Chapter 1 Terms Flashcards
Overconfidence
We tend to be more confident that correct
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 doesn’t blindly accept arguments and conclusions- instead examines assumptions, evaluates evidence and assess conclusions
Scientific Method
A self correcting process for asking questions and observing answers
Theory
An explanation using an integrated set of principles that organizes and predicts observations
Hypothesis
A testable prediction, often implied by a theory
Operational Definition
A statement of the procedures used to define research variables
Replicate
Repeating the essence of a research study, usually with different participants in my different situation
Case Study
An observation technique in which one person is studied in depth in the hopes of revealing universal principles
Survey
A technique for finding the self reported attitudes or behaviors of people (by questioning a sample of them)
False Consensus Effect
The tendency to overestimate the extent to which others share our beliefs and behaviors
Population
All cases in a group from which a sample may be drawn
Random Sample
Fairly represents a population (each member has an equal chance of being chosen)
Naturalistic Observations
Observing and recording behavior in naturally occurring situations (no manipulations)
Correlation
A measure of the extent to which two factors vary together (how well one predicts the other)
Scatterplots
Graphed cluster of dots
Illusory Correlation
The perception of a relationship where none exists
Correlation Coefficient
Mathematical expression of the relationship
Shows the direction/ strength of the relationship
Experiment
A research method in which an investigator manipulates factors to observe the effect on some behavior or mental process
Double-blind Procedure
An experiment procedure in which both the researchers and participants are ignorant about whether a participant received the treatment or placebo
Placebo Effect
Experimental results caused by expectations alone, any effect on behavior caused by an inert substance or condition
Experimental Condition
Exposes participants to the treatment
Control Condition
Contrasts with the experimental condition and serves as a comparison for evaluating the effect of the treatment
Random Assignment
Assigning participants to experimental and control conditions by chance to minimize pre-existing differences
Independent Variable
Factor that is manipulated and whose effect is studied
Dependent Variable
The outcome factor; may change in response to manipulation of the independent variable
Mode
Most frequently occurring score in a distribution
Mean
The arithmetic average of a distribution
Median
The middle score in a distribution
Range
The difference between the highest and lowest scores in a distribution
Standard Deviation
A computed measure of how much scores vary around the mean score
Statistical Significance
A statistical statement of how likely it is that an obtained result occurred by chance
Culture
The enduring behaviors, ideas, attitudes and traditions shared by a large group of people and transmitted from one generation to the next
Wording Effects
Difference in words causes a difference in opinions
