Psych Chapter 3

Question 1

case study

Answer 1

an observation technique in which one person is studied in depth in the hope of revealing universal principles.

Question 2

survey

Answer 2

a technique for ascertaining the self-reported attitudes or behaviors of people, usually by questioning a representative, random sample of them.

Question 3

false consensus effect

Answer 3

the tendency to overestimate the extent to which others share our beliefs and behaviors.

Question 4

population

Answer 4

all the cases in a group, from which samples may be drawn for a study. (Note: Except for national studies, this does not refer to a country’s whole population.)

Question 5

random sample

Answer 5

a sample that fairly represents a population because each member has an equal chance of inclusion.

Question 6

naturalistic observation

Answer 6

observing and recording behavior in naturally occurring situations without trying to manipulate and control the situation.

Question 7

correlation

Answer 7

a measure of the extent to which two factors vary together, and thus of how well either factor predicts the other. The correlation coefficient is the mathematical expression of the relationship, ranging from -1 to +1.

Question 8

scatterplot

Answer 8

a graphed cluster of dots, each of which represents the values of two variables. The slope of the points suggests the direction of the relationship between the two variables. The amount of scatter suggests the strength of the correlation (little scatter indicates high correlation). (Also called a scattergram or scatter diagram.)

Question 9

illusory correlation

Answer 9

the perception of a relationship where none exists.

Question 10

experiment

Answer 10

a research method in which an investigator manipulates one or more factors (independent variables) to observe the effect on some behavior or mental process (the dependent variable). By random assignment of participants, the experimenter aims to control other relevant factors.

Question 11

double-blind procedure

Answer 11

an experimental procedure in which both the research participants and the research staff are ignorant (blind) about whether the research participants have received the treatment or a placebo. Commonly used in drug-evaluation studies.

Question 12

placebo effect

Answer 12

[pluh-SEE-bo; Latin for “I shall please”] experimental results caused by expectations alone; any effect on behavior caused by the administration of an inert substance or condition, which is assumed to be an active agent.

Question 13

experimental condition

Answer 13

the condition of an experiment that exposes participants to the treatment, that is, to one version of the independent variable.

Question 14

control condition

Answer 14

the condition of an experiment that contrasts with the experimental condition and serves as a comparison for evaluating the effect of the treatment.

Question 15

random assignment

Answer 15

assigning participants to experimental and control conditions by chance, thus minimizing preexisting differences between those assigned to the different groups.

Question 16

independent variable

Answer 16

the experimental factor that is manipulated; the variable whose effect is being studied.

Question 17

dependent variable

Answer 17

the outcome factor; the variable that may change in response to manipulations of the independent variable.

Question 18

mode

Answer 18

the most frequently occurring score(s) in a distribution.

Question 19

mean

Answer 19

the arithmetic average of a distribution, obtained by adding the scores and then dividing by the number of scores.

Question 20

median

Answer 20

the middle score in a distribution; half the scores are above it and half are below it.

Question 21

range

Answer 21

the difference between the highest and lowest scores in a distribution.

Question 22

standard deviation

Answer 22

a computed measure of how much scores vary around the mean score.

Question 23

statistical significance

Answer 23

a statistical statement of how likely it is that an obtained result occurred by chance.