Unit 2 Key Terms Flashcards
Hindsight bias
Refers to the tendency to believe after learning an outcome, that would have foreseen it, knew it all along
Critical thinking
Careful reasoning that examines assumptions, discerns hidden values, evaluates evidence and assesses conclusions
Theory
Explanation using integrated set of principles that organized and predicts behaviors or events
Hypothesis
Testable prediction, often implied by theory, testing hypothesis helps scientists test theories
Operational definition
Clearly defined variable for replication
Replication
Repeating an experiment, using different people and situations where To see whether the basic finding generalizes to other people and circumstances
Case study
Observation technique in which one person is studied in great depth, often with intention of revealing universal principals
Survey
A technique for self reporting attitudes or behaviors for a specific group, usually by questioning or random sampling of the group
Population
Consists of all the members of a group being studied
Naturalistic observation
Involves observing and recording behavior in naturally occurring situations without trying to manipulate and control the situation
Correlation
Measure of the extent to which two factors vary together and this how well either factor predicts the other
Correlation coefficient
Statistical measure of the relationship it can be positive or negative
Scatter plot
A depiction of the relationship between two variables by means of a graphed cluster of dots
Illusory correlation
Perception of a relationship where none exists
Experiment
Research method in which a researcher directly manipulates one or more factors (ind.) to observe the effect on some behavior or mental processes (dep.)
Cause effect relationship
Random assignment
Procedure of assigning participants to the experimental and control conditions by chance, minimizing pre existing differences between the groups
Double blind procedure
Experimental procedure where neither experimenter nor the research participants are aware of which groups is receiving the treatment.
Double blind procedure used for
To prevent experimenters and participants expectations from influencing the results of an experiment
Placebo effect
Occurs when the results of an experiment are caused by expectations alone
Experimental group
Group in high participants are exposed to the independent variable being studied
Experimental group example
Effects of new reaction drug, participants in the experimental would actually receive the drug being tested
Control group
Group in which the treatment of interest, independent variable, is withheld so that the comparison to the experimental group can be made
Control group example
Effects of a new drug on reaction time, control group would be the group of participants given the placebo
Independent variable
Is the factor being manipulated and tested by the investigator
Independent variable example
In study of effects of new drUg on reaction time, The drug is the independent
Confounding variable
Any favor for other than the independent that might affect the factor being measured in an experiment
Dependent variable
Is the factor being measured by the investigator, the factor that might change in response to manipulations of independent
Dependent variable example
In study of effects of a new drug reaction time, the participants reaction time is the dependent
What are the three things of central tendency
Mean, median, mode
Mode
Most frequently occurring score in distribution
Mean
Arithmetic average, measure by adding the scores in a distribution and dividing by the number of scores
Median
Score that falls at the 50th percentile, cutting a distribution in half
What is the simplest measure of central tendency
Mode
When is median more appropriate central tendency
When mean is affected by a few extreme scores, median is more appropriate
Range
Measure of variation computed as the difference between the highest and lowest scores
Standard deviation
Computed measure of how much scores in a distribution deviate from the mean.
What is a more precise measure of variation than range
Standard deviation because it is based on every score in the distribution, more precise
Normal curve
Symmetrical bell shaped distribution describing many types of psychological data, most scores fall near mean
Statistical significance
A statistical statement of how likely it is that an obtained result occurred by chance
What do statistical significance tests help
Help researchers decide when they can justifiably generalize from an observed instance
Culture
The enduring behaviors, ideas. Attitudes, and traditions shared by a large group of people and passed to next generations
Informed consent
The ethical principle that research participants be told enough to enable them to chose whether they wish to participate
Debriefing
The post experimental explanation of a study, including its purpose and any deceptions to its participants
