Ch 1: Scientific Method

Question 1

Hindsight bias

Question 2

Theory

Answer 2

explains behaviors or events by giving different perspectives that organize observations as well as predicts behaviors or events

Question 3

Hypothesis

Answer 3

is a testable prediction

Question 4

Operational definition

Answer 4

a statement that seeks to explain the exact procedures that will take place in a research study

Question 5

Pre-registration

Answer 5

used by psychologists to communicate their planned study designs, hypotheses, data collection, and analyses

Question 6

Meta-analysis

Answer 6

is a procedure designed to produce and analyze results of studies that will need to reach an overall conclusion

Question 7

Replication

Answer 7

to repeat a research study to test the findings and its reproducibility

Question 8

Case study

Answer 8

a way to look at an individual or group in detail to reveal universal principles. One of the oldest research methods

Question 9

Naturalistic observation

Answer 9

makes records of observations made in natural settings (environments) i.e. in nature settings, a classroom, looking at parent/child interactions

Question 10

Survey

Answer 10

is a technique that gathers reports on attitudes or behaviors of a particular group in the format of a questionnaire. The wording of questions needs to be highly considered. Responses are usually dependent on how a question is worded

Question 11

Random sample

Answer 11

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

Question 12

Population

Answer 12

all the people chosen to be part of a group study that can be chosen at random

Question 13

Correlation

Answer 13

measures how closely related or how not closely related two different factors can vary from one another

Question 14

Correlation coefficient

Answer 14

a statistical index of the relationship between two things

Question 15

Variable

Answer 15

anything that can vary and is feasible and ethical to measure

Question 16

Scatterplot

Answer 16

a plot that is graphed as a cluster of dots where each dot represents a different variable.

Question 17

Experiment

Answer 17

a method in which a researcher changes the independent variable to see the outcome or result on the dependent variable

Question 18

Experimental group

Answer 18

the group that is given the treatment (or the independent variable)

Question 19

Control group

Answer 19

the group that is not given the treatment (or the independent variable)

Question 20

Random assignment

Answer 20

when volunteers are assigned at random to either the experimental group or the control group to ensure that both groups are equal. This allows the researcher to know that the treatment (and experiment) was effective and without bias

Question 21

Double-blind procedure

Answer 21

a study in which neither participants nor the researchers (or those administering the treatment) know who received the treatment or the placebo

Question 22

Placebo

Answer 22

any effect on behavior caused by the administration of an inert substance or condition, which the recipient assumes is an active agent

Question 23

Independent variable

Answer 23

the factor that is manipulated by the researcher in the experiment

Question 24

Confounding variable

Answer 24

the factor other than the factor being studied that may influence a study’s results

Question 25

Dependent variable

Answer 25

the result or outcome seen from what the researcher manipulated (the independent variable)