Chapter 1 Vocab Flashcards
Overconfidence
To tend to think you know more than you do
Hindsight bias
The tendency to believe, after learning an outcome, that one would have foreseen it (also known as the I-knew-it-all-along phenomenon)
Critical thinking
Thinking that does not blindly accept arguments and conclusions. Rather, it examines assumptions, discerns hidden values, evaluates evidence, and assesses conclusions
Scientific method
Make observations, form theories, and then refine theories in the light of new observations
Theory
An explanation using an integrated set of principles that organises observations and predicts behaviours or events
Hypothesis
A testable prediction, often implied by a theory
Operational definition
A statement of the procedures (operations) used to define research variables. For example, “human intelligence” might be operationally defined as what an intelligence test measures
Replication
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
Case study
An observation technique in which one person is studied in depth in the hope of revealing universal principles
Survey
A technique for ascertaining the self-reported attitudes or behaviours of people, usually by questioning a representative, random sample of them
False consensus effect
The tendency to overestimate the extent to which others share our beliefs and behaviours
Population
All the cases in a group, from which samples may be drawn for a study. (Note: except for national studies, this does not refer to a country’s whole population)
Random sample
A sample that fairly represents a population because each member has an equal chance of inclusion
Naturalistic observation
Observing and recording behaviour in naturally occurring situations without trying to manipulate and control the situation
Correlation
A measure of the extent to which two factors vary together, and thus of how well either factor predicts the other. The correlation coefficient is the mathematical expression of the relationship, ranging from -1 to +1
Scatterplot
A graphed cluster of dots, each of which represents the value of two variables. The slope of the pints suggests the direction of the relationship between the two variables. The amount of scatter suggests the strength of the correlation (little scatter indicates high correlation). (Also called a scattergram or scatter diagram)
Illusory correlation
The perception of a relationship where none exists
Experiment
A research method in which an investigator manipulates one or more factors (independent variables) to observe the effect on some behaviour or mental process (the dependent variable). By random assignment of participants, the experimenter aims to control other relevant factors
Double-blind procedure
An experimental procedure in which both the research staff are ignorant (blind) about whether the research participants have received the treatment or a placebo. Commonly used in drug-evaluation studies
Placebo effect
Experimental results caused by expectation alone; any effect on behaviour caused by the administration of an inert substance or condition, which is assumed to be an active agent
Experimental condition
The condition of an experiment that exposes participants to the treatment, that is, to one version of the independent variable
Control condition
The condition of an experiment that 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, thus minimising preexisting differences between those assigned to the different groups
Independent variable
The experimental factor that is manipulated; that variable whose effect is being studied
Dependent variable
The outcome factor; the variable that may change in response to manipulations of the independent variable
Mode
The most frequently occurring score(s) in a distribution
Mean
The arithmetic average of a distribution, obtained by adding the scores and then dividing by the number of scores
Median
The middle score in a distribution; half the scores are above it and half are below it
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 behaviours, ideas, attitudes, and traditions shared by a large group of people and transmitted from one generation to the next
