Chapter 1 Flashcards
experimentation
designed to test hypothesis (support or reject)
observation
generate questions
statistical significance
not due to chance
increases as the sample size does
measure of the confidence that results are “real” and not due to chance
science
a way of knowing
a method of seeking answers to questions on the basis of observation and experiment
a never-ending process
sample size
number of individuals parcipating in a study or the number of times an experiment or set of obsrvations is repeated
dependent variable
the outcome that may “depend” on the independent variable measured result of an experiment analyzed in both experimental and control groups
control group
basis of comparison
group in an experiment that experiences no experimented intervention or manipulation
hypothesis
possible answer to the question under investigation
tentative explanation for a scientific observation or question
randomized clinical trials
measures directly under controlled conditions often logistically challenging to conduct likely to cause harm random chooses which treatment subjects get
experimental group
receiving the factor being tested
experiences the experimental intervention or manipulation
placebo
fake treatment that mimics the experience of the experimental group
epidemiology
scientific study of the incidence of disease in populations
patterns of disease
includes risk factors
peer review
the review of an article by experts before publication
aims to weed out sloppy research as well as overstated claims, ensuring the integrity of the journal and its scientific findings
correlation
doesn’t equal causation
consistent relationship between two variables
ancedotal evidence
type of evidence that may be interesting but is often unreliable since it isn’t based on systematic study
informal