Chapter 2 Flashcards
(22 cards)
Hypothesis
Prediction of how two or more factors are likely to be related
Theories
Organized sets of concepts that explain phenomena
Replication
Repetition of the methods used in a previous experiment to see whether the same methods will yield the same results
Independent variable (IV)
The factor the researcher manipulates Ina common expire meant (the cause)
Dependent variable (DV)
The behavior or mental process that is measured in an experiment or quasi-experiment (the effect)
Population
All the individuals in the group to which the study applies
Sample
The subgroup of the population that participates in the study
Random selection
Choosing members of a population so that every individual has an equal chance of being chosen to participate in the study
Experimental group
The subgroup of the sample that receives the treatment or independent variable (IV)
Control group
The comparison group; the subgroup of the sample that is similar to the experimental group in every way except for the presence of the independent variable
Random assignment
Division of the sample into groups so that every individual has an equal chance of being Putin any group or condition
Confounding variables
Factors that cause differences between the experimental group and the control group other than the independent variable
Operational definition
A description of the specific procedure used to determine the presence of a variable
Experimenter bias
A phenomenon that occurs when a researcher’s expectations or preferences about the outcome of a study influence the results obtained
Demand characteristics
Clues participants discover about the purpose of the study that suggest how they should respond
Single-blind procedure
Research design in which participants don’t know whether they are in experimental or control group
Double-blind procedure
Research design in which neither the experimenter nor the participants know who is in the experimental group and who is in the control group
Placebo
A physical or psychological treatment given to the control group that resembles the treatment given to the experimental group, but that contains no active ingredient
Placebo effect
A response to belief that the independent variable will have an effect, rather than the actual effect of the independent variable, which can be a confounding variable
Reliability
Consistency or repeatability of results
Validity
The extent to which an instrument measures or predicts what it is supposed to measure or predict
Statistics
A field that involves the analysis of numerical data about representative samples of populations
