Chapter 1 - Research Methods

Question 1

critical thinking

Answer 1

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

Question 2

theory

Answer 2

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

Question 3

hypothesis

Answer 3

a testable prediction, often implied by a theory

Question 4

operational definition

Answer 4

a statement of the procedures (operations) used to define research variables. for ex human intelligence may be operationally defined as what an intelligence test measures

Question 5

replication

Answer 5

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

Question 6

case study

Answer 6

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

Question 7

survey

Answer 7

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

Question 8

false consensus effect

Answer 8

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

Question 9

population

Answer 9

all the cases in a group, from which samples may be drawn for a study (more- except for natl studies, this does not refer to a country’s whole population)

Question 10

random sample

Answer 10

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

Question 11

naturalistic observation

Answer 11

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

Question 12

correlation

Answer 12

a measure of the extent to which two factors vary together, and thus of how well either factor predicts the other. the correlation coefficient is the mathematical expression of the relationship, ranging from -1 to +1.

Question 13

scatter plot

Answer 13

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 2 variables. the amount of scatter suggests the strength of correlation (little scatter indicates high correlation). also called scatter gram or scatter diagram.

Question 14

illusory correlation

Answer 14

the perception of a relationship where none exists

Question 15

experiment

Answer 15

research method in which an investigator manipulates one or more factors (independent variables) to observe the effect on some behavior or mental process (the dependent variable). by random assignment of participants, the experimenter aims to control other relevant factors

Question 16

double blind procedure

Answer 16

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 placebo. commonly used in drug-eval studies

Question 17

placebo

Answer 17

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

Question 18

experimental condition

Answer 18

the condition of an experiment that exposes participants to the treatment, that is to one version of the independent variable

Question 19

control condition

Answer 19

the condition of an experiment that contrasts with the experimental condition and served as a comparison for evaluating the effect of the treatment

Question 20

random assignment

Answer 20

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

Question 21

independent variable

Answer 21

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

Question 22

dependent variable

Answer 22

outcome factor, the variable that may change in response to manipulation a of the independent variable

Question 23

mode

Answer 23

most frequently occurring score(s) in a distribution

Question 24

mean

Answer 24

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

Question 25

median

Answer 25

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

Question 26

range

Answer 26

difference between the highest and lowest scores in a distribution

Question 27

standard deviation

Answer 27

computed measure of how much scores vary around the mean score

Question 28

statistical significance

Answer 28

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

Question 29

culture

Answer 29

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

Question 30

hindsight bias

Answer 30

the tendency to believe, after learning an outcome, that one would have foreseen it (I knew it all along phenomenon)