Chapter 2: How Psychologists Do Research

Question 1

Correlation Coefficient

Answer 1

A measure of correlation that ranges in value from -1.00 to +1.00.

Question 2

Correlation Study

Answer 2

A descriptive study that looks for a consistent relationship between two or more phenomena.

Question 3

Descriptive Methods

Answer 3

Methods that yield descriptions of behaviour but not direct explanations.

Question 4

Control Condition

Answer 4

In an experiment, a comparison condition in which participants are not exposed to the treatment used in the experimental condition.

Question 5

Bayesian Statistics

Answer 5

Statistics that involve a formula for calculating the likelihood of a hypothesis being true and meaningful, taking into account relevant prior knowledge.

Question 6

Experiment

Answer 6

A controlled test of a hypothesis in which the researcher manipulates one variable to discover its effect on another.

Question 7

Independent Variable

Answer 7

A variable that an experimenter manipulates.

Question 8

Confirmation Bias

Answer 8

The tendency to look for or pay attention to only information that confirms one’s own belief.

Question 9

Hypothesis

Answer 9

A statement that attempts to predict or account for a set of phenomena, specifically relationships, among events or variables that can be empirically tested..

Question 10

Arithmetic Mean

Answer 10

An average that is calculated by adding up a set of quantities and dividing the sum by the total number of quantities in the set.

Question 11

Inferential Statistics

Answer 11

Statistical procedures that allow researchers to draw conclusions about how statistically reliable a study’s results are.

Question 12

Case Study

Answer 12

A detailed description of a particular individual being studied or treated.

Question 13

Correlation

Answer 13

Measure of how strongly two variables are related to one another.

Question 14

Norms

Answer 14

Rules that regulate social life ,including explicit laws and implicit cultural conventions.

Question 15

Negative Correlation

Answer 15

An association between increases in one variable and decreases in another.

Question 16

Cross-Sectional Study

Answer 16

A study in which people (or animals) of different ages are compared at a given time. Example: 25 and 35 year olds drinking habits.

Question 17

Longitudinal Study

Answer 17

A study in which people (or animals) are followed and periodically reassessed over a period of time. Example: someone’s drinking habits from 20 to 30 years old.

Question 18

Observational Study

Answer 18

I study in which a researcher carefully and systematically observes and records behavior (naturalistically or in a laboratory) without interfering with the behaviour.

Question 19

Confidence Interval

Answer 19

A statistical measure that provides, with a specified probability, a range of values within a population mean is likely to lie.

Question 20

Placebo

Answer 20

An inactive substance or fake treatment used as a control in an experiment.

Question 21

Positive Correlation

Answer 21

Association between increases in one variable and increases in another or between decreases in one and decreases in another.

Question 22

Operational Definitions

Answer 22

A specification of precisely how to observe and measure a variable in a hypothesis.

Question 23

Double-Blind Study

Answer 23

And experiment in which neither the people being studied nor the individuals running the study know who is in which condition (ex: experimental vs control) until after the results are tallied.

Question 24

Field Research

Answer 24

Empirical evidence conducted in a natural setting outside the laboratory.

Question 25

Effect Size

Answer 25

A standardized way of describing the strength of the relationship between variables.

Question 26

Informed Consent

Answer 26

The doctrine that anyone who participates in human research must do so voluntarily and must know enough about the study to make an intelligent decision about whether to take part.

Question 27

Meta-Analysis

Answer 27

A set of techniques for combining data from a number of related studies to determine the explanatory strength of a particular independent variable.

Question 28

Experimenter Effects

Answer 28

Unintended changes in participants behaviour as a result of cues that the experimenter inadvertently conveys.

Question 29

Random Assignment

Answer 29

In an experiment, the practice of placing participants into conditions at random so as to increase the likelihood that the different conditions are equivalent to begin with.

Question 30

Descriptive Statistics

Answer 30

Statistical procedures is that organize and summarize research data.

Question 31

Standard Deviation

Answer 31

A commonly used measure of variability that indicates the average difference between scores in a distribution and their mean.

Question 32

Surveys

Answer 32

Questionnaires and interviews that ask people about their experiences, attitudes or opinions.

Question 33

Reliability

Answer 33

The consistency of test scores from one time and place to another.

Question 34

Dependant Variable

Answer 34

A variable than an experimenter measures, predicting that it will be affected by manipulations of the independent variable.

Question 35

Psychological Tests

Answer 35

Standardized procedures used to measure personality traits, emotional states, aptitudes, interests or abilities.

Question 36

Variables

Answer 36

Characteristics of behaviour or experience that can be measured or described.

Question 37

Theory

Answer 37

An organized system of assumptions and principles that purports to explain a specified set of phenomena and their interrelationships.

Question 38

Single-Blind Study

Answer 38

An experiment in which participants do not know which condition they are in. Ex: experimental vs control.

Question 39

Significance Tests

Answer 39

Statistical tests that show how likely it is that a study’s results occurred merely by chance.

Question 40

Principle of Falsifiabiliy

Answer 40

The notion that a scientific theory must make predictions that are specific enough to expose the theory to the possibility of disconfirmation.

Question 41

Validity

Answer 41

The ability of a test to measure what it was designed to measure.

Question 42

Representative Sample

Answer 42

A group of individuals, selected from a population for study, that matches the population on important characteristics.

Question 43

Standardization

Answer 43

In test construction, to develop uniform procedures forgiving and scoring a test.