Jargon

Question 1

True Experiment

Answer 1

Design in which participants are assigned randomly to treatments

Question 2

Quasi Experiment

Answer 2

Design that resembles that of an experiment in that discrete groups are used, but without any random allocation

Question 3

Between vs Within groups design

Answer 3

Comparing two groups with different treatments vs all pps of a group undergoing all treatments

Question 4

Construct Variable

Answer 4

A theoretical variable that has ‘reality status’ such as competition, attractiveness, negative mood

Question 5

Operational Variable

Answer 5

The researchers precise operational definition (i.e. measurement) of a theoretical construct

Question 6

Independent Variable

Answer 6

Presumed to cause change in the dependent variable

Question 7

Dependent Variable

Answer 7

Presumed to be affected by the independent variable

Question 8

Hypothesis

Answer 8

Statement of a proposed relation between constructs

Question 9

Theory

Answer 9

Well-established principle that has been developed to explain some aspect of the natural world

Question 10

Construct Validity

Answer 10

Degree to which the operational definition accurately measures the construct of interest

Question 11

Convergent Validity

Answer 11

Overlap among variables presumed to measure the same construct

Question 12

Discriminant Validity

Answer 12

Extent to which it is possible to discriminate between dissimilar constructs

Question 13

Random Assignment

Answer 13

Process by which subjects receive an equal chance of being assigned to a particular condition

Question 14

Manipulation Check

Answer 14

Measured variable designed to assess whether the manipulation worked and tapped a desired construct

Question 15

Demand Characteristic

Answer 15

Aspect of the experiment encouraging the participant to respond according to situational constraints

Question 16

Reliability

Answer 16

The extent to which a construct is measured without error or bias

Question 17

Subject Expectancies

Answer 17

A demand characteristic whereby subjects think they know the experimenters’ interest and act accordingly

Question 18

Double-blind Procedure

Answer 18

A procedure in which neither experimenter nor pp knows to which condition the pp is assigned

Question 19

Order Effects

Answer 19

The effects on behaviour of presenting two or more treatments to the same pps

Question 20

Counter-balancing

Answer 20

A technique for controlling order effects by which each condition is presented first to each pp an equal number of times: present each condition in each possible order

Question 21

Moderation (interaction)

Answer 21

The effect of an IV on a DV depends on the level of a third variable (i.e. the moderator)

Question 22

Mediation

Answer 22

The effect of an IV on a DV is explained by the change in a third variable (i.e. the mediator)