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Psychology 101 > Chapter 2 > Flashcards

Chapter 2 Flashcards

1
Q

empiricism

A

the belief that accurate knowledge can be acquired through observation

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2
Q

scientific method

A

a procedure for using empirical evidence to establish facts

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3
Q

theories

A

hypothetical explanations of natural phenomena

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4
Q

hypothesis

A

falsifiable prediction made by a theory

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5
Q

empirical method

A

a set of rules and techniques for observation

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6
Q

operational definition

A

description of a property in measurable terms

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7
Q

construct validity

A

the extent to which a videocamera aimed at a face adequately characterizes the property (property of an operational definition)

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8
Q

power

A

a detector’s ability to detect the presence of differences or changes in the magnitude of a property

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9
Q

reliability

A

a detector’s ability to detect the absence of differences or changes in the magnitude of a property

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10
Q

demand characteristics

A

those aspects of an observational setting that cause people to behave as they think someone else wants or expects

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11
Q

naturalistic observation

A

a technique for gathering scientific information by unobtrusively observing people in their natural environments

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12
Q

observer bias

A

tendency for observers’ expectations to influence both what they believe they observed and what they actually observed

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13
Q

double-blind study

A

a study in which neither the researcher nor the participant knows how the participants are expected to behave

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14
Q

population

A

complete collection of people (eg. population of Canada, population of human beings)

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15
Q

sample

A

a partial collection of people/animals/things drawn from a population

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16
Q

frequency distribution

A

a graphic representation showing the number of times in which the measurement of a property takes on each of its possible values

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17
Q

normal distribution

A

a mathematically defined distribution in which the frequency of measurements is highest in the middle and decreases symmetrically in both directions (Gaussian)

18
Q

mode

A

the value of the most frequently observed measurement

19
Q

mean

A

the average value of all the measurements

20
Q

median

A

value that is in the middle

21
Q

range

A

value of the largest measurement in a frequency minus the value of the smallest measurement

22
Q

standard deviation

A

how each of the measurements in a frequency distribution differs from the mean

23
Q

variable

A

properties that can take on different values

24
Q

correlation

A

variations in the value of one variable are synchronized with variations in the value of the other

25
Q

correlation coefficient

A

mathematical measure of both the direction and strength of correlation (r)

26
Q

natural correlation

A

the correlations we observe in the world around us

27
Q

third-variable problem

A

the natural correlation between two variables cannot be taken as evidence of a causal relationship between them because a third variable might be causing them both

28
Q

experimentation

A

a technique for establishing the causal relationship between variables

29
Q

manipulation

A

technique for determining the causal power of a variable by actively changing its value

30
Q

independent variable

A

the variable that is manipulated in an experiment

31
Q

dependent variable

A

variable that is measured in an experiment

32
Q

self-selection

A

a problem that occurs when anything about a participant determines the participant’s condition

33
Q

random assignment

A

a procedure that assigns participants to a condition by chance

34
Q

internal validity

A

an attribute of an experiment that allows it to establish causal relationships

35
Q

external validity

A

an attribute of an experiment in which variables have been operationally defined in a normal, typical, or realistic way

36
Q

case method

A

a procedure for gathering scientific information by studying a single individual

37
Q

random sampling

A

a technique for selecting participants that ensures that every member of a population has an equal chance of being included in the sample

38
Q

replication

A

an experiment that uses the same procedures as a previous experiment but with a new sample form the same population

39
Q

type I error

A

when researchers conclude that there is a relationship between two variables when in fact there is not

40
Q

type II error

A

when researchers conclude that there is not a relationship between two variables when in fact there is

41
Q

informed consent

A

a verbal agreement to participate in a study made by an adult who has been informed of all the risks that participation may entail

42
Q

debriefing

A

verbal description of the true nature and purpose of a study

Psychology 101 (4 decks)

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