Unit 2: Research Methods

Question 1

the tendency to believe after learning an outcome, that one would have foreseen it (Also known as i knew it all along phenomenon)

Answer 1

hindsight bias

Question 2

thinking that dies not blindly accept arguments and conclusions. Rather, it examines assumptions, discerns hidden values, evaluates evidence and assesses conclusions

Answer 2

critical thinking

Question 3

an explanation using an integrated set of principles that organizes observations and predicts behaviors or events

Answer 3

theory

Question 4

a testable prediction, often implied by a theory

Answer 4

hypthesis

Question 5

a statement of the procedures (operation) used to define research variables. For example, human intelligence may be operationally defined as what an intelligence test measures.

Answer 5

operational statement

Question 6

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

Answer 6

replications

Question 7

an observation technique in which one person is studied in depth in the hope of revealing universal principles

Answer 7

case study

Question 8

a technique for ascertaining the self-reported attitudes of behaviors of a particular group, usually by questioning a representative, random sample of the group

Answer 8

survey

Question 9

all the cases in a group being studied, from which samples may be drawn

Answer 9

population

Question 10

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

Answer 10

random sample

Question 11

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

Answer 11

naturalistic observation

Question 12

a measure of the extent to which two factors vary together and thus of how well either factor predicts another

Answer 12

correlation

Question 13

a statistical index of the relationship between two things (from -1 to +1)

Answer 13

correlation coeffiecient

Question 14

a graphed cluster of dots 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 (little scatted indicated high correlation)

Answer 14

scatterplots

Question 15

the perception of a relationship where none exists

Answer 15

illusory correlation

Question 16

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

Answer 16

experiment

Question 17

assigning participants to experimental and control groups by chance, thus minimizing preexisting differences between those assigned to different groups

Answer 17

random assignment

Question 18

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.

Answer 18

double-blind procedure

Question 19

experimental results caused by expectations alone; any effect on behavior caused by the administration of an inert substance or condition, which the recipient assumes is an active agent

Answer 19

Placebo effect (latin for “I shall please”)

Question 20

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

Answer 20

experimental group

Question 21

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

Answer 21

control group

Question 22

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

Answer 22

independent variable

Question 23

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

Answer 23

dependent variable

Question 24

the most frequently occurring score(s) in a distribution

Answer 24

mode

Question 25

the arithmetic average of a distribution, obtained by adding the scores and then diving by the number of scores

Answer 25

mean

Question 26

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

Answer 26

median

Question 27

the difference between the highest and lowest scores in a distribution

Answer 27

range

Question 28

a computed measure of how much scores vary around the mean score

Answer 28

standard deviation

Question 29

a symmetrical =, bell-shaped curve that describes the distribution of many types of data; most scores fall near the mean and fewer and fewer near the extremes

Answer 29

normal curve

Question 30

a statistical significance

Answer 30

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

Question 31

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

Answer 31

culture