Chapter 1 Flashcards
Overconfidence
Overestimate our intuition
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 asses conclusions. Smart thinking, asking questions
Scientific method
Form of drawing conclusions including making observations, form theories, and refine theories in the light of new observations
Theory
Explanation using integrated set of principles that organizes and predicts observations. Simplifies things. Useful summary.
Hypothesis
Testable prediction, often implied by a theory
Operational definitions
Statement of the procedures used to define research variables
Replicate
Repeating the essence of a research study usually with new situations
Case study
Observation technique in which one person is studied in depth in the hope of revealing universal principles
Survey
Technique for ascertaining the self reported attitudes or behaviors of people usually by questioning a representative, random sample of them, looks at many cases in less depth
False consensus effect
Tendency to overestimate the extent to which others share our beliefs and behaviors
Population
The whole group from which samples may be drawn for a study
Random sample
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
Measure of the extent to which 2 factors vary together, and thus of how well either factor predicts the other
Scatter plots
Graphed cluster of dots, each of which represents the values of 2 variables. Slope-direction of relationship amount of scatter-strength
Illusory correlation
Perception of a relationship where none exists
Experiment
Research method in which an investigator manipulates one or more factors to observe the effect on some behavior or mental process. By random assignment of participants, the experimenter aims to control other relevant factors
Double blind procedure
Both participants and researcher 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
Condition of am experiment that exposes participants to the treatment, that is, to one version of the IV
Control condition
Condition that contrasts with the experimental condition and serves as a comparison for evaluating the effect of the treatment
Wording affects
How you word things
Correlation coefficient
Tell direction and strength of variables
Random assignment
Assigning participants to experimental and control conditions by chance thus minimizing preexisting differences between those assigned to the different groups
Independent variable
Factor that is manipulated, effect is being studied
Dependent variable
Outcome factor, May change in response to IV
Mode
Most frequently occurring score
Mean
Average
Median
Middle score
Range
Difference of highest and lowest scores
Standard deviation
Computed measure of how much scores vary around the mean
Statistical significance
Statement of how likely it is that an obtained result occurred by chance
Culture
Enduring behaviors, ideas, attitudes, and traditions shared by a large group of people and transmitted from one generation to the next
