Research Methods Flashcards
hindsight bias
the tendency of people to overestimate their ability to have predicted an outcome that could not possibly have been predicted.
critical thinking
thinking that does not blindly accept arguments and conclusions. rather, it examines assumptions, discerns hidden values, evaluates evidence, and assesses conclusions.
theory
a structured set of concepts to explain a phenomena or group of phenomena.
hypothesis
a testable statement, predicting the relationship between two (or more) variables, which can be accepted or rejected as a result of the research outcome.
operational definition
a statement of the procedures (operations) used to define research variable. For example, human intelligence may be operationally defined as what an intelligence test measures
replication
repeating the essence of a research study, usually with different situations, to see whether the basic findings extends to other participants and circumstances
case study
a detailed description of a single individual, typically used to provide information on the person’s history and to aid in interpreting the person’s behavior.
survey
a technique o ascertaining the self-reported attitudes or behaviors of people, usually by questioning a representative random sample of them.
false consensus effect
the tendency to overestimate the extent to which others share our beliefs and behaviors.
population
all the cases in the group, from which samples may be drawn in a study.
random sample
a sample that fairly represents a population because each member has an equal chance on inclusion.
naturalistic observation
a study whereby the observer does not manipulate any variables within a natural setting where behavior takes place, by merely observing and recording.
correlation
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.
scatterplot
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
illusory correlation
the perception of a relationship where none exists.
experiment
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 experiment aims to control other relevant factors.
double-blind procedure
the 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.
placebo effect
experimental results caused by expectations alone.
experimental condition
the condition of the experiment that exposes participants to the treatment, that is, to one version of the independent variable.
control condition
the condition of an experiment that contrasts the experimental condition and serves as a comparison for evaluating the effect of the treatment.
random assingment
assigning participants to experimental and control conditions by chance.
independent variable
the experimental factor that is manipulated, the variable whose effect is being studied.
dependent variable
the outcome factor; the variable that may change in response to manipulations of the independent variable.
mode
the most frequently occurring score(s) in a distribution.
mean
the arithmetic average of a distribution, obtained by adding the scores and then dividing by the number of scores.
median
the middle score in a distribution; half the scores are above it and half the scores are below it.
range
the difference between the highest and lowest scores in a distribution.
standard deviation
a computed measure of how much scores vary around the mean score.
statistical significance
a statistical statement of how likely it is that an obtained result occurred by chance.
culture
the enduring behaviors, ideas, attitudes, and traditions shared by a large group of people and transmitted from one generation to the next.
