Chapter 1

Question 1

Scientific Method

Answer 1

Systematic procedure of observing and measuring phenomenon to answer questions about:
- what happens
- when it happens
- what causes it
- why
Involves interaction of theories, hypotheses, research methods

Question 2

Steps in the scientific method

Answer 2

1. Formulate theory
2. Develop testable hypothesis
3. Test with research method
4. Analyze data
5. Share results and conduct more research

Question 3

Observational Studies

Answer 3

Descriptive method involves assessing and coding observable behavior
- Used in laboratory or natural environments

Question 4

Self-reports

Answer 4

descriptive method involves obtaining self-reports from participants of research
- questionaries or surveys can be used
- Self-report bias MUST be considered

Question 5

Case studies

Answer 5

Intensive examination of few unique people or organizations

Question 6

Correlational Methods

Answer 6

Research method that examine how variables are naturally related in real world
- no attempts to alter the variables or assign causation

Question 7

Experimental Methods

Answer 7

Research method that test causal hypotheses by independent variable being manipulated and measuring effects on dependent variable

Question 8

Variable in Experiment

Answer 8

Dependent and Independent

Question 9

Dependent Variable

Answer 9

affected by manipulation of independent variable

Question 10

Independent Variable

Answer 10

experimenter manipulates to examine impact on dependent variable

Question 11

Groups in experiment

Answer 11

Control and experimental group

Question 12

Control Group

Answer 12

comparison group of participants who receive no intervention or one unrelated to independent variable being investigated

Question 13

Experimental group

Answer 13

one or more treatment groups of participants who receive intervention of independent variable being investigated

Question 14

Confound

Answer 14

anything that affects dependent variable and may unintentionally vary between study’s different experimental conditions

Question 15

Random Sample

Answer 15

fairly represents population by allowing each member of population an equal chance of being included

Question 16

Random Assignment

Answer 16

placing research participants in conditions of experiment such that each participant has equal chance of being assigned to any level of independent variable

Question 17

experimental method advantages

Answer 17

• explains and change behavior
• determine cause and effect relationships
• clearer conclusions

Question 18

experimental methods disadvantages

Answer 18

• doesn’t describes behavior and predict behavior
• setting usually in artificial environment
• sometimes impossible to to ethical, practical reasons

Question 19

Institutional Review Boards (IRBs)

Answer 19

groups of people responsible for reviewing proposed research to ensure it meets accepted standards of science and provides for physical and emotional well-being of participants

Question 20

Ethical guidlines

Answer 20

privacy
confidentiality
informed consent
protection from harm

Question 21

Privacy

Answer 21

researchers must respect participants’ privacy

Question 22

confidentiality

Answer 22

participants’ information must be kept secret

Question 23

informed consent

Answer 23

people must be told about research and can choose whether to participate

Question 24

protection from harm

Answer 24

researchers cannot ask participants to endure unreasonable pain or discomfort

Question 25

Descriptive statistics

Answer 25

provides summary of studies results

Question 26

central tendency (descriptive statistics)

Answer 26

group of descriptive statistics including the mean, median and mode, where one number represents the middle numerical responses in data set

Question 27

Mean (Central Tendency)

Answer 27

arithmetic average of a set of numbers
- EX: 10+11+19+15+7+9+11=82
- 82/7=11.714

Question 28

Median (Central Tendency)

Answer 28

the value that falls exactly in the middle of data set
EX: 15

Question 29

Mode (Central Tendency)

Answer 29

most frequent score in data set
EX: 11

Question 30

Variability (descriptive statistics)

Answer 30

group of descriptive statistics, including the range and standard deviation, where one number represents the spread between numerical responses in data set

Question 31

Range (Descriptive Statistics)

Answer 31

difference between largest and smallest value
EX: 31 exam scores: top score 95/100, bottom score 52/100
RANGE: 95-52=43

Question 32

Standard Deviation (descriptive statistics)

Answer 32

measurement which reflects how far away each value is, on average from the median

Question 33

Correlation Coefficient

Answer 33

descriptive statistic that indicates direction (negative or positive) and strength (0 to 1) of relationship between two variables: taken together these results, the numbers range from +1 to 0 to -1

Question 34

Negative correlation

Answer 34

change in opposite directions.
as one variable increases the other decreases or vice versa
EX: the more you exercise, the less you weigh

Question 35

Positive correlation

Answer 35

change in the same direction.
both increase or decrease together
EX: the more you eat, the more you weigh

Question 36

Strength

Answer 36

the closer the correlation coefficient is to 1 (either + or -), the stronger the relationship