Research Methods Cirricular Focus & Vocabulary

Question 1

Hindsight Bias

Answer 1

The tendency to believe, after learning an outcome, that one would have foreseen it all (also known as the I-knew-it-all phenomenon)

Question 2

Critical thinking

Answer 2

Thinking that does not blindly accept arguments and conclusions. Rather, it examines assumptions, assesses the source, discerns hidden values, evaluates evidence and assesses conclusions

Question 3

Theory

Answer 3

An explanation using an inter grated set of principles that organizes observations and predicts behaviours or events

Question 4

Hypothesis

Answer 4

A testable prediction, often implied by a theory

Question 5

Operational definition

Answer 5

A carefully worded statement of the exact procedures (operations) used in a research study. For example, human intelligence may be operationally defined as what an intelligence test measures

Question 6

Replication

Answer 6

Repeating the essence of a research study, usually with different participants in different situations to see whether the basic findings extend to other participants and circumstances

Question 7

Case study

Answer 7

A descriptive technique in which one individual or group is studied in depth in the hope of revealing universal principles

Question 8

Naturalistic observation

Answer 8

Observing and recording behaviour in naturally occurring situations without trying to manipulate and control the situations

Question 9

Survey

Answer 9

A technique for ascertaining the self-reporting attitudes or behaviours of a particular, usually by questioning a representative, random sample of the group

Question 10

Sampling bias

Answer 10

A flawed sampling process that produces an unrepresentative sample

Question 11

Population

Answer 11

All those in a group being studied from which samples may be drawn (Note : except for national studies, this does not refer to a country’s whole population)

Question 12

Illusionary correlation

Answer 12

The perception of a relationship where none exist

Question 13

Random sample

Answer 13

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

Question 14

Correlation

Answer 14

A measure of the extent to which two variables change together and thus of how well either variable predicts the other

Question 15

Correlation coefficient

Answer 15

A statistical index of the relationship between two variables from -1.0 to +1.0

Question 16

Scatter plot

Answer 16

A grapes cluster of dots, each of which represents the values of two variables. The slope of the two 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)

Question 17

Experiment

Answer 17

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

Question 18

Experimental group

Answer 18

In the experiment, the group exposed to the treatment, that is, to one version of the independent variable

Question 19

Control group

Answer 19

In an experiment, the group not exposed to the treatment ; contrasts with the experimental group and serves as a comparison for evaluating the effect of the treatment.

Question 20

Random assignment

Answer 20

Assigning participants to experimental and control groups by chance, thus minimizing preexisting differences between the different groups

Question 21

Double blind procedure

Answer 21

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 22

Placebo (effect)

Answer 22

Experimental results caused by expectations alone ; any effect on behaviour caused by the administration of an inert substance or condition

Question 23

Independent variable

Answer 23

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

Question 24

Confounding variable

Answer 24

A factor other than the independent variable that might produce an effect in an experiment

Question 25

Dependent variable

Answer 25

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

Question 26

Validity

Answer 26

The extent to which a test or experiment measures or predicts what it is supposed to

Question 27

Descriptive statistics

Answer 27

Numerical data used to measure and describe characteristics of groups. Includes measures of central tendency and measures of variation

Question 28

Histogram

Answer 28

A bar graph depicting a frequency distribution

Question 29

Mode

Answer 29

The most frequently occurring score(a) in a distribution

Question 30

Mean

Answer 30

The arithmetic average of a distribution, obtained by adding the scores and then dividing by the # of scores

Question 31

Median

Answer 31

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

Question 32

Skewed distribution

Answer 32

An representation of scores that lack symmetry around their average value

Question 33

Range

Answer 33

The difference between the highest and lowest scores in a distribution

Question 34

Standard deviation

Answer 34

A compound measure of how much scores vary around the mean score

Question 35

Normal curve

Answer 35

A symmetrical bell-,74?3 that describes the distribution of many types of data ; most scores fall near the mean and fewer and fewer near the extremes

Question 36

Inferential statistics

Answer 36

Numerical data that allow one to generalize to infer from sample data the probability of something being true of a population

Question 37

Statistical significance

Answer 37

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

Question 38

Culture

Answer 38

The enduring behaviours, ideas, attitudes, values and traditions shared by a group of people and transmitted from one generation to the next

Question 39

Informed consent

Answer 39

An ethical principle that research participants be told enough to enable them to choose whether they wish to participate

Question 40

Debriefing

Answer 40

The post experimental explanation of a study ; including its purpose and any deceptions to its participants

Question 41

Norm group

Answer 41

A group which an understood rule for accepted and expected behaviour

Question 42

Reinforcement

Answer 42

In operant conditioning, any event that strengthens the behaviour it follows

Question 43

Variable

Answer 43

Something that can be changed or varied such as a characteristic or value