Chapter 1 - Thinking Critically with Psychological Science

Question 1

hindsight bias

Answer 1

The tendency to believe, after learning an outcome, that one would have foreseen it
“I-knew-it-all-along” phenomenon
“20/20 hindsight”

Question 2

critical thinking

Answer 2

a type of thinking that does not blindly accept arguments and conclusions
Examining assumptions, discerning hidden values, evaluating evidence, and assessing conclusions

Question 3

theory

Answer 3

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

Question 4

hypothesis

Answer 4

A testable prediction, often implied in a theory

Question 5

operational definition

Answer 5

A statement of the procedures (operations) used to define research variables
[e.x. intelligence may be operationally defined as what an intelligence test measures]

Question 6

replication

Answer 6

Repeating the essence of a research study, usually with different participants in different situations to se whether the basic findings extends to other paritcipants and circumstances

Question 7

case study

Answer 7

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

Question 8

survey

Answer 8

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

Question 9

false consensus effect

Answer 9

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

Question 10

population

Answer 10

All the cases in a group, from which samples may be drawn for a study
EXCEPT FOR NATIONAL STUDIES, THIS DOES NOT REFER TO A WHOLE CONTRIES’ POPULATION

Question 11

random sample

Answer 11

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

Question 12

naturalistic observation

Answer 12

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

Question 13

correlation coefficient

Answer 13

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

Question 14

scatterplot

Answer 14

A graphed cluster of clots, each of which represents the values of two variables. The slope of the point suggests the direction of the relationship between the two variables.
The amount of scatterplot suggests the strength of the correlation
“scattergram”
“scatter diagram”

Question 15

illusory correlation

Answer 15

The perception of a relationship where none exists

Question 16

experiment

Answer 16

A research method in which an investigator manipulates one or more factors (the independent variable) to observe the effect on some behavior or mental process (the dependent variable)
Other relevant factors of the experiment are controlled by random assignment of the participants

Question 17

double-blind procedure

Answer 17

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 a placebo
Commonly used in drug-evaluation studies
Helps reduce experimenter bias

Question 18

placebo effect

Answer 18

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 19

experimental conditions group

Answer 19

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

Question 20

control condition group

Answer 20

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

Question 21

random assignment

Answer 21

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

Question 22

independent variable

Answer 22

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

Question 23

dependent variable

Answer 23

The experimental factor- in psychology - the behavior that is being measured; the variable that may change in response to manipulations of the independent variable

Question 24

culture

Answer 24

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

Question 25

placebo

Answer 25

Chemically inert substance

Question 26

mode

Answer 26

Chemically inert substance

Question 27

mean

Answer 27

The arithmetic average of a distribution, obtained by adding the scores and then dividing the number of scores
[e.x. S, C, O, R, E, S… the mean would be (S+C+O+R+E+S)/6]

Question 28

median

Answer 28

The middle sore in a distribution; half the scores are above, half below

Question 29

range

Answer 29

The difference between the highest and the lowest scores in a distribution

Question 30

statistical definition

Answer 30

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

Question 31

statistical significance

Answer 31

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