Chapter 2 Psychological Research

Question 1

Operational Definition

Answer 1

A statement that defines the exact operations or methods used in research

Question 2

Data

Answer 2

Numbers that represent research findings and provide the basis for research conclusions.

Question 3

Statistical Reliability

Answer 3

The degree to which test results or other research evidence occurs repeatedly

Question 4

Statistical Reliability

Answer 4

The degree to which evidence from a test or other research method measures what it is supposed to measure.

Question 5

Theory

Answer 5

An integrated set of propositions that can be used to account for, predict, and even suggest ways of controlling certain phenomena

Question 6

Observational Methods

Answer 6

Procedures for systematically watching behavior in order to summarize it for scientific analysis

Question 7

Neuropsychology

Answer 7

The study of the relationships among brain activity, thinking, and behavior

Question 8

Correlation Study

Answer 8

A research method that examines relationship btwn variables in order to analyze trends in data, test predictions, evaluate theories, and suggest new hypotheses

Question 9

Confound

Answer 9

In an experiment, any factor that affects the dependent variable, along with or instead of the independent variable.

For Example:random variables, participants expectations, and experiment bias

Question 10

Random Variable

Answer 10

In an experiment, a confound is when uncontrolled or uncontrollable factors affect the dependent variable, along with or instead of the Independent Variable.

For Example: The year research takes place, differences of participants (cultural background, personality, life experiences, and sensitivity to stress)

Question 11

Randomizing

Answer 11

Assigning participants in an experiment to various groups through a random process to ensure that random variables are evenly distributed among groups.

Ex: flipping a coin

Question 12

Experimental Bias

Answer 12

A confound that occurs when an experimenter unintentionally encourages participation to respond in a way that supports the experimenters hypothesis

Question 13

Double-Blind Design

Answer 13

A research design in which neither the experimenter nor the participants know who is in the experimental group and who is in the control group

Question 14

Sampling

Answer 14

The process of selecting participants who are members of the population that the researcher wishes to study

Question 15

Representative Sampling

Answer 15

A process for selecting research participants whose characteristics fairly reflect the characteristics of the population from which they were drawn.

Ex: age, gender, ethnicity, race

Question 16

Random Sampling

Answer 16

The process of selecting a group of research participants from a population whose members all had an equal chance of being chosen

Ex: people in general of Florida College

SURVEYS!!

Question 17

Biased Sampling

Answer 17

The process of selecting a group of research participants from a population whose members did not have an equal chance of being chosen.

Question 18

Correlation Coefficient

Answer 18

A statistic, (r), that summarizes the strength and direction of a relationship between 2 variables

Question 19

Statistical Significance

Answer 19

Referring to a correlation, or a difference btwn 2 groups, that is larger than would be expected by chance.