Chapter 1 Flashcards
Overconfidence
The tendency to be more confident than correct- to over estimate the accuracy of one’s beliefs and judgements
Hindsight Bias
The tendency to believe, after learning an outcome, that one would have foreseen it, I-knew-it-all-along phenomenon
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
Self correcting process for asking questions and observing natures answer
Theory
An explanation of using an integrated set of principles that organizes and predicts observations
Hypothesis
A testable prediction, often implied by a theory
Operational Definitions
A statement of procedures (operations) used to define research variables It allows us to measure variables
Replication
Repeating the essence of a research study, usually with different participants in different situations, to see whether the basic findings extends to other participants and circumstances
Case Study
An 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 attributes or behaviors of people, usually by questioning a representative, random sample of them
False Consensus Effect
The tendency to over estimate the extent to which others share our 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
Scatterplots
Each point plots the value of two variables on a chart/graph
Illusory Correlation
The perception of a relationship, where non exists
Experiment
A research method in which an investigator manipulates one or more factors (variables) to observe the effect
Representative Sample
A sample that fairly represents/reflects the population being studied
Non-representative Sample
A sample that unfairly reflects the population being studied
Double-Blind Procedure
An experiment where the researcher and patient don’t know if the patient is receiving a real treatment or placebo
Placebo Effect
Experimental results caused by expectations alone; a blank/empty pill, patient thinks it works so thus their positive mind set will make them heal
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 the different groups
Independent Variable
The 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 socre(s) in a distribution
Mean
The average of a distribution, obtained by adding the scores and the dividing by the number of scores
Median
The middle score in a distribution; half the scores are about it, and half of the scores are below it
Range
The difference between the highest and the lowest scores in a distribution
Standard Deviation
A computed measure of how much scores 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
Experimenter Bias
The unconscious tendency for researchers to treat members of the experimental and control groups differently to increase the chance of confirming their hypothesis
Random Assignment
Assigning participants to experimental and control groups by chance, thus minimizing pre-existing differences between those assigned to the different groups
