Final Exam Flashcards
Inductive Method
Observe event, then devise a hypothesis
Deductive Method
Begin with a hypothesis, then make systematic observations to confirm (or disconfirm) the hypothesis
Hypothesis
a statement that explains the relationship between two variables.
Variable
Any characteristic that can take on more than one value
Gender (male or female)
Age, Hair color, Height, Beliefs about Psychics, Grades
Independent Variable
the variable whose effect is being studied
Dependent Variable
what is being measured (may be dependent on the independent variable)
Validity
The extent to which you are actually measuring what you want to be measuring
Reliability
Consistency (replicability) of measurement
Case Study
observation technique in which one person is studied in depth in the hope of revealing universal principals
Correlation Research
Naturally occurring behavior Explore the relationship between 2+ variables Why do correlational studies? Sometimes can’t do random assignment Not ethical (e.g., hurting children, brain damage)
Experimental Condition
the condition of an experiment that exposes participants to the treatment, that is, to one version of the independent variable
Control/Alternative Condition
the condition of an experiment that contrasts with the experimental treatment
serves as a comparison for evaluating the effect of the treatment
Random Assignment
assigning participants to experimental and control conditions by chance
minimizes pre-existing differences between those assigned to the different groups
Placebo Effect
experimental results caused by expectations alone
Double Blind Procedure
Participant and experimenter are ignorant (blind) about whether the research participants have received the treatment or a placebo
commonly used in drug-evaluation studies
