Chapter 1 Vocab

Question 0

Overconfidence

Answer 0

To tend to think you know more than you do

Question 1

Hindsight bias

Answer 1

The tendency to believe, after learning an outcome, that one would have foreseen it (also known as the I-knew-it-all-along phenomenon)

Question 2

Critical thinking

Answer 2

Thinking that does not blindly accept arguments and conclusions. Rather, it examines assumptions, discerns hidden values, evaluates evidence, and assesses conclusions

Question 3

Scientific method

Answer 3

Make observations, form theories, and then refine theories in the light of new observations

Question 4

Theory

Answer 4

An explanation using an integrated set of principles that organises observations and predicts behaviours or events

Question 5

Hypothesis

Answer 5

A testable prediction, often implied by a theory

Question 6

Operational definition

Answer 6

A statement of the procedures (operations) used to define research variables. For example, “human intelligence” might be operationally defined as what an intelligence test measures

Question 7

Replication

Answer 7

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 8

Case study

Answer 8

An observation technique in which one person is studied in depth in the hope of revealing universal principles

Question 9

Survey

Answer 9

A technique for ascertaining the self-reported attitudes or behaviours of people, usually by questioning a representative, random sample of them

Question 10

False consensus effect

Answer 10

The tendency to overestimate the extent to which others share our beliefs and behaviours

Question 11

Population

Answer 11

All the cases in a group, from which samples may be drawn for a study. (Note: except for national studies, this does not refer to a country’s whole population)

Question 12

Random sample

Answer 12

A sample that fairly represents a population because each member has an equal chance of inclusion

Question 13

Naturalistic observation

Answer 13

Observing and recording behaviour in naturally occurring situations without trying to manipulate and control the situation

Question 14

Correlation

Answer 14

A measure of the extent to which two factors vary together, and thus of how well either factor predicts the other. The correlation coefficient is the mathematical expression of the relationship, ranging from -1 to +1

Question 15

Scatterplot

Answer 15

A graphed cluster of dots, each of which represents the value of two variables. The slope of the pints suggests the direction of the relationship between the two variables. The amount of scatter suggests the strength of the correlation (little scatter indicates high correlation). (Also called a scattergram or scatter diagram)

Question 16

Illusory correlation

Answer 16

The perception of a relationship where none exists

Question 17

Experiment

Answer 17

A research method in which an investigator manipulates one or more factors (independent variables) to observe the effect on some behaviour or mental process (the dependent variable). By random assignment of participants, the experimenter aims to control other relevant factors

Question 18

Double-blind procedure

Answer 18

An experimental procedure in which both the research staff are ignorant (blind) about whether the research participants have received the treatment or a placebo. Commonly used in drug-evaluation studies

Question 19

Placebo effect

Answer 19

Experimental results caused by expectation alone; any effect on behaviour caused by the administration of an inert substance or condition, which is assumed to be an active agent

Question 20

Experimental condition

Answer 20

The condition of an experiment that exposes participants to the treatment, that is, to one version of the independent variable

Question 21

Control condition

Answer 21

The condition of an experiment that contrasts with the experimental condition and serves as a comparison for evaluating the effect of the treatment

Question 22

Random assignment

Answer 22

Assigning participants to experimental and control conditions by chance, thus minimising preexisting differences between those assigned to the different groups

Question 23

Independent variable

Answer 23

The experimental factor that is manipulated; that variable whose effect is being studied

Question 24

Dependent variable

Answer 24

The outcome factor; the variable that may change in response to manipulations of the independent variable

Question 25

Mode

Answer 25

The most frequently occurring score(s) in a distribution

Question 26

Mean

Answer 26

The arithmetic average of a distribution, obtained by adding the scores and then dividing by the number of scores

Question 27

Median

Answer 27

The middle score in a distribution; half the scores are above it and half are below it

Question 28

Range

Answer 28

The difference between the highest and lowest scores in a distribution

Question 29

Standard deviation

Answer 29

A computed measure of how much scores vary around the mean score

Question 30

Statistical significance

Answer 30

A statistical statement of how likely it is that an obtained result occurred by chance

Question 31

Culture

Answer 31

The enduring behaviours, ideas, attitudes, and traditions shared by a large group of people and transmitted from one generation to the next