Module 2 Flashcards
(26 cards)
intuiton
an effortless, immediate, automatic feeling or thought, as contrasted with explicit, conscious reasoning,
hindsight bias
the tendency to believe, after learning an outcome, that one would have foreseen it. (also known as the I-knew-it-all-along phenomenon.)
theory
an explanation using an integrated set of principles that organizes observations and predicts behaviors or events
hypothesis
a testable prediction, often implied by a theory.
operational definition
a carefully worded statement of the exact procedures (operations) used in a research study. For example, human intelligence may be operationally defined as what an intelligence test measures.
replication
repeating the essence of a research study, usually with different participants in different situations
case study
a descriptive technique in which one individual or group is studied in depth in the hope or revealing universal principles
naturalistic observation
a descriptive technique of observing and recording behavior in naturally occurring situations without trying to manipulate and control the situation.
survey
a descriptive technique for obtaining the self-reported attitudes or behaviors of a particular group, usually by questioning a representative, random sample of the group
population
all those in a group of being studied, from which samples may be drawn. (Note: except for national studies, this does not refer to a country’s whole population)
random sample
a sample that fairly represents a population because each member has an equal chance of inclusion.
correlation
a measure of the extent to which two factors vary together, and thus of how well either factor predicts the other.
correlation coeffcient
a statistical index of the relationship between two things (from -1.00 to +1.00)
experiment
a research method in which an investigator manipulates one or two more factors (independent variables) to observe the effect on some behavior or mental process (the dependent variable). By random assignment of participants, the experimenter aims to control other relevant factors
experimental group
in an experiment, the group exposed to the treatment, that is, to one version of the independent variable
control group
in an experiment, the group not exposed to the treatment; contrasts with the experimental group and serves as a comparison for evaluating the effect of the treatment.
random assignment
assigning participants to experimental and control groups by chance, thus minimizing preexisting differences between the different groups.
double-blind procedure
an experimental procedure in which both the research participants and the research staff are ignorant (blind) about whether the research participants have received the treatment or a placebo. Commonly used in drug-evaluation studies.
placebo effect
experimental results caused by expectation alone ;any effect on behavior caused by administration of an inert substance or condition, which the recipient assumes is an active agent.
independent variable
in an experiment, the fact that is manipulated; the variable whose effect is being studied.
confounding variable
a factor other than the factor being studied that might produce an effect
dependent variable
in an experiment, the outcome that is measured; the variable that may change when the independent variable is manipulated.
informed consent
giving potential participants enough information about a study to enable them to choose whether they wish to participate.
debriefing
the post experimental explanation of a study, including its purpose and any deceptions, to its participants.
