Chapter 2

Question 1

Variable

Answer 1

any object, or event that is the focus of a scientific explanation (what is measured)

Question 2

Objectivity

Answer 2

assumes that certain facts about the world can be observed and tested independently from the individual who describes them.

Question 3

Subjective

Answer 3

knowledge of the event shaped prior beliefs, expectations, experiences and even their mood.

Question 4

Five Characteristics of quality scientific research

Answer 4

1. it is based on measurements that are objective, valid, and reliable.
2. it can be generalized
3. it uses techniques that reduce bias
4. it is made public.
5. it can be replicated

Question 5

Objective measurement

Answer 5

the measure of an behavior that within an allowed margin of error, is consistent across instruments and observers.

Question 6

Operational definitions

Answer 6

are statements that describe the procedures and specific measures that are used to record observations.

Question 7

Validity

Answer 7

degree to which an instrument or procedure actually measures what it claims to measure

Question 8

Reliability

Answer 8

when it provides consistent answers across multiple observations and points in time.

Question 9

Test-retest reliability

Answer 9

examines whether scores on a given measure of behavior are consistent across sessions

Question 10

Alternate forms reliability

Answer 10

examines whether different forms of the same test produce the same results
-overcomes practice effects

Question 11

Inter rater reliability

Answer 11

the degree of similarity in observation recorded by two or more raters.

Question 12

Generalizability

Answer 12

refers to the degree to which one set of results can be applied to other situations, individuals or events.

Question 13

Population

Answer 13

the group that researchers want to generalize about

Question 14

sample

Answer 14

a elect group of population members

Question 15

random sample

Answer 15

a sampling technique in which every individual of a population has an equal chance of being included.

Question 16

convenience sample

Answer 16

sample of individuals who are the most readily available

Question 17

ecological validity

Answer 17

(high is good) the results of the lab study can be applied to or repeated in the natural environment.

Question 18

researcher bias

Answer 18

the experimenter’s behavior influencing the participant’s response

Question 19

subject or participant biases

Answer 19

participant trying to figure out what they are testing or predicting the results they are looking for.

Question 20

hawthorne effect

Answer 20

behavior change that occurs as a result of being observed

Question 21

social desireability

Answer 21

participants may respond in ways that increase the chances that they will be viewed as favorably by the experimenter or the other participants.

Question 22

demand characteristics

Answer 22

unintentional cues given off by the experimenter or the experimental context that provide info about how the participant is supposed to behave.

Question 23

How to reduce bias

Answer 23

• anonymity
• confidentiality
• single blind study
• double blind study

Question 24

peer review

Answer 24

a process in which papers submitted for publication in scholarly journals are read and critiqued by experts in the specific field of study.

two main tasks

• editor receives manuscript from researcher and determines whether it is appropriate subject matter for the journal
• the editor sends copies to a select group of peer reviewers. Which are then critiqued on methods and results and make recommendations to the editor regarding the merits of research.

Question 25

replication

Answer 25

is the process of repeating a study and finding a similar outcome each time.

Question 26

Five characteristics of poor research

Answer 26

1. when a hypothesis is not falsifiable
2. anecdotal evidence
3. data selection bias
4. appeal to authority
5. appeal to common sense

Question 27

qualitative research

Answer 27

examining an issue/behavior without numerical measurements

Question 28

quantitative research

Answer 28

numerical measurements/stats

Question 29

case study

Answer 29

is an in depth report about the details of a specific case

Question 30

naturalistic observations

Answer 30

they unobtrusively observe and record behavior as it occurs in the subject’s natural environment

Question 31

Surveys and questionnaires –> self reporting

Answer 31

a method in which responses are provided directly by the people who are being studied typically through face to face interviews, phone surveys, paper and pencil tests, and web based questionnaires.

Question 32

Correlation research

Answer 32

involves measuring the degree of association between two or more variables.

Direction
+correlation: two variables change values in the same direction
-correlation: change in different directions

Magnitude (strength)
-0 = not related 1 = positively strong -1= -ly strong

Question 33

Third variable problem

Answer 33

the possibility that a third, unmeasured variable is actually responsible for a well established correlation between two variables.

Question 34

random assignment

Answer 34

technique for dividing samples into two or more groups in which participants are equally likely to be placed in any condition of the study.

Question 35

cofounding variables

Answer 35

a variable outside of the researcher’s control that might affect or provide an alternative explanation

Question 36

independent variable

Answer 36

variable manipulated

Question 37

dependent variable

Answer 37

the one measured

Question 38

between subject designs

Answer 38

an experiment design in which we compare the performance of participants in different groups.

Question 39

within subjects design

Answer 39

design in which the same participants respond to all types of stimuli.

Question 40

quasi experimental research

Answer 40

technique in which two or more groups that are compared are selected based on predetermined characteristics rather than random assignment.

Question 41

descriptive stats

Answer 41

a set of techniques used to organize, summarize and interpret data.

Question 42

frequency

Answer 42

the number of observations that fall within a certain range of scores

Question 43

normal dist.

Answer 43

a symmetrical dist with values clustered around a central mean value. Mean= mode = median

Question 44

negatively skewed

Answer 44

tail left

Question 45

+ skewed

Answer 45

tail right

Question 46

central tendency

Answer 46

a measure of the central point of the distribution

Question 47

mean

Answer 47

average

Question 48

median

Answer 48

50th percentile, where 50% of values are greater and less than the 50th percentile.

Question 49

mode

Answer 49

most frequent observation

Question 50

variability

Answer 50

the degree to which scores are dispersed in a distribution

Question 51

standard dev.

Answer 51

a measure of variability around the mean or average distance from the mean.

Question 52

inferential stats

Answer 52

used to draw conclusions

Question 53

statistical hypothesis testing

Answer 53

evaluating whether differences among groups are meaningful, or could have been arrived by chance alone

Question 54

statistical significance

Answer 54

the means of the groups are farther apart than you would expect them to be by random chance alone.