Thinking Critically Flashcards
Intuition
An effortless, immediate, automatic feeling or thought
Hindsight bias
The tendency to believe after hearing an outcome, that one would have foreseen it.
Scientific attitudes
Curious, skeptical, and humble.
Critical thinking
Thinking that does not blindly accept arguments and conclusions. Rather, it examines assumptions, appraises the source, discerns hidden values, evaluates evidence, and assessed conclusions.
Theory
An explanation using an integrated set of principles that organizes observations and predicts behaviors or events
Hypothesis
A testable prediction, often implied by a theory
Operational definition
A carefully worded statement of the exact procedures (operations) used in a research study. Example, human intelligence may be operationally defined as what an intelligence test measures.
Replication
Repeating the essence of a research study, usually with different participants in different situations, to see whether the basic finding extends to other participants and circumstances.
Case study
A description technique in which one individual or group is studied in depth in the hope revealing universal principles.
Naturalistic observation
A descriptive technique of observing and recording behavior in naturally occurring situations without trying to manipulate and control the situation.
Surveys and interviews
Asking people questions
Population
All those in a group being studied, from which samples may be drawn.
Random sample
A sample that fairly represents a population because each member has an equal chance of inclusion.
Correlation
A measure of the extent to which two factors vary together, and thus of how well either factor predicts the other.
Correlation coefficient
A statistical index of relationships between two things.
Scatter plot
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.
Regression towards the mean
The tendency for extreme or unshakable scores or events to fall back toward the average.
Experiment
A research method in which an investigator manipulates one or more factors (independent variable) to observe the effect on some behavior or metal process (dependent variable). By random assignment of participants, the experimenter aims to control other relevant factors.
Experimental group
In an experiment, the group exposed to the treatment, that is, to one version of the independent variable.
Control group
In an experiment, the group not exposed to the treatment; contrasts with the experimental group and serves as a comparison for the evaluations the effect of the treatment.
Random assignment
Assigning participants to experimental groups and control groups by chance, thus minimizing preexisting differences between the different groups.
Double-blind procedure
An experimental procedure in which both the research participants and the research staff are ignorant about whether the research participants have received the treatment or placebo. Commonly used in drug-evaluations.
Placebo effect
Any effect on behavior caused by the administration of an inert substance or condition, which the recipient assumes is an active agent.
Independent variable
In an experiment, the factor that is manipulated; the variable whose effect is being studied.
