Module 2: Research Strategies: How Psychologists Ask and Answer Questions Flashcards
Hindsight Bias / “I-knew-it-all-along phenomenon”
the tendency to believe that one would have foreseen it, after the event already occurred. Can be applied to elections, stock market drops, football games, wars, inventions, etc. After the event is over the outcome seems to be obvious.
Overconfidence
the tendency to think more than you do
Critical Thinking
thinking that does not blindly accept arguments and conclusions but rather examines assumptions, discerns hidden values, evaluates evidence and assesses concussions
Scientific method
a self-correcting process for evaluating ideas with observation and analysis
Theory
an explanation using an integrated set of principles that organizes and predicts behaviors or events. By organizing facts a theory simplifies. By linking facts with deeper principles a theory offers a useful summary
Hypotheses
a testable prediction, often implied by a theory
Operational definition
a statement of the procedures (operations used to define research variables)
Theory will be useful if it:
- Organizes a range of self- reports and observations and
2. Implies predictions that anyone can use to check the theory or derive practical applications
Case study
an observation technique in which one person is studied in depth in the hope of revealing universal principles
Naturalistic observation
watching and recording individual’s behavior in their natural setting without trying to manipulate and control the situation. Does not explain behavior it describes it.
Random sample
A sample that fairly represents a population because each member has a fair chance of inclusion.
Correlation coefficient
indicates how closely two things vary together and thus how well either one predicts the other (from -1 to +1)
Positive = direct relationship (increase/decrease together)
Negative = inverse relationship (as one increases the other decreases)
The three correlation possibilities
A can cause B, B can cause A, Some third variable C can cause both A and B
Experimental group
the group exposed to the treatment that is, to one version of the independent variables.
Control group
The group not exposed to the treatment
