Research Methods Flashcards
Hindsight bias
The tendency to believe, after learning an outcome that one would have foreseen it.
Critical thinking
Thinking that doesn’t blindly accept arguments and conclusions
Rather we examine assumptions discerns and asses conclusions
Theory
Explanation, uses an integrated set of principals that organizes observations and predicts behaviors or events.
Hypothesis
A testable prediction
often implied by a theory
Operational definition
Statement of the procedures used to define research variables
Need to allow for replication so very specific
Replication
Repeating the essence of a research study
Different participants/situations to see if it is applicable to other participants pr circumstances
Survey
Technique for getting self reported behaviors from a particular, randomly selected, group.
Population
All cases in group being studied.
Random sample
Fairly represents a population b/c each member had an equal chance of inclusion
Correlation
Measure of the extent to which two factors vary together, thus how well each factor predicts the other
Naturalistic observation
Observing and recording behavior in naturally occurring situations without trying to manipulate it at all.
Correlation coefficient
Statistical index of the relationship Btwn two things
-1 to +1
Scatter plot
Graphed cluster of dots which represent values of two variables
Experiment
A research method in which an investigator manipulates one or more variables (independent) to observe the effect on some behavior or mental process
Double blind procedure
Both researcher and participants are ignorant to who receives treatment
Placebo
(Effect) Experimental results caused by expectation
Fake treatment
Experimental group
Group that gets treatment
Control group
No treatment
Independent variable
The experimental factor that is manipulated
Whose Effect is being studied
Confounding variable
Other than independent variable
Might produce effect in an experiment
Dependent variable
May change in response to manipulations of independent variable
