Chapter 2

Question 1

Facts

Answer 1

Observable realities established using evidence collected through empirical research

Question 2

Opinions

Answer 2

Personal judgements that may or may not be accurate

Question 3

Deductive Reasoning

Answer 3

Ideas are tested in the real world
Begins with a hypothesis that is used to reach logical conclusions about the real world (if the hypothesis is correct then the conclusion is also correct)
If hypothesis is incorrect conclusion can be logical but also incorrect
Used to test hypotheses

Question 4

Inductive Reasoning

Answer 4

Real-world observations lead to new ideas
Uses empirical observations to construct broad generalizations
Conclusions may or may not be correct regardless of the observations they are based on
Used to formulate theories

Question 5

Theory

Answer 5

Well-developed set of ideas that propose an explanation for observed phenomena

Question 6

Hypothesis

Answer 6

Testable prediction about how the world will behave if our idea is correct
Bridges gap between theory and real world

Question 7

Falsifiability

Answer 7

Capability of being shown to be incorrect

Question 8

Case Study

Answer 8

Also known as clinical study
Observational research focused on one or a few individuals
Gather a wealth of information but low generalizability

Question 9

Naturalistic Observation

Answer 9

Observing behaviour in its natural setting
High external validity / ecological validity / realism

Question 10

Generalizing

Answer 10

The ability to apply the findings of a particular research project to the larger population is a whole

Question 11

Observer Bias

Answer 11

Skewing observations to fit the research goals/expectations

Question 12

Inter-rater Reliability

Answer 12

Also known as inter-observer reliability
Assessment of the consistency of observations by different researchers

Question 13

Surveys

Answer 13

Lists of questions to be answered by research participants
Sacrifices depth of information for large sample size and higher generalizability

Question 14

Sample

Answer 14

Subset of individuals selected from a population

Question 15

Population

Answer 15

Overall group of individuals that the researchers are interested in

Question 16

Archival Research

Answer 16

Using existing records to answer various research questions

Question 17

Longitudinal Research

Answer 17

Research design where data is collected repeatedly over a long period of time

Question 18

Cross-sectional Research

Answer 18

Researcher compares multiple segments of the population at the same time

Question 19

Attrition Rate

Answer 19

Reduction in the number of research participants due to drop outs

Question 20

Correlation

Answer 20

A relationship between two or more variables (does not imply cause and effect)

Question 21

Correlation Coefficient

Answer 21

A number that indicates the strength and direction of the relationship between variables

Question 22

Confounding Variable

Answer 22

Unanticipated outside factor that affects both variables of interest

Question 23

Cause and Effect Relationship

Answer 23

Changes in one variable cause changes in the other variable
Can be determined only using an experimental study

Question 24

Illusory Correlations

Answer 24

False correlations
When people believe that a relationship exists between two variables when it does not

Question 25

Confirmation Bias

Answer 25

Seeking out evidence to confirm our beliefs while ignoring contradictory evidence Causes illusory correlations

Question 26

Experimental Group

Answer 26

The group which gets the experimental manipulation

Question 27

Control Group

Answer 27

The group that does not get the experimental manipulation

Question 28

Operational Definition

Answer 28

A description of what actions and operations will be used to measure the dependant variables and manipulate the independent variables

Question 29

Experimenter Bias

Answer 29

The possibility that a researcher’s expectations might skew the results of a study

Question 30

Single-blind Study

Answer 30

Participants are unaware which group they are in while experimenters know which participants are in each group

Question 31

Double-blind Study

Answer 31

Both the participants and researchers are blind to group assignments

Question 32

Placebo Effect

Answer 32

When people’s expectations/beliefs influence their experience in a certain situation

Question 33

Independent Variable

Answer 33

The variable controlled/manipulated by the experimenter

Question 34

Dependent Variable

Answer 34

The variable measured by the experimenter to see the effects of the independent variable

Question 35

Random Sample

Answer 35

Subset of a larger population in which every member of the population had an equal chance of being selected

Question 36

Random Assignment

Answer 36

All participants have an equal chance of being assigned to either group Reduces systematic differences between the groups

Question 37

Statistical Analysis

Answer 37

Used to determine if there is a meaningful difference between the experimental and control groups (if the observed difference is simply due to random chance)

Question 38

Reliability

Answer 38

The ability to consistently produce a given result

Question 39

Internal Consistency

Answer 39

The degree to which different items on a survey that measure the same thing correlate with one another

Question 40

Test-retest Reliability

Answer 40

The degree to which the outcomes of a particular measure remain consistent over multiple administrations

Question 41

Validity

Answer 41

The extent to which a given tool accurately measures what it is supposed to measure Validity implies reliability (but the reverse is not always true)

Question 42

IRB

Answer 42

Institutional Review Board Committee whose purpose is to review proposals for research that involve human participation

Question 43

Informed Consent

Answer 43

The process of informing a research participant about what to expect during an experiment, any risks involved and implication of the research before obtaining consent

Question 44

Deception

Answer 44

Purposely misleading experiment participants in order to maintain the integrity of the experiment Deception cannot be harmful When deception is used participants must be fully debriefed after the experiment is over

Question 45

Quasi-experiment

Answer 45

Experiment where researchers cannot assign participants to groups because they are predetermined (e.g. sex)

Question 46

IACUC

Answer 46

Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee Committee whose purpose is to review proposals for research that involve non-human animal participation