study
Assessing age related changes w/ data from the same individuals over a long period
Standard Deviation
Measure of how tightly clustered around the mean a group of scores is
Descriptive Statistics
Methods that organize data into meaningful patterns and summaries, like finding the average value
Variable
Factor that has a range of values
Experimental group
Participants who are exposed to the independent variable
Correlation
Measure of the direction and strength of the relationship b/w two variables
Operationalization
Defining variables in ways that allow them to be measured.
Naturalistic Observation
In depth study of a phenomenon in its environment
Confounding variable
Is irrelevant to the hypothesis being tested but can alter a researchers conclusions
Third variable
Variable that is responsible for a correlation observed between two other variables of interest
Confirmation bias
Noticing and remembering instances that support your beliefs more than instances that contradict them
Null Hypothesis
States the default position that there is no real difference between two measures
Double blind procedure
Design where the participant and experimenter both don’t know who’s been assigned the placebo
Descriptive method
Research methods designed for making careful, systematic observations
Independent variable
Controlled and manipulated by the experimenter, the if A happens part of the hypothesis
Mixed longitudinal design
Method for assessing age related changes where a cross section of participants are observed over a shorter period
