Unit 3 terms

Question 1

validity

Answer 1

an indication of accuracy in terms of the extent to which a research conclusion corresponds with reality

Question 2

Internal Validity

Answer 2

extent to which a study provides evidence of a cause-effect relationship between the independent and dependent variables

Question 3

Construct Validity

Answer 3

extent to which the results sup- port the theory behind the research

Question 4

confounding

Answer 4

error that occurs when the effects of two variables in an experiment cannot be separated, resulting in a confused interpretation of the results

Question 5

External Validity

Answer 5

how well the findings of an experiment generalize to other situations or populations

Question 6

Statistical conclusion validity

Answer 6

extent to which data are shown to be the result of cause-effect relationships rather than accident

Question 7

history

Answer 7

events that occur outside of the experiment that could influence the results of the experiment

Question 8

maturation

Answer 8

a source of error in an experiment related to the amount of time between measurements

Question 9

effect of repeat testing:

Answer 9

performance on a second test is influenced by simply having taken a first test

Question 11

Regression Effect

Answer 11

tendency of subjects with extreme scores on a first measure to score closer to the mean on a second testing

Question 12

selection

Answer 12

a confound that can occur due to assignment of subjects to groups

Question 13

mortality

Answer 13

the dropping out of some subjects before an experiment is completed, causing a threat to validity

Question 14

role demands:

Answer 14

participants’ expectations of what an experiment requires them to do

Question 15

Experimenter bias

Answer 15

the unintentional influence of the experimenter’s expectations, beliefs, or preconceived notions on the outcome of a study or research experiment.

Question 16

Subject bias

Answer 16

when a participant in a research study may consciously or unconsciously act the way they think the researcher wants them to, rather than responding naturally

Question 17

Control

Answer 17

any means used to rule out threats to the validity of research

Question 18

random assignment:

Answer 18

unbiased assignment process that gives each subject an equal and independent chance of being placed in every condition

Question 19

Matching

Answer 19

control procedure to ensure that experimental and control groups are equated on one or more variables before the experiment

Question 20

statistical control

Answer 20

mathematical means of com- paring subjects on paper when they cannot be equated as they exist
in fact

Question 21

replicability

Answer 21

repeating an experiment to see if the results will be the same