Unit 2: Scientific Methods in Psychology Flashcards
Hypothesis
A clear predictive statement.
Replicability
Same result has to repeat, in order to be valid.
Operational Definition
Definition that specifies the operations (procedures) used to produce or measure something, a way to give it a numerical value.
Population
Entire group of individuals.
Representative Sample
The sample to match the entire population (society) with regard to specific variables.
Random Sample
Randomly selected, so that every individual has an equal chance of being selected.
Cross Cultural Sample
Groups of people from at least two cultures.
Experimental Bias
Bias towards the results based on their own expectations.
Blind Observer
An observer who can record data without knowing what the researcher has predicted.
Blind Study
Participants don’t know what is being measured.
Double-Blind Study
Neither the observer nor the subjects know which subjects received which treatment.
Naturalistic Observation
An examination of what people or nonhuman animals do under natural conditions.
Case History
Description of a single individual, includes information on both past experiences and current behavior.
Surveys
Study of certain beliefs, attitudes, or behaviors based on people’s responses to specific questions.
Controlled Experiment
Control group
Correlation Study
Investigators measure the correlation between two variables without controlling either of them.
Correlation
Measure of relationship between two variables, both are outside the investigator’s control.
Correlational Coefficient
Measure of how related two variables are. From +1 (perfect positive relationship) to 0 (no linear relationship) to -1 (perfect negative relationship) and is shown in scatterplot.
Depent Variable
Measures to determine how the independent changes. (Stays the same)
Independent Variable
Experiment that is manipulated.
Random Assignment
Random participants
Experimental Group
Group that receives the treatment.
Control Group
Non-tested group
Informed Consent
Subject’s agreement to take part in an experiment after being told what to expect.
Mean
Sum of all scores divided by the total number of scores.
Median
Middle score in a list of scores from highest to lowest.
Mode
Score that appears the most.
Standard Deviation
Measurement of variation exists from the mean
Inferential Statistics
Statements about large populations based on inferences from small samples.
Reliability
Consistency of a measure
Hind Sight Bias
People who say they knew already, and try to prove themselves by evidence or support.
False Consensus Effect
People overestimate how many agree with them.
Placebo
“Fake” variable
Scatter Plot
Represents strength of correlation.
Illusory Correlation
Appears to be a strong correlation, but it’s not.
Statistical Significance
Effects that have a low probablity of having arisen by chance.
Kenneth Clark
1st African American Ph. D recipient in Columbia University history.
Daniel Kahneman
Israeli-American psychologist and winner of the 2002 Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences. Notable for his work on the psychology of judgment and decision-making, behavioral economics and hedonic psychology.
James Randi
Known for challenges to paranormal claims and pseudoscience.
Amos Tversky
Cognitive and mathematical psychologist, a pioneer of cognitive science.
