Midterm Vocabulary

Question 1

Evidence-Based Treatment

Answer 1

A psychotherapy technique whose effectiveness has been supported by empirical research.

Question 2

Empiricism

Answer 2

The use of verifiable evidence as the basis for conclusions; collecting data systematically and using it to develop, support, or challenge a theory.

Question 3

Theory

Answer 3

A statement or set of statements that describes general principles about how variables relate to one another.

Question 4

Hypothesis

Answer 4

A statement of the specific result the researcher expects to observe from a particular study, if the theory is accurate.

Question 5

Data

Answer 5

A set of observations representing the values of some variable, collected from one or more research studies.

Question 6

Falsifiability

Answer 6

A feature of the scientific theory, in which it is possible to collect data that will indicate that the theory is wrong.

Question 7

Parsimony

Answer 7

The degree to which a theory provides the simplest explanation of some phenomenon. In the context of investigating a claim, the simplest explanation of a pattern of data; the best explanation that requires making the fewest exceptions or qualifications.

Question 8

Weight of the Evidence

Answer 8

A conclusion drawn from reviewing scientific literature and considering the proportion of studies that is consistent with a theory.

Question 9

Applied Research

Answer 9

Research whose goal is to find a solution to a particular real-world problem.

Question 10

Basic Research

Answer 10

Research whose goal is to enhance the general body of knowledge; without regard for direct application to practical problems.

Question 11

Translational Research

Answer 11

Research that uses knowledge derived from basic research to develop and test solutions to real-world problems.

Question 12

Journal

Answer 12

A monthly or quarterly periodical containing peer-reviewed articles on a specific academic discipline or subdiscipline, written for a scholarly audience.

Question 13

Journalism

Answer 13

News and commentary published or broadcast in the popular media and produced for a general audience.

Question 14

Comparison Group

Answer 14

A group in an experiment whose levels on the independent variable differ from those of the treatment group in some intended and meaningful way.

Question 15

Confound

Answer 15

A general term for a potential alternative explanation for a research finding; a threat to internal validity.

Question 16

Confederate

Answer 16

An actor who is directed by the researcher to play a specific role in a research study.

Question 17

Probabilistic

Answer 17

Describing the empirical method, stating that science is intended to explain a certain proportion (but not necessarily all) of the possible cases.

Question 18

Availability Heuristic

Answer 18

A bias in intuition, in which people incorrectly estimate the frequency of something, relying predominately on instances that easily come to mind rather than using all possible evidence in evaluation a conclusion.

Question 19

Present/Present Bias

Answer 19

A bias in intuition, in which people incorrectly estimate the relationship between an event and its outcome, focusing on times the event and outcome are present, while failing to consider evidence that is absent and harder to notice.

Question 20

Confirmation Bias

Answer 20

The tendency to consider only the evidence that supports a hypothesis, including asking only the questions that will lead to the expected answer.

Question 21

Bias Blind Spot

Answer 21

The tendency for people to think that compared to others, they themselves are less likely to engage in biased reasoning.

Question 22

Empirical Journal Article

Answer 22

A scholarly article that reports for the first time the results of a research study.