Chapter 1 Flashcards
Critical Thinking
Thinking that does not blindly accept arguments and conclusions rather it examines assumptions, discerns hidden values, evaluates evidence, and assesses conclusions.
Hindsight Bias
The tendency to believe, after learning an outcome, that one would have foreseen it.
Theory
An explanation using an integrated set of principles that organizes observations and predicts behavior & events.
Hypothesis
A testable prediction - often implied by a theory.
Operational Definitions
A statement of the procedures (operations) used to define research variables.
Ex: human intelligence may be operationally defined as what an intelligence test measures.
Replicate
Repeating the essence of a research study, usually with different participants in different situations, to see whether the basic finding 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 attitudes 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.
Correlations Research
A measure of the extent to which two factors vary together, and thus of how well either factor predicts the other.
Students grades and how much they sleep
Scatterplots
A graphed cluster of dots, each of which represents the value of two variables. The slope of the points suggests the direction of the relationship between the two variables.
Illusory Correlation
The perception of a relationship where none exists.
Experiment
A research method in which an investigator manipulates one or more factors (independent variables) to observe the effect on some behavior or mental process (dependent variable)
Double-blind Procedure
An experimental procedure in which both the research participants and the research staff are ignorant (blind) about whether the research participants have received the treatment or a placebo.
Placebo Effect
Experimental results caused by expectations alone; any effect on behavior caused by the administration of an inert substance or condition, which is assumed to be an active agent.
Experimental Condition
The condition of an experiment that exposes participants to the treatment, that is, to one version of the independent.
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 difference 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. (Engage in violent acts)
Mode
The most frequent occurring scores in a distribution.
Mean
The arithmetic average of a distribution, obtained by adding the scores and then dividing by the. Umber of scores.
Median
The middle score in a distribution; half the scores are above it and half are below.
Range
The difference between the highest and lowest scores in the 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 than 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.
Correlations Research
A measure of the extent to which 2 factors vary together and thus of how well either factor predicts the other.
Ex: students grades & how much they sleep
breakfast = good grades?
Wording Effects
The wording of questions is very important in research, so a researcher needs to pick their wording carefully.
Ex: Aid to the needy or Welfare
Pro-life or Anti-Abortion
Sample
Small group of participants (population) out of the total number available that a researcher studies.
Representative Sample
A sample that FAIRLY reflects the population being studied.
Nonrepresentative Sample
A sample that UNFAIRLY reflects the population being studied. (studying height of American men - using basketball players)
