Chapter 2 Terms

Question 1

Archival Research

Answer 1

A method of research that uses ast records or pre-existing data sets to answer research questions or to find patterns and relationships in the question you’re trying to answer.

Question 2

Attrition

Answer 2

The reduction of participants in a study over time (ex: participants moving away, dropping out of the study, dying)

Question 3

Cause-and-Affect Relationship

Answer 3

A term used to describe the change in one variable, which causes the other variable to change as well.

Question 4

Clinical/Case Study

Answer 4

A method of research that studies the changes of only one person, or only a few people (not a sample or population)

Question 5

Confirmation Bias

Answer 5

The tendency for people to focus more on evidence that supports their beliefs, and ignore information that disproves their beliefs.

Question 6

Confounding Variable

Answer 6

An unanticipated outside variable that can affect the independent and dependent variables.

Question 7

Control Group

Answer 7

The group in the experiment that serves as a group for comparison and controls any factors that might influence the results of a study.

Question 8

Correlation

Answer 8

The relationship between two or more variables that are correlated (so not a cause-and-effect relationship).

Question 9

Correlation Coefficient

Answer 9

A number that ranges from -1.00 to +1.00, which indicates the strength and direction of a correlation between variables.

Question 10

Cross-Sectional Research

Answer 10

A method of research that studies multiple groups of a population at the same time (opposite of longitudinal research).

Question 11

Debriefing

Answer 11

After deceiving a participant during an entire study, you then tell truthful information about what you were looking for during the experiment. This is called:

Question 12

Deception

Answer 12

When you purposefully mislead a participant during an experiment in order to maintain the integrity of the experiment.

Question 13

Deductive Reasoning

Answer 13

When the results of an experiment are predicted based on a general premise (big predictions -> smaller ideas).

Question 14

Dependent Variable

Answer 14

The variable in an experiment that the researcher measures to see how much effect the independent variable had on the experiment.

Question 15

Double-Blind Study

Answer 15

A type of experiment in which both the experimenter and participants are blind to group assignments (have no idea which group is the experimental or the control).

Question 16

Empirical

Answer 16

Used to describe research evidence that is objective and tangible, which can be observed time after time regardless of who is observing.

Question 17

Experimental Group

Answer 17

The group in an experiment which is designed to answer the research question that is proposed. This group is used in experiments to see whether something was based on experimental manipulation, rather than just chance or luck.

Question 18

Experimenter Bias

Answer 18

When the researcher’s expectations ruin the results of an experiment.

Question 19

Fact

Answer 19

An objective and verifiable observation was made using evidence that was collected during empirical research.

Question 20

Falsifiable

Answer 20

Used to describe something that is proven wrong by experimental results.

Question 21

Hypothesis

Answer 21

A tentative and educated statement which is made about the relationship between the independent variable and the dependent variable.

Question 22

Illusory Correlation

Answer 22

When you see a relationship between two things when in reality, said relationship does not, or has never, existed (ex: your star sign determines how you act, your personality, your hobbies, etc.)

Question 23

Independent Variable

Answer 23

The variable in an experiment that is influenced or controlled by the experimenter, which can determine the results of an experiment.

Question 24

Inductive Reasoning

Answer 24

Conclusions that are drawn from observations (small ideas -> bigger picture).

Question 25

Informed Consent

Answer 25

The process of telling a participant what is happening during an experiment, any risks that they might be exposed to during an experiment, and the implications of the research being done.