Unit 2 Vocab

Question 1

thinking that does not blindly accept arguments and conclusions. Rather, it examines assumptions, assesses the source, discerns hidden values, evaluates evidence, and assesses conclusions. (p. 35)

Answer 1

critical thinking

Question 2

the tendency to believe, after learning an outcome, that one would have foreseen it. (Also known as the I-knew-it-all-along phenomenon.) (p. 31)

Answer 2

hindsight bias

Question 3

a descriptive technique in which one individual or group is studied in depth in the hope of revealing universal principles. (p. 40)

Answer 3

case study

Question 4

a testable prediction, often implied by a theory. (p. 38)

Answer 4

hypothesis

Question 5

observing and recording behavior in naturally occurring situations without trying to manipulate and control the situation. (p. 40)

Answer 5

naturalistic observation

Question 6

a carefully worded statement of the exact procedures (operations) used in a research study. For example, human intelligence may be operationally defined as what an intelligence test measures. (p. 39)

Answer 6

operational definition

Question 7

all those in a group being studied, from which samples may be drawn. (Note: Except for national studies, this does not refer to a country’s whole population.) (p. 43)

Answer 7

population

Question 8

a sample that fairly represents a population because each member has an equal chance of inclusion. (p. 43)

Answer 8

random sample

Question 9

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. (p. 39)

Answer 9

replication

Question 10

a flawed sampling process that produces an unrepresentative sample. (p. 43)

Answer 10

sampling bias

Question 11

a technique for ascertaining the self-reported attitudes or behaviors of a particular group, usually by questioning a representative, random sample of the group. (p. 42)

Answer 11

survey

Question 12

an explanation using an integrated set of principles that organizes observations and predicts behaviors or events. (p. 38)

Answer 12

theory

Question 13

a factor other than the independent variable that might produce an effect in an experiment. (p. 52)

Answer 13

confounding variable

Question 14

in an experiment, the group not exposed to the treatment; contrasts with the experimental group and serves as a comparison for evaluating the effect of the treatment. (p. 51)

Answer 14

control group

Question 15

a statistical index of the relationship between two variables (from -1.0 to +1.0). (p. 46)

Answer 15

correlation coefficient

Question 16

a measure of the extent to which two variables change together, and thus of how well either variable predicts the other. (p. 46)

Answer 16

correlation

Question 17

the outcome factor; the variable that may change in response to manipulations of the independent variable. (p. 52)

Answer 17

dependent variable

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. (p. 51)

Answer 18

double-blind procedure

Question 19

a research method in which an investigator manipulates one or 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 other relevant variables. (p. 51)

Answer 19

experiment

Question 20

in an experiment, the group exposed to the treatment, that is, to one version of the independent variable. (p. 51)

Answer 20

experimental group

Question 21

the perception of a relationship where none exists. (p. 50)

Answer 21

illusory correlation

Question 22

the experimental factor that is manipulated; the variable whose effect is being studied. (p. 52)

Answer 22

independent variable

Question 23

Latin for “I shall please” 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. (p. 52)

Answer 23

placebo effect [pluh-SEE-bo]

Question 24

assigning participants to experimental and control groups by chance, thus minimizing preexisting differences between the different groups. (p. 51)

Answer 24

random assignment

Question 25

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 (little scatter indicates high correlation). (p. 46)

Answer 25

scatterplot

Question 26

the extent to which a test measures or predicts what it is supposed to. (p. 53)

Answer 26

validity

Question 27

numerical data used to measure and describe characteristics of groups. Includes measures of central tendency and measures of variation. (p. 57)

Answer 27

descriptive statistics

Question 28

a bar graph depicting a frequency distribution. (p. 57)

Answer 28

histogram

Question 29

numerical data that allow one to generalize–to infer from sample data the probability of something being true of a population. (p. 60)

Answer 29

inferential statistics

Question 30

the arithmetic average of a distribution, obtained by adding the scores and then dividing by the number of scores. (p. 57)

Answer 30

mean

Question 31

the middle score in a distribution; half the scores are above it and half are below it. (p. 57)

Answer 31

Median

Question 32

the most frequently occurring score(s) in a distribution. (p. 57)

Answer 32

Mode

Question 33

a symmetrical, bell-shaped curve that describes the distribution of many types of data; most scores fall near the mean (about 68 percent fall within one standard deviation of it) and fewer and fewer near the extremes. (p. 59)

Answer 33

Normal curve (normal distribution)

Question 34

the difference between the highest and lowest scores in a distribution. (p. 58)

Answer 34

Range

Question 35

a representation of scores that lack symmetry around their average value. (p. 58)

Answer 35

skewed distribution

Question 36

a computed measure of how much scores vary around the mean score. (p. 58)

Answer 36

standard deviation

Question 37

a statistical statement of how likely it is that an obtained result occurred by chance. (p. 60)

Answer 37

statistical significance

Question 38

The enduring behaviors, ideas, attitudes, values, and traditions shared by a group of people and transmitted from one generation to the next. (p. 65) e

Answer 38

Culture

Question 39

the postexperimental explanation of a study, including its purpose and any deceptions, to its participants. (p. 68)

Answer 39

Debriefing

Question 40

an ethical principle that research participants be told enough to enable them to choose whether they wish to participate. (p. 68)

Answer 40

informed consent