Unit 2: Scientific Methods in Psychology

Question 1

Hypothesis

Answer 1

A clear predictive statement.

Question 2

Replicability

Answer 2

Same result has to repeat, in order to be valid.

Question 3

Operational Definition

Answer 3

Definition that specifies the operations (procedures) used to produce or measure something, a way to give it a numerical value.

Question 4

Population

Answer 4

Entire group of individuals.

Question 5

Representative Sample

Answer 5

The sample to match the entire population (society) with regard to specific variables.

Question 6

Random Sample

Answer 6

Randomly selected, so that every individual has an equal chance of being selected.

Question 7

Cross Cultural Sample

Answer 7

Groups of people from at least two cultures.

Question 8

Experimental Bias

Answer 8

Bias towards the results based on their own expectations.

Question 9

Blind Observer

Answer 9

An observer who can record data without knowing what the researcher has predicted.

Question 10

Blind Study

Answer 10

Participants don’t know what is being measured.

Question 11

Double-Blind Study

Answer 11

Neither the observer nor the subjects know which subjects received which treatment.

Question 12

Naturalistic Observation

Answer 12

An examination of what people or nonhuman animals do under natural conditions.

Question 13

Case History

Answer 13

Description of a single individual, includes information on both past experiences and current behavior.

Question 14

Surveys

Answer 14

Study of certain beliefs, attitudes, or behaviors based on people’s responses to specific questions.

Question 15

Controlled Experiment

Answer 15

Control group

Question 16

Correlation Study

Answer 16

Investigators measure the correlation between two variables without controlling either of them.

Question 17

Correlation

Answer 17

Measure of relationship between two variables, both are outside the investigator’s control.

Question 18

Correlational Coefficient

Answer 18

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.

Question 19

Depent Variable

Answer 19

Measures to determine how the independent changes. (Stays the same)

Question 20

Independent Variable

Answer 20

Experiment that is manipulated.

Question 21

Random Assignment

Answer 21

Random participants

Question 22

Experimental Group

Answer 22

Group that receives the treatment.

Question 23

Control Group

Answer 23

Non-tested group

Question 24

Informed Consent

Answer 24

Subject’s agreement to take part in an experiment after being told what to expect.

Question 25

Mean

Answer 25

Sum of all scores divided by the total number of scores.

Question 26

Median

Answer 26

Middle score in a list of scores from highest to lowest.

Question 27

Mode

Answer 27

Score that appears the most.

Question 28

Standard Deviation

Answer 28

Measurement of variation exists from the mean

Question 29

Inferential Statistics

Answer 29

Statements about large populations based on inferences from small samples.

Question 30

Reliability

Answer 30

Consistency of a measure

Question 31

Hind Sight Bias

Answer 31

People who say they knew already, and try to prove themselves by evidence or support.

Question 32

False Consensus Effect

Answer 32

People overestimate how many agree with them.

Question 33

Placebo

Answer 33

“Fake” variable

Question 34

Scatter Plot

Answer 34

Represents strength of correlation.

Question 35

Illusory Correlation

Answer 35

Appears to be a strong correlation, but it’s not.

Question 36

Statistical Significance

Answer 36

Effects that have a low probablity of having arisen by chance.

Question 37

Kenneth Clark

Answer 37

1st African American Ph. D recipient in Columbia University history.

Question 38

Daniel Kahneman

Answer 38

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.

Question 39

James Randi

Answer 39

Known for challenges to paranormal claims and pseudoscience.

Question 40

Amos Tversky

Answer 40

Cognitive and mathematical psychologist, a pioneer of cognitive science.