Chapter 2- The Research Enterprise In Paychology

Question 0

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

Answer 0

Variables

Question 1

A tentative statement about the relationship between two or more variables

Answer 1

Hypothesis

Question 2

A system of interrelated ideas used to explain a set of observations

Answer 2

A Theory

Question 3

Describes the actions or operations that will be used to measure or control a variable

Answer 3

Operational Definition

Question 4

A periodical that publishes technical and scholarly material, usually in a narrowly defined area of inquiry

Answer 4

Scientific Journal

Question 5

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

Answer 5

An Experiment

Question 6

A condition or event that an experimenter varies in order to see its impact on another variable

Answer 6

Independent Variable

Question 7

The variable that is thought to be affected by purposeful manipulation of another variable

Answer 7

Dependent Variable

Question 8

Consists of the subjects who receive special treatment in regard to the independent variable

Answer 8

Experimental Group

Question 9

Consists of similar subjects who do not receive special treatment in regards to the independent variable

Answer 9

Control Group

Question 10

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

Answer 10

Extraneous Variables

Question 11

Occurs when two variables are linked together in a way that makes it difficult to sort out their specific effects

Answer 11

Confounding of Variables

Question 12

Occurs when all subjects have an equal chance of being assigned to any group or condition in a study

Answer 12

Random Assignment

Question 13

A researcher engages in careful observation of a behavior without intervening directly with the subjects

Answer 13

Naturalistic Observation

Question 14

Occurs when a subjects behavior is altered by the presence of an observer

Answer 14

Reactivity

Question 15

An in depth investigation of an individual subject

Answer 15

Case Study

Question 16

Researchers use questionnaires or interviews to gather information about specific aspects of participant’s background, beliefs, or behavior

Answer 16

A Survey

Question 17

The use of mathematics to organize, summarize, and interpret numerical data

Answer 17

Statistics

Question 18

Used to organize and summarize data

Answer 18

Descriptive Statistics

Question 19

The score that falls exactly in the center of a distribution of scores

Answer 19

The Median

Question 20

The arithmetic average of the scores in a distribution

Answer 20

The Mean

Question 21

The most frequent score in a distribution

Answer 21

The Mode

Question 22

Refers to how much the scores in a data set vary from each other and from the mean

Answer 22

Variability

Question 23

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

Answer 23

Standard Deviation

Question 24

Exists when two variables are related to each other

Answer 24

Correlation

Question 25

A numerical index of the degree of the relationship between two variable

Answer 25

Correlation Coefficient

Question 26

Used to interpret data and draw conclusions

Answer 26

Inferential Statistics

Question 27

Said to exist when the probability that the observes findings are due to chance is very low

Answer 27

Statistical Significance

Question 28

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

Answer 28

Replication

Question 29

Combines the statistical results of many studies of the same question, yielding an estimate of the size and consistency of a variable’s effect

Answer 29

Meta-Analysis

Question 30

A research strategy in which neither participants not experimenters know which subjects are in the experimental or control groups

Answer 30

Double-Blind Procedure

Question 31

Occurs when a researchers expectations or preferences about the outcome of a study influence the results obtained

Answer 31

Experimenter Bias

Question 32

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

Answer 32

Response Set

Question 33

The tendency to give socially approved answers to questions about oneself

Answer 33

Social Desirability Bias

Question 34

Occurs when participants’ expectations lead them to experience some change even though they receive empty, fake, or ineffectual treatment

Answer 34

Placebo Effect

Question 35

A large collection of animals or people, from which a sample is drawn, that researchers want to generalize about

Answer 35

Population

Question 36

The collection of subjects who are selected for observation in an empirical study

Answer 36

Sample