CHAPTER ONE PSYCH 1115

Question 1

scientific method

Answer 1

A scientific method is the process of testing ideas about the world.

Question 2

theory

Answer 2

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

Question 3

hypothesis

Answer 3

Testable prediction, often implied by a theory

Question 4

Operational definition

Answer 4

Carefully worded statement of the exact procedures (operations) used in a research study

Question 5

Replication

Answer 5

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

Question 6

Descriptive research

Answer 6

is a systematic, objective observation of people.

Its goal is to provide a clear, accurate picture of people’s behaviors, thoughts, and attributes.

Question 7

case study and naturalistic observation

Answer 7

Case study - Examines one individual in depth

Naturalistic observation - Records behavior in natural environment

Question 8

surrvey and interview

random sampling

Answer 8

Survey and interview - Examine many cases in less depth
Wording effect

Random sampling - Uses random sampling of the population for best results

Question 9

Correlation

Answer 9

an observation that two traits or attributes are related to each other (that is, they are “co”-related)

Question 10

positive, negative, coefficient correlation

Answer 10

Positive correlation (between 0 and +1.00) - Indicates a direct relationship: Two things increase together or decrease together.
Negative correlation (between 0 and −1.00) - Indicates an inverse relationship: As one thing increases, the other decreases.
Correlation coefficient - Provides a statistical measure of how closely two things vary together and how well one predicts the other

Question 11

variables and scatterplots

Answer 11

Variable - Includes anything that can vary and is feasible and ethical to measure.- Scatterplot - A graph cluster of dots, each of which represents the values of two variables

Question 12

Scatterplots, Showing Patterns of Correlation

Answer 12

Correlations can range from +1.00 (scores on one measure increase in direct proportion to scores on another measure), to 0.00 (no relationship), to –1.00 (scores on one measure decrease precisely as scores rise on the other)

Question 13

Regression Toward the Mean and illusory correlation

Answer 13

Illusory correlation - The perception of a relationship between two variables when only a minor or no relationship actually exists
May be fed by regression toward the mean
Regression toward the mean - The tendency for extreme or unusual scores or events to fall back (regress) toward the average

Question 14

experimentatin

Answer 14

With experiments, researchers can focus on the possible effects of one or more factors in several ways.
They can manipulate the factors of interest to determine their effects.
They can hold constant (“controlling”) other factors.
Experimental group and control group

Question 15

double blind procedure and placebo effect

Answer 15

Double-blind procedure - Eliminating biasNeither those in the study or those collecting the data know which group is receiving the treatment.
Treatment’s actual effects can be separated from potential placebo effects.
Placebo effect - Effect involves results caused by expectations alone.

Question 16

indipendent, cofounding, dependant variables

Answer 16

Independent variable in an experiment
Factor that is manipulated; the variable whose effect is being studied
Confounding variable in an experiment - Factor other than the independent variable that might produce an effect
Dependent variable in an experiment - Factor that is measured; the variable that may change when the independent variable is manipulated

Question 17

experiment purpose

Answer 17

Experiment purpose - Test theoretical principles, not re-creation of exact everyday life behaviors
Resulting principles - Help explain everyday behavior, not specific findings
Psychological science - Focuses primarily on seeking general principles that help explain many behaviors, and less on particular behavior

Question 18

mode, mean, median

Answer 18

Mode - most frequently occurring score(s) in a distribution
Mean - arithmetic average of a distribution, obtained by adding the scores and then dividing by the number of scores; can be distorted by few atypical scores
Median - middle score in a distribution; half the scores are above it and half are below it

Question 19

range and standard deviation

Answer 19

Range - difference between the highest and lowest scores in a distribution
Standard deviation - computed measure of how much scores vary around the mean score
Normal curve (normal distribution) - 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 occur near the extremes