Chapter 1

Question 0

Overconfidence

Answer 0

More confident than correct- to overestimate the accuracy of one’s beliefs.

Question 1

Hindsight Bias

Answer 1

The tendency to believe, after learning an outcome that one would have seen it all along. The “I-knew-it-all-along” phenomenon.

Question 2

Critical Thinking

Answer 2

Thinking that does not blindly accept arguments and conclusions. It examines assumptions, values, evidence, and conclusions.

Question 3

Scientific Method

Answer 3

Making observations, forming theories,and refining old theories.

Question 4

Theory

Answer 4

An explanation using an integrated set of principles that organizes and predicts observations.

Question 5

Hypothesis

Answer 5

A testable prediction, often implied by a theory.

Question 6

Operational Definitions

Answer 6

A statement of the procedures (operations) used to define research variables. It ALLOWS us to measure variables. Example: human intelligence may be defined as what an intelligence test measures.

Question 7

Replicate

Answer 7

Repeating the essence of research study. Usually with different subjects in different subjects in different circumstances, to see if the findings will occur again.

Question 8

Case Study

Answer 8

An observation technique in which one person is studied in depth in the hope of revealing universal principles.

Question 9

Survey

Answer 9

A technique for ascertaining the self reported attitudes or behaviors of people, usually by questioning a representative, random sample of them.

Question 10

False Consensus Effect

Answer 10

The tendency to overestimate the extent to which others share our beliefs and behaviors.

Question 11

Population

Answer 11

All the cases in a group, from which samples may be drawn for a study.

Question 12

Random Sample

Answer 12

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

Question 13

Experiment

Answer 13

A method where you manipulate one or more factors (independent variables) to observe the effect on some behavior or mental process (dependent variables). The experimenter aims or control other relevant factors.

Question 14

Double-blind Procedure

Answer 14

An experimental procedure where patient and researcher are blind to whether they have real drugs or placebos. Used in drug evaluation studies.

Question 15

Placebo Effect

Answer 15

Experimental results caused by expectations alone; and effect on behavior caused by the administration to inherit substance or condition which is assumed to be an active agent.

Question 16

Experimental Condition

Answer 16

The condition of an experiment that exposes participants to treatment, that is, to one version of the independent variable.

Question 17

Control Condition

Answer 17

The condition of an experiment that contrasts with the experimental condition and serves as a comparison for evaluating the effect of the treatment.

Question 18

Random Assignment

Answer 18

Assigning participants to experimental and control conditions by chance, thus minimizing preexisting differences between those assigned to the different groups.

Question 19

Independent Variable

Answer 19

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

Question 20

Dependent Variable

Answer 20

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

Question 21

Mode

Answer 21

The most frequently occurring scores in a distribution.

Question 22

Mean

Answer 22

The average of scores.

Question 23

Median

Answer 23

The middle score in a distribution.

Question 24

Range

Answer 24

The difference between the highest and lowest scores in distribution.

Question 25

Standard Deviation

Answer 25

A computed measure of how much scores vary around the mean score.

Question 26

Statistical Significance

Answer 26

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

Question 27

Culture

Answer 27

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

Question 28

Wording effects

Answer 28

Small changes in wording questions that can have a big effect. Critical thinkers use this. Ex: not allowing versus forbidding.

Question 29

Correlation Coefficient

Answer 29

A statistical measure of the direction and strength of a relationship. The number closest to one is the strongest.

Question 30

Sample

Answer 30

The small group participants (population), out of the total number available that a researcher studies.