ch2 vocab* Flashcards
Hindsight bias
also known as the “I knew it all along” phenomenon
Hypothesis
testable prediction
Replication
duplication of a research study, usually with different participants
Operational definition
statement of the exact procedures used in a research study
Survey
self-reported measures of attitudes or behaviors
naturalistic observation
observing behavior without controlling or manipulating the situation
Random sample
each member of a population has an equal chance of inclusion
Correlation coefficient
statistical relationship between 2 variables
Scatter Plot
graph cluster of dots
illusory correlation
relationship perceived, but none exists
Experiment
manipulation of factors to observe their effect on behavior
Experimental group
group exposed to independent variable
Random assignment
assigning subjects to experimental or control groups by chance
Double blind procedure
neither researchers or subjects aware of presence of treatment
Placebo effect
inert substance or condition
confounding variable
random assignment helps to control for these
standard deviation
how much scores vary around the mean score
Validity
does a test measure what it’s supposed to
Skewed distribution
representation of scores that lacks symmetry
Mean
arithmetic average
Statistical significance
how likely a result occurred by chance
Normal curve
a bell-shaped distribution of data
Culture
a group’s shared values, traditions, attitudes
Informed consent
an ethical principle dealing with choosing to participate in a study
Case study
an in-depth investigation of an individual subject
Debriefing
explanation of a study following its conclusion
Controls
factors in an experiment that do not vary
dependent variable
variable that may change in response to manipulations
Applied research
scientific study that aims to solve practical problems
Correlation
how well either factor predicts the other
Low variability
all scores are close together
Frequency distribution
an orderly arrangement of scores indicating frequency of each score
Hawthorne effect
if people know they are being observed they don’t act naturally
Representative sample
sample matches the demographics of the population
Median
the middle score in a distribution
High variability
scores are spread out
Single blind study
subjects do not know if they are in the experimental group or control group
Theory
an explanation using an integrated set of principles
Scientific method
systematic observation, measurement, and experiment
Outliers
extreme scores
Population
whole group
Experimenter bias
when the researcher interferes with true results of a study
Mode
most frequently occurring score(s) in a distribution
independent variable
the thing that the researcher manipulates of changes in a study
Histogram
bars touch and display numbers
descriptive statistics
statistics that are used to organize and summarize data
Critical thinking
thinking that does not blindly accept arguments and conclusions
Control group
subjects in a study who do no receive the special treatment
Confidentiality
experimenter must not reveal information about participants
Basic research
pure science that aims to increase the scientific knowledge base
