Ch. 7 Vocab

Question 1

the degree to which scores on the measuring instrument correlate with another known standard for measuring the variable being studied

Answer 1

concurrent validity

Question 2

an error that occurs when the value of an extraneous variable changes systematically along with the independent variable in an experiment; an alternative explanation for the findings that threatens internal validity

Answer 2

confounding

Question 3

the degree to which an operational definition accurately represents the construct it is intended to manipulate or measure

Answer 3

construct validity

Question 4

the degree to which the content of a measure reflects the content of what is being measured

Answer 4

content validity

Question 5

the specific behavior that a researcher tries to explain in an experiment; the variable that is measured

Answer 5

dependent variable

Question 6

the explanation of the meaning of independent variables; defines exactly what was done to create the various treatment conditions of the experiment

Answer 6

experimental operational definition

Question 7

a variable other than an independent or dependent variable; a variable that is not the focus of an experiment but can produce effects on the dependent variable if not controlled

Answer 7

extraneous variable

Question 8

the degree to which a manipulation or measurement technique is self-evident

Answer 8

face validity

Question 9

a threat to internal validity in which an outside event or occurrence might have produced effects on the dependent variable

Answer 9

history threat

Question 10

concepts used to explain to explain unseen processes, such as hunger, intelligence, or learning; postulated to explain observable behavior

Answer 10

hypothetical construct

Question 11

the variable (antecedent condition) that the experimenter intentionally manipulates

Answer 11

independent variable

Question 12

a threat to internal validity produced by changes in the measuring instrument itself

Answer 12

instrumentation threat

Question 13

the degree to which different items measuring the same variable attain consistent results

Answer 13

interitem reliability

Question 14

the certainty that the changes in behavior observed across treatment conditions in the experiment were actually caused by the independent variable

Answer 14

internal validity

Question 15

the degree of agreement among different observers or raters

Answer 15

interrater reliability

Question 16

the type of scale of measurement (either ratio, interval, ordinal, or nominal) used to measure a variable

Answer 16

level of measurement

Question 17

the two or more values of the independent variable manipulated by the experimenter

Answer 17

levels of the independent variable

Question 18

an assessment to determine whether the independent variable was manipulated successfully

Answer 18

manipulation check

Question 19

a threat to internal validity produced by internal (physical or psychological) changes in subjects

Answer 19

maturation threat

Question 20

the description of exactly how a variable in an experiment is measured

Answer 20

measured operational definition

Question 21

the section of a research report in which the subjects and experiment are described in enough detail that the experiment may be replicated by others; it is typically divided into subsections, such as participants, apparatus, or materials, and procedures

Answer 21

method

Question 22

the specification of the precise meaning of a variable within an experiment; defines a variable in terms of observable operations, procedures, and measurements

Answer 22

operational definition

Question 23

the degree to which a measuring instrument yields information allowing prediction of actual behavior

Answer 23

predictive validity

Question 24

the consistency and dependability of experimental procedures and measurements

Answer 24

reliability

Question 25

a family of threats to internal validity produced when a selection threat combines with one or more of the other threats to internal validity; when a selection threat is already present, other threats can affect some experimental groups bit not others

Answer 25

selection interactions

Question 26

a threat to internal validity that can occur when nonrandom procedures are used to assign subjects to conditions or when random assignment fails to balance out differences among subjects across the different conditions of the experiment

Answer 26

selection threat

Question 27

a threat to internal validity that can occur when subjects are assigned to conditions on the basis of extreme scores on a test; upon retest, the scores of extreme scorers tend to regress toward the mean even without any treatment

Answer 27

statistical regression threat

Question 28

a threat to internal validity produced by differences in dropout rates across the conditions of the experiment

Answer 28

subject mortality threat

Question 29

a threat to internal validity produced by a previous administration of the same test or other measure

Answer 29

testing threat

Question 30

consistency between an individual's scores on the same test taken at two or more different times

Answer 30

test-retest reliability

Question 31

the soundness of an operational definition; in experiments, the principle of actually studying the variables intended to be manipulated or measured

Answer 31

validity