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Psych > Chapter 2 Key Terms [Research & Study] > Flashcards

Chapter 2 Key Terms [Research & Study] 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 finding truth by using empirical evidence

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3
Q

theory

A

a hypothetical explanation of a natural phenomenon

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4
Q

hypothesis

A

a falsifiable predictable 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

a description of a property in concrete, measurable terms

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7
Q

instrument

A

anything that can detect the condition to which an operational definition regers

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8
Q

validity

A

the goodness with which a concrete event defines a property

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9
Q

reliability

A

the tendency for an instrument to produce the same measurement whenever it is used to measure the same thing

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10
Q

power

A

an instrument’s ability to detect small magnitudes of the property

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11
Q

demand characteristics

A

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

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12
Q

naturalistic observation

A

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

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13
Q

double-blind

A

an observation whose true purpose is hidden from both the observer and the person being observed (avoids observer bias)

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14
Q

variable

A

a property whose value can vary across individuals or over time

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15
Q

correlation

A

two variables are said to “be correlated” when variations in the value of one variable are synchronized with variations in the value of the other

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16
Q

natural correlations

A

a correlation observed in the world around us

17
Q

third-variable correlation

A

two variables are correlated only because each is casually related to a third variable

18
Q

third-variable problem

A

the fact that a casual relationship between two variables cannot be inferred from the naturally occurring correlation between them because of the ever-present possibility of third-variable correlation

19
Q

experiment

A

a technique for establishing the casual relationship between variables

20
Q

manipulation

A

changing a variable in order to determine its casual power

21
Q

independent variable

A

the variable that is manipulated in an experiment

22
Q

experimental group

A

the group of people who are exposed to a particular manipulation, as compared to the control group, in an experiment

23
Q

contrl group

A

the group of people who are not exposed to the particular manipulation, as compared to the experimental group, in an experiment

24
Q

dependent variable

A

the variable that is measured in a study

25
Q

self-selection

A

a problem that occurs when anything about a person determine whether he or she will be included in the experimental or control group

26
Q

random assignment

A

a procedure that lets chance assign people to the experimental or control group

27
Q

internal validity

A

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

28
Q

external validity

A

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

29
Q

population

A

a complete collection of participants who might possibly be measured

30
Q

sample

A

a partial collection of people drawn from a population

31
Q

case method

A

a procedure for gathering scientific information by studying a single individual

32
Q

random sampling

A

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

33
Q

informed consent

A

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

34
Q

debriefing

A

a verbal description of the true nature and purpose of a study

Psych (9 decks)

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