Chapter 1 Key Terms

Question 1

the tendency to believe, after learning an outcome, that one would have forseen it

Answer 1

hindsight bias(i knew it all along phenomenon)

Question 2

thinking we know more than we do

Answer 2

overconfidence

Question 3

thinking that does not blindly accept arguments and conclusions. rather it examines assumptions, discerns hidden values, evaluates evidence, and assess conclusions

Answer 3

critical thinking

Question 4

an explanation using an integrated set of principles that organizes observations and predicts behaviors or events

Answer 4

theory

Question 5

a testable prediction, often implied by a theory

Answer 5

hypothesis

Question 6

a statement of the procedures (operations) used to define research variables

Answer 6

operational definition

Question 7

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

Answer 7

replication

Question 8

an observation technique in which on person is studied in depth in the hope of revealing universal principles

Answer 8

case study

Question 9

a technique for ascertaining the self-reported attitudes or behaviors of people, usually by questioning a representative, random sample of them

Answer 9

survey

Question 10

the tendency to overestimate the extent to which others share our beliefs and behaviors

Answer 10

false consensus effect

Question 11

all the cases in a group, from which samples may be drawn for a study

Answer 11

population

Question 12

a sample that fairly represents a population because each member has an equal chance of inclusion

Answer 12

random sample

Question 13

observing and recording behavior in naturally occurring situations without trying to manipulate and control the situation

Answer 13

naturalistic observation

Question 14

a measure of the extent to which two factors vary together, and thus of how well either factor predicts the other

Answer 14

correlation

Question 15

the mathematical expression of the correlation relationship, ranging from -1 to +1

Answer 15

correlation coefficient

Question 16

a graphed cluster of dots, each of which represents the values of two variables. the slope of the points suggests the direction of the relationship between the two variables. the amount of scatter suggests the strength of the correlation

Answer 16

scatterplot

Question 17

the perception of a relationship where none exists

Answer 17

illusory correlation

Question 18

a research method in which an investigator manipulates one or more factors to observe the effect on some behavior or mental process

Answer 18

experiment

Question 19

an experimental procedure in which both the research participants and the research staff are ignorant about whether the research participants have received the treatment or a placebo

Answer 19

double-blind procedure

Question 20

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

Answer 20

placebo effect

Question 21

the condition of an experiment that exposes participants to the treatment

Answer 21

experimental condition

Question 22

the condition of an experiment that serves as a comparison for evaluating the effect of the treatment

Answer 22

control condition

Question 23

assigning participants to experimental and control conditions by chance, thus minimizing preexisting differences between those assigned to different groups

Answer 23

random assignment

Question 24

the experimental factor that is manipulated; the variable whose effect is being studied

Answer 24

independent variable

Question 25

the outcome factor; the variable that may change in response to manipulations of the other variable

Answer 25

dependent variable

Question 26

3 measures of central tendency

Answer 26

mode, mean, median

Question 27

the most frequently occurring score(s) in a distribution

Answer 27

mode

Question 28

the arithmetic average of a distribution, obtained by adding the scores and then dividing by the number of scores

Answer 28

mean

Question 29

the middle score in a distribution; half the scores are above it and half are below it

Answer 29

median

Question 30

2 measures of variation

Answer 30

range, standard deviation

Question 31

the difference between the highest and lowest scores in a distribution

Answer 31

range

Question 32

a computed measure of how much scores vary around the mean score

Answer 32

standard deviation

Question 33

a statistical statement of how likely it is that an obtained result occurred by chance

Answer 33

statistical significance

Question 34

the enduring behaviors, ideas, attitudes, and traditions shared by a large group of people and transmitted from one generation to the next

Answer 34

culture

Question 35

3 parts of the scientific attitude

Answer 35

curiosity, skepticism, humility