Unit 2 Key Terms

Question 1

Hindsight bias

Answer 1

Refers to the tendency to believe after learning an outcome, that would have foreseen it, knew it all along

Question 2

Critical thinking

Answer 2

Careful reasoning that examines assumptions, discerns hidden values, evaluates evidence and assesses conclusions

Question 3

Theory

Answer 3

Explanation using integrated set of principles that organized and predicts behaviors or events

Question 4

Hypothesis

Answer 4

Testable prediction, often implied by theory, testing hypothesis helps scientists test theories

Question 5

Operational definition

Answer 5

Clearly defined variable for replication

Question 6

Replication

Answer 6

Repeating an experiment, using different people and situations where To see whether the basic finding generalizes to other people and circumstances

Question 7

Case study

Answer 7

Observation technique in which one person is studied in great depth, often with intention of revealing universal principals

Question 8

Survey

Answer 8

A technique for self reporting attitudes or behaviors for a specific group, usually by questioning or random sampling of the group

Question 9

Population

Answer 9

Consists of all the members of a group being studied

Question 10

Naturalistic observation

Answer 10

Involves observing and recording behavior in naturally occurring situations without trying to manipulate and control the situation

Question 11

Correlation

Answer 11

Measure of the extent to which two factors vary together and this how well either factor predicts the other

Question 12

Correlation coefficient

Answer 12

Statistical measure of the relationship it can be positive or negative

Question 13

Scatter plot

Answer 13

A depiction of the relationship between two variables by means of a graphed cluster of dots

Question 14

Illusory correlation

Answer 14

Perception of a relationship where none exists

Question 15

Experiment

Answer 15

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

Question 16

Random assignment

Answer 16

Procedure of assigning participants to the experimental and control conditions by chance, minimizing pre existing differences between the groups

Question 17

Double blind procedure

Answer 17

Experimental procedure where neither experimenter nor the research participants are aware of which groups is receiving the treatment.

Question 18

Double blind procedure used for

Answer 18

To prevent experimenters and participants expectations from influencing the results of an experiment

Question 19

Placebo effect

Answer 19

Occurs when the results of an experiment are caused by expectations alone

Question 20

Experimental group

Answer 20

Group in high participants are exposed to the independent variable being studied

Question 21

Experimental group example

Answer 21

Effects of new reaction drug, participants in the experimental would actually receive the drug being tested

Question 22

Control group

Answer 22

Group in which the treatment of interest, independent variable, is withheld so that the comparison to the experimental group can be made

Question 23

Control group example

Answer 23

Effects of a new drug on reaction time, control group would be the group of participants given the placebo

Question 24

Independent variable

Answer 24

Is the factor being manipulated and tested by the investigator

Question 25

Independent variable example

Answer 25

In study of effects of new drUg on reaction time, The drug is the independent

Question 26

Confounding variable

Answer 26

Any favor for other than the independent that might affect the factor being measured in an experiment

Question 27

Dependent variable

Answer 27

Is the factor being measured by the investigator, the factor that might change in response to manipulations of independent

Question 28

Dependent variable example

Answer 28

In study of effects of a new drug reaction time, the participants reaction time is the dependent

Question 29

What are the three things of central tendency

Answer 29

Mean, median, mode

Question 30

Mode

Answer 30

Most frequently occurring score in distribution

Question 31

Mean

Answer 31

Arithmetic average, measure by adding the scores in a distribution and dividing by the number of scores

Question 32

Median

Answer 32

Score that falls at the 50th percentile, cutting a distribution in half

Question 33

What is the simplest measure of central tendency

Answer 33

Mode

Question 34

When is median more appropriate central tendency

Answer 34

When mean is affected by a few extreme scores, median is more appropriate

Question 35

Range

Answer 35

Measure of variation computed as the difference between the highest and lowest scores

Question 36

Standard deviation

Answer 36

Computed measure of how much scores in a distribution deviate from the mean.

Question 37

What is a more precise measure of variation than range

Answer 37

Standard deviation because it is based on every score in the distribution, more precise

Question 38

Normal curve

Answer 38

Symmetrical bell shaped distribution describing many types of psychological data, most scores fall near mean

Question 39

Statistical significance

Answer 39

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

Question 40

What do statistical significance tests help

Answer 40

Help researchers decide when they can justifiably generalize from an observed instance

Question 41

Culture

Answer 41

The enduring behaviors, ideas. Attitudes, and traditions shared by a large group of people and passed to next generations

Question 42

Informed consent

Answer 42

The ethical principle that research participants be told enough to enable them to chose whether they wish to participate

Question 43

Debriefing

Answer 43

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