CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCING THE SCIENCE AND METHODS OF SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY Flashcards
social representations
Socially shared beliefs; widely held ideas and values, including our assumptions and cultural ideologies. Our social representations help us make sense of our world.
naturlistic fallacy
The error of defining what is good in terms of what is observable: For example, what’s typical is normal; what’s normal is good.
hindsight bias
The tendency to exaggerate, after learning an outcome, one’s ability to have foreseen how something turned out; also known as the I-knew-it-all-along phenomenon.
theory
An integrated set of principles that explain and predict observed events.
hypotheses
Testable propositions that describe relationships that may exist between events
field research
Research done in natural, real-life settings outside the laboratory.
correlational research
The study of the naturally occurring relationships among variables.
experimental research
Studies that seek clues to cause–effect relationships by manipulating one or more factors (independent variables) while controlling others (holding them constant)
random sample
Survey procedure in which every person in the population being studied has an equal chance of inclusion.
independent variables
Experimental factors that a researcher manipulates.
dependent variable
The variable being measured, so called because it may depend on manipulations of the independent variable.
random assignment
The process of assigning participants to the conditions of an experiment such that all persons have the same chance of being in a given condition.
mundane realism
Degree to which an experiment is superficially similar to everyday situations.
experimental realism
Degree to which an experiment absorbs and involves its participants.
demand characteristics
Cues in an experiment that tell the participant what behaviour is expected.
