Chapter 1(Unit2)- Research Flashcards
Hindsight bias
The tendency to falsely believe, through revision of older memories to include newer information, that one could have correctly predicted the outcome of an event
Overconfidence
When people think they know everything
Confirmation bias
The tendency to search for evidence that fits one’s beliefs while ignoring any evidence that does not fit those beliefs
Naturalistic observation
Observe subjects in their natural habitat
Case study
An in depth examination of a person/experience/group of an incident that cannot be ethically replicated
Longitudinal study
Research in which one participant or group of participants is studied over a long period of time
Cross-sectional study
Research in which several different participant age-groups are studied at one particular point in time
Surveys
A way of gathering information by asking questions
Population
The entire group of people or animals in which the researcher is interested
Random sample
A random group of people from the population
Correlation
A measure of the relationship between two variables
Correlation coefficient
A number that represents the strength and direction of a relationship existing between two variables; number derived from the formula for measuring a correlation
Positive correlation
Both variables travel in the same direction
Negative correlation
Both variables travel in opposite direction
Illusionary correlation
Perceiving a relationship between variables even when no such relationship exists
Experiment
A deliberate manipulation of a variable to see if corresponding changes in behavior result, allowing the determination of cause-and-effect relationships
Hypothesis
Tentative explanation of a phenomenon based on observations
Operational definition
Definition of a variable of interest that allows it to be measured
Independent variables(IV), dependent variables(DV), and confounding variables(CV)
IV is manipulated by the researcher
DV is influenced by the IV
CV is a factor other than the IV that might produce an effect in the experiment
Random assignment
Process of assigning subjects to the experimental or control groups randomly, so that each subject has an equal chance of being in either group
Control group
Subjects in an experiment who are not subjected to the independent variable and who may receive a placebo treatment
Experiment group
Subjects in an experiment who are subjected to the independent variable
Placebo effect
The phenomenon in which the expectations of the participants in a study can influence their behavior
Mode, median, mean
Measure of central tendency
Mode: # that appears the most
Median: middle number
Mean: average
Range, standard deviation
Measure of variability
Range: difference between highest and lowest number
Standard deviation: the square root of the average squared deviations from the mean scores in a distribution
Ethics in research
Ethical means of doing research with people
