Aaron Jennings Chapter Two Vocab

Question 1

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

Answer 1

Critical thinking

Question 2

An explanation using an integrated set of principles that organizes observations and predicts behaviors or events.

Answer 2

Theory

Question 3

A testable prediction, often implied by a theory

Answer 3

Hypothesis

Question 4

A statement of the procedures used to define research variables. For example a human intelligence may be operationally defined as what an intelligence test measures

Answer 4

Operational definition

Question 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

Answer 5

Replication

Question 6

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

Answer 6

Case study

Question 7

It’s technique for ascertaining the self-reported attitudes or behaviors of a particular group, usually by questioning a representative, random sample of the group

Answer 7

Survey

Question 8

All the cases in a group being studied, from which samples may be drawn.

Answer 8

Population

Question 9

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

Answer 9

Random sample

Question 10

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

Answer 10

Naturalistic observation

Question 11

A measure of the extent to which two factors very together, and thus of how well either factor predicts the other

Answer 11

Correlation

Question 12

A statistical index from the relationship between two things (between -1 and positive one)

Answer 12

Correlation coefficient

Question 13

A graphed cluster of dots, each of which represents the values of two variables. The slope of the points suggest the direction of the relationship between the two variables. The amount of scatter suggest the strength of the correlation

Answer 13

Scatterplot

Question 14

The perception of a relationship where none exists

Answer 14

Illusory correlation

Question 15

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

Answer 15

Experiment

Question 16

Assigning participants to experimental and control groups by chance, thus minimizing pre-existing differences between those assigned to the different groups

Answer 16

Random assignment

Question 17

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

Answer 17

Double-blind procedure

Question 18

experimental results caused by expectations alone any effect on behavior caused by the administration of inert substance or condition, what the recipient assumes is an active agent

Answer 18

Placebo

Question 19

In an experiment, the group that is exposed to the treatment, that is, to one version of the independent variable

Answer 19

Experimental group

Question 20

In an experiment, the group that is not exposed to the treatment; contrast with the experimental group and serves as a comparison for evaluating the effect of the treatment

Answer 20

Control group

Question 21

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

Answer 21

Independent variable

Question 22

A factor other than the independent variable that might produce an affect in an experiment

Answer 22

Confounding variable

Question 23

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

Answer 23

Dependent variable

Question 24

The most frequently occurring scores in a distribution

Answer 24

Mode

Question 25

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

Answer 25

Mean

Question 26

Middle score in a distribution; have the scores are above it and half below it

Answer 26

Median

Question 27

The difference between the highest and lowest scores in a distribution

Answer 27

Range

Question 28

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

Answer 28

Standard deviation

Question 29

A symmetrical, bell shaped curve that describes the distribution of many types of data; most scores fall near the mean and fewer and fewer near the extremes

Answer 29

Normal curve

Question 30

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

Answer 30

Statistical significance

Question 31

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

Answer 31

Culture

Question 32

An ethnical principle that research participants be told enough to enable them to choose whether they wish to participate

Answer 32

Informed consent

Question 33

The postexperimental explanation of a study, including its purpose and any deceptions, to its participants

Answer 33

Debriefing

Question 34

The tendency to believe, after learning outcome, that one would have foreseen it. Also known as the I knew it all along phenomenon

Answer 34

Hindsight bias