Chapter 2

Question 1

Anecdotal evidence

Answer 1

Personal stories about specific incidents and experiences. Tends to be unrepresentative, inaccurate and unreliable.

Question 2

Case study

Answer 2

An in-depth investigation of an individual subject.

Question 3

Confounding of variables

Answer 3

A condition that exists whenever two variables are linked together in a way that makes it difficult to sort out their independent effects.

Question 4

Control group

Answer 4

Subjects in a study who do not receive the special treatment given to the experimental group.`

Question 5

Correlation

Answer 5

The extent to which two variables are related to each other.

Question 6

Correlation coefficient

Answer 6

A numerical index of the degree of relationship between two variables.

Question 7

Data collection techniques

Answer 7

Procedures for making empirical observations and measurements.

Question 8

Dependent variable

Answer 8

In an experiment, the variable that is thought to be affected by the manipulation of the independent variable.

Question 9

Descriptive statistics

Answer 9

Statistics that are used to organize and summarize data.

Question 10

Double-blind procedure

Answer 10

A research strategy in which neither subjects nor experimenters know which subjects are in the experimental or control groups.

Question 11

Experiment

Answer 11

A research method in which the investigator manipulates a variable under carefully controlled conditions and observes whether any changes occur in a second variable as a result.

Question 12

Experimental group

Answer 12

The subjects in a study who receive some special treatment in regard to the independent variable.

Question 13

Experimenter bias

Answer 13

A phenomenon that occurs when a researcher’s expectations or preferences about the outcome of a study influence the results obtained.

Question 14

Extraneous variables

Answer 14

Any variables other than the independent variable that seem likely to influence the dependent variable in a specific study.

Question 15

Hypothesis

Answer 15

A tentative statement about the relationship between two or more variables.

Question 16

Independent variable

Answer 16

In an experiment, a condition or event that an experimenter varies in order to see its impact on another variable.

Question 17

Inferential statistics

Answer 17

Statistics that are used to interpret data and draw conclusions.

Question 18

Journal

Answer 18

A periodical that publishes technical and scholarly material, usually in a narrowly defined area of inquiry.
Abstract - concise summary of empirical obs.
Introduction - overview of problem study, relevant theories & previous research
Method - thorough desc of research method, subjects, procedures, data
Results - data obtained, no inferences
Discussion - conclusions, interpretations, evaluations
References

Question 19

Mean

Answer 19

The arithmetic average of the scores in a distribution.

Question 20

Median

Answer 20

The score that falls exactly in the centre of a distribution of scores.

Question 21

Mode

Answer 21

The score that occurs most frequently in a distribution.

Question 22

Naturalistic observation

Answer 22

A descriptive research method in which the researcher engages in careful, usually prolonged, observation of behaviour without intervening directly with the subjects.

Question 23

Operational definition

Answer 23

A definition that describes the actions or operations that will be made to measure or control a variable.

Question 24

Participants

Answer 24

The persons or animals whose behaviour is systematically observed in a study.

Question 25

Placebo effects

Answer 25

The fact that subjects’ expectations can lead them to experience some change even though they receive an empty, fake, or ineffectual treatment.

Question 26

Population

Answer 26

The larger collection of animals or people from which a sample is drawn and that researchers want to generalize about.

Question 27

Random assignment

Answer 27

The constitution of groups in a study such that all subjects have an equal chance of being assigned to any group or condition.

Question 28

Replication

Answer 28

The repetition of a study to see whether the earlier results are duplicated.

Question 29

Research methods

Answer 29

Differing approaches to the manipulation and control of variables in empirical studies.

Question 30

Response set

Answer 30

A tendency to respond to questions in a particular way that is unrelated to the content of the questions.

Question 31

Sample

Answer 31

The collection of subjects selected for observation in an empirical study.

Question 32

Sampling bias

Answer 32

A problem that occurs when a sample is not representative of the population from which it is drawn.

Question 33

Social desirability bias

Answer 33

A tendency to give socially approved answers to questions about oneself.

Question 34

Standard deviation

Answer 34

An index of the amount of variability in a set of data.

Question 35

Statistical significance

Answer 35

The condition that exists when the probability that the observed findings are due to chance is very low.

Question 36

Statistics

Answer 36

The use of mathematics to organize, summarize, and interpret numerical data. See also Descriptive statistics, Inferential statistics.

Question 37

Subjects

Answer 37

The persons or animals whose behaviour is systematically observed in a study.

Question 38

Survey

Answer 38

A descriptive research method in which researchers use questionnaires or interviews to gather information about specific aspects of subjects’ behaviour.

Question 39

Theory

Answer 39

A system of interrelated ideas that is used to explain a set of observations. A theory predicts events in general terms, while a hypothesis makes a specific prediction about a specified set of circumstances. A theory has been extensively tested and is generally accepted, while a hypothesis is a speculative guess that has yet to be tested.

Question 40

Variability

Answer 40

The extent to which the scores in a data set tend to vary from each other and from the mean.

Question 41

Variables

Answer 41

Any measurable conditions, events, characteristics, or behaviours that are controlled or observed in a study.

Question 42

Scientific Method

Answer 42

1. Formulate Testable Hypothesis 2. Select method and design study 3. collect data 4. analyze and conclude 5. report findings ADVANTAGES: clarity and precision yield better communication, intolerance of error yields more reliable data

Question 43

Experimental Research

Answer 43

- can have one group of subjects serve as their own control group - can manipulate more than one independent variable in a study - can use multiple dependent variables in a study + permits conclusions about cause and effect - manipulation & control make experiements artificial - doubt applicability to everyday behavior - practical realities and ethical concerns

Question 44

Descriptive/Correlation Research

Answer 44

+broadens scope of phenomena that can be studied | - cannot demonstrate causality.