Chapter 1- Thinking Critically With Psychological Science

Question 0

What is 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

What is hindsight bias

Answer 1

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

Question 2

What is theory?

Answer 2

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

Question 3

What is an hypothesis?

Answer 3

A testable prediction, often implied by a theory.

Question 4

What is an operational definition?

Answer 4

A statement of the procedures used to define research variables.

Question 5

What is a 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

What is a case study?

Answer 6

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

Question 7

What is a naturalistic observation?

Answer 7

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

Question 8

Survey

Answer 8

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 9

Population

Answer 9

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

Question 10

Random sample

Answer 10

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

Question 11

Correlation

Answer 11

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

Question 12

Correlation coefficient

Answer 12

A statistical index of the relationship between two things.

Question 13

Scatterplot

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 the two variables. The amount of scatter suggest the strength of the correlation for example little scatter indicates high correlation.

Question 14

What is an experiment?

Answer 14

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.

Question 15

What is an experimental group?

Answer 15

In a experiment, the group that is exposed to the treatment, that is, to one version of the independent variable.

Question 16

Control group

Answer 16

In an experiment the group that is not exposed to the treatment; contrasts with the experimental group and serves as A comparison for you evaluating the effect of the treatment.

Question 17

Random assignment

Answer 17

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

Question 18

Double-blind procedure

Answer 18

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. Commonly used in drug evaluation studies.

Question 19

Placebo

Answer 19

Experimental results caused by expectations alone; any effect on behavior caused by the administration open inert substance or condition, which the recipient assumes is an active agent.

Question 20

Independent variable

Answer 20

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

Question 21

Confounding variable

Answer 21

A factor other than the independent variable that might produce an effect in an experiment.

Question 22

Dependent variable

Answer 22

The outcome factor; the variable that may change in response to manipulations of the independent variable.

Question 23

Mode

Answer 23

The most frequently occurring score in a distribution.

Question 24

Mean

Answer 24

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

Question 25

MediAn

Answer 25

The middle score in the distribution; have to scores are above it and how far below it.

Question 26

Statistical significance

Answer 26

A statistical statement of how likely it is in obtained results occurred by chance

Question 27

Culture

Answer 27

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

Question 28

Informed consent

Answer 28

And ethical principle the research participants be told enough to enable them to choose whether they wish to participate.

Question 29

Debriefing

Answer 29

A post experimental explanation of a study, including its purpose and any deceptions, to its participants