Psychological Research

Question 1

Theory –

Answer 1

– well-developed set of ideas that
propose an explanation for observed
phenomena.

Question 2

Hypothesis –

Answer 2

tentative and testable statement
(prediction) about the relationship between two
or more variables

Question 3

CASE STUDIES

Answer 3

Clinical or case studies focus on one individual.
The studied individual is typically in an extreme or unique psychological
circumstance that differentiates them for the general public.

Question 4

NATURALISTIC OBSERVATION

Answer 4

a research method in which the researcher studies behavior in its natural setting without intervention or manipulation

Question 5

SURVEYS

Answer 5

Surveys can be
used to gather a
large amount of
data from a sample
(subset of
individuals) from a
larger population.

Question 6

Correlation –

Answer 6

Relationship between two or more variables; when two variables are
correlated, one variable changes as the other does.

Question 7

Experimental group -

Answer 7

The participants that experience the manipulated
variable (group designed to answer the research question)

Question 8

Control group -

Answer 8

Participants that do not experience the manipulated variable.

Question 9

Independent Variable

Answer 9

Variable that is influenced/controlled by the experimenter.
Ideally this should be the only important difference between the experimental and
control group.

Question 10

Dependent Variable –

Answer 10

Variable that the researcher measures to see how much
effect the independent variable had.

Question 11

Random Assignment –

Answer 11

– Method of experimental group assignment in which all
participants have an equal chance of being assigned to either group.

Question 12

Representative sample

Answer 12

a subset of a population that seeks to accurately reflect the characteristics of the larger group