Scientific Method

Question 1

operationalization

Answer 1

defining variables in a way that they can be measures systematically and practically

Question 2

sample

Answer 2

a subset of a population being studied

Question 3

population

Answer 3

entire group in which a sample is taken

Question 4

confirmation bias

Answer 4

we tend to look for information that supports our beliefs - not reality

Question 5

critical thinking

Answer 5

the ability to think clearly, rationally, and independently

Question 6

theory

Answer 6

facts and relationships between facts that can be used to explain and predict phenomena

Question 7

hypothesis

Answer 7

a type of inference of educated guess, based on prior evidence and logical possibilities

Question 8

meta-analysis

Answer 8

previous experiments on a single topic to draw conclusions

Question 9

publication bias

Answer 9

when published studies are not representative of all the work done on a particular phenomenon

Question 10

descriptive method

Answer 10

research methods designed for making careful, systematic observations
- case studies
- naturalistic observation
- survey

Question 11

case study

Answer 11

a research method that involves the intensive examination of unusual people or organizations

Question 12

naturalistic method

Answer 12

observing people/things in their natural habitat

Question 13

survey

Answer 13

a research method that involves the intensive examination of unusual people or organizations

Question 14

correlational method

Answer 14

a measure of the direction and strength of the relationship between two variables

Question 15

scatterplot

Answer 15

provides illustration of relationship between two or more variables

Question 16

confounding variable

Answer 16

a variable that is unaccounted for that can affect the experiment results

Question 17

experimental method

Answer 17

a research method that tests hypothesis and allows researches to make conclusions about causality

Question 18

independent variable

Answer 18

• variable that is being manipulated
• not affected by another variable

Question 19

dependent variable

Answer 19

• outcome factor
• this variable changes in response to the independent variable

Question 20

cross-sectional study

Answer 20

assess age related changes in which data are obtained simultaneously from people of differing ages

Question 21

cohort effects

Answer 21

occur when differences between age groups are due to the groups growing up in different time periods

Question 22

longitudinal study

Answer 22

following the same group of individuals throughout different stages of their lives and recording data

Question 23

mixed longitudinal design

Answer 23

combines cross sectional and longitudinal design