Chapter 2 Flashcards
(36 cards)
Hypothesis
a tentative statement about the relationship between two or more variables.
Variables
any measurable conditions, events, characteristics, or behaviors that are controlled or observed in a study.
Theory
a system of interrelated ideas used to explain a set of observations.
Operational Definition
describes the actions or operations that will be used to measure or control a variable.
Data Collection Techniques
are procedures for making empirical observations and measurements
Journal
a periodical that publishes technical and scholarly material, usually in a narrowly defined are of inquiry.
Research Methods
consists of various approaches to the observation, measurement, manipulation, and control of variables in empirical studies.
Experiment
a research method in which the investigator manipulates a variable under carefully controlled conditions and observes whether any changes occur in a second variable as a result
Independent Variable
a condition or event that an experimenter varies in order to see its impact on another variable
Dependent Variable
the variable that is thought to be affected by manipulation of the independent variable
Experimental Group
consists of the subjects who receive some special treatment in regard to the independent variable.
Control Group
consists of similar subjects who do not receive special treatment given to the experimental group.
Extraneous Variables
any variables other than the independent variable that seem likely to influence the dependent variable in a specific study.
Confounding of Variables
occurs when two variables are linked together in a way that makes it difficult to sort out their specific effects.
Random Assignment
occurs when all subjects have an equal chance of being assigned to any group or condition in the study.
Naturalistic Observation
a researcher engages in careful observation of behavior without intervening directly with the subjects.
Case Study
an in-depth investigation of an individual subject
Survey
researches use questionnaires or interviews to gather information about specific aspects of participants’ background and behavior.
Statistics
the use of mathematics to organize, summarize, and interpret numerical data.
Descriptive Statisitcs
are used to organize and summarize data.
Median
the score that falls exactly in the center of a distribution of scores.
Mean
is the arithmetic average of the scores in a distribution.
Mode
the most frequent score in a distribution.
Variability
refers to how much the scores in a data set vary from each other and from the mean.