Flashcards
Chapter 2
Cards in this deck (48)
- 1TheoryA broad idea or set of closely related ideas that attempts to explain observations and to make predictions about future observations.
- 2HypothesisAn educated guess that derives logically from a theory; a prediction that can be tested.
- 3PredictionA statement about the specific expectation for the outcome of a study.
- 4VariableAnything that can change.
- 5Operational DefinitionA definition that provides an objective description of how a variable is going to be measured and observed in a particular study.
- 6ReplicationRepeating a study in a new sample to see if results are the same as in previous work. A direct replication employs the very same methods as the original study. A conceptual replication employs different methods to test the same prediction.
- 7Meta-AnalysisA statistical procedure that summarizes a large body of evidence from the research literature on a particular topic, allowing the researcher to assess the strength of the relationship between the variables.
- 8Descriptive ResearchResearch that determines the basic dimensions of a phenomenon--defining what it is, how often it occurs, and so on.
- 9Case Study / Case HistoryAn in-depth look at a single individual.
- 10Correlational ResearchResearch that examines the relationship between variables in order to find out whether and how two variables change together.
- 11Third Variable ProblemThe circumstance in which a variable that has not been measured accounts for the relationship between two other variables. Third variables are also known as confounds.
- 12Cross-Sectional DesignA type of correlational study in which variables are measured at a single point in time.
- 13Longitudinal DesignA special kind of systematic observation, used by correlational researchers, that involves obtaining measures of the variables of interest in multiple waves over time.
- 14ExperimentA carefully regulated procedure in which the researcher manipulates one or more variables believed to influence some other variables.
- 15Random AssignmentThe assignment of participants to experimental groups by chance to reduce the likelihood that a study's results will be due to preexisting differences between groups.
- 16Independent VariableA manipulated experimental factor; the variable that the experimenter changes to see what its effects are.
- 17Dependent VariableThe outcome; the variable that may change in an experiment in response to changes in the independent variable.
- 18ConfederateA person who is given a role to play in an experiment so that the social context can be manipulated.
- 19Experimental GroupThe participants in an experiment who receive the drug or other treatment under study; those who are exposed to the change that the independent variable represents.
- 20Control GroupThe participants in an experiment who are as much like the experimental group as possible and who are treated in every way like the experimental group for a manipulated factor, the independent variable.
- 21External ValidityThe degree to which an experimental design actually reflects the real-world issues it is supposed to address.
- 22Internal ValidityThe degree to which changes in the dependent variable are due to the manipulation of the independent variable.
- 23Experimental BiasThe influence of the experimenter's expectations on the outcome of the research.
- 24Demand CharacteristicAny aspect of a study that communicates to the participants how the experimenter wants them to behave.
- 25Research Participant BiasIn an experiment, the influence of participants' expectations and of their thoughts on how they should behave, on their behavior.
- 26Placebo EffectA phenomenon in which the expectation of the participants, rather than the actual treatment, produces an outcome.
- 27PlaceboIn a drug study, a harmless substance that has no physiological effect, given to participants in a control group so that they are treated identically to the experimental group except for the active agent.
- 28Double-Blind ExperimentAn experimental design in which neither the experimenter not the participants are aware of which participants are in the experimental group and which are in the control group until the results are calculated.
- 29PopulationThe entire group about which the investigator wants to draw conclusions.
- 30SampleThe subset of the population chosen by the investigator for study.
- 31Random SampleA sample that gives every member of the population an equal chance of being selected.
- 32Naturalistic ObservationThe observation of behavior in a real-world setting.
- 33Descriptive StatisticsMathematical procedures that are used to describe and summarize sets of data in a meaningful way.
- 34MeanA measure of central tendency that is the average for that sample.
- 35MedianA measure of central tendency that is the middle score in a sample.
- 36ModeA measure of central tendency that is the most common score in a sample.
- 37RangeA measure of dispersion that is the difference between the highest and lowest scores.
- 38Standard DeviationA measure of dispersion that indicates how much the scores in a sample differ from the mean in the sample.
- 39Inferential StatisticsMathematical methods that are used to indicate whether the data sufficiently support a research hypothesis.
- 40What are the five steps of the Scientific Method?1. Observe
2. Hypothesize
3. Test
4. Conclusions
5. Evaluate - 41What are the three types of research?Descriptive
Correlational
Experimental - 42What is the "Goal" of Descriptive Research?To describe a phenomenon.
- 43What is the "Goal" of Correlational Research?To identify relationships.
- 44What is the "Goal" of Experimental Research?To determine causation.
- 45Correlation _____ equal causation.does not
- 46What is a solution to bias and expectations during research?Double-Blind Experiment
(Recite Definition) - 47What are the Measures of Central Tendencies?Mean
Median
Mode - 48What are the Measures of Dispersion?Range
Standard Deviation
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- Vocabulary and "Short Answer" questions.
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- Andrew Lewis
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