Module 1: Correlational and Experimental Research Flashcards
control group
a comparison group that is equivalent to the experimental group, but is not given the independent variable
correlation
the relationship between two or more variables; when two variables are correlated, one variable changes as the other does
correlation coefficient
number from -1 to +1, indicating the strength and direction of the relationship between variables, and usually represented by r
correlational research
research design with the goal of identifying patterns of relationships, but not cause and effect
dependent variable
the outcome or variable that is supposedly affected by the independent variable
double-blind
a research design in which neither the participants nor the researchers know whether an individual is assigned to the experimental group or the control group
experimental group
the group of participants in an experiment who receive the independent variable
experiments
designed to test hypotheses in a controlled setting in efforts to explain how certain factors or events produce outcomes; the only research method that measures cause and effect relationships between variables
hypotheses
specific statements or predictions about the relationship between variables
independent variable
something that is manipulated or introduced by the researcher to the experimental group; treatment or intervention
negative correlation
two variables change in different directions, with one becoming larger as the other becomes smaller; a negative correlation is not the same thing as no correlation
operationalized
concepts transformed into variables that can be measured in research
positive correlation
two variables change in the same direction, both becoming either larger or smaller
scatterplot
a plot or mathematical diagram consisting of data points that represent two variables
variables
factors that change in value
