Chapter 1 - Thinking Critically

Question 0

Critical thinking

Answer 0

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

Question 1

Hindsight bias

Answer 1

The tendency to believe, after learning an outcome, that one would have foreseen it.

Question 2

Theory

Answer 2

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

Question 3

Hypothesis

Answer 3

A testable prediction, often implied by a theory.

Question 4

Operational definition

Answer 4

A statement of the procedures used to define research variables. For example, 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

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

Question 7

Survey

Answer 7

A technique for ascertaining the self-reported attitudes or behaviors of a particular group, usually by questioning a representative, random sample of the group.

Question 8

Population

Answer 8

All the cases in a group being studied, from which samples may be drawn.

Question 9

Random sample

Answer 9

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

Question 10

Naturalistic observation

Answer 10

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

Question 11

Correlation

Answer 11

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

Question 12

Correlation coefficient

Answer 12

A statistical index of of the relationship between to things.

Question 13

Scatterplots

Answer 13

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 two variables. The amount of scatter suggests the strength of the correlation (little scatter indicates high correlation).

Question 14

Illusory correlation

Answer 14

The perception of a relationship where none exists.

Question 15

Experiment

Answer 15

A research method in which an investigator manipulates one or more factors to observe the effect on some behavior or mental process. By random assignment of participants, the experimenter aims to control other relevant factors.