Research Methods Cirricular Focus & Vocabulary Flashcards
(43 cards)
Hindsight Bias
The tendency to believe, after learning an outcome, that one would have foreseen it all (also known as the I-knew-it-all phenomenon)
Critical thinking
Thinking that does not blindly accept arguments and conclusions. Rather, it examines assumptions, assesses the source, discerns hidden values, evaluates evidence and assesses conclusions
Theory
An explanation using an inter grated set of principles that organizes observations and predicts behaviours 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 to see whether the basic findings extend to other participants and circumstances
Case study
A descriptive technique in which one individual or group is studied in depth in the hope of revealing universal principles
Naturalistic observation
Observing and recording behaviour in naturally occurring situations without trying to manipulate and control the situations
Survey
A technique for ascertaining the self-reporting attitudes or behaviours of a particular, usually by questioning a representative, random sample of the group
Sampling bias
A flawed sampling process that produces an unrepresentative sample
Population
All those in a group being studied from which samples may be drawn (Note : except for national studies, this does not refer to a country’s whole population)
Illusionary correlation
The perception of a relationship where none exist
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 variables change together and thus of how well either variable predicts the other
Correlation coefficient
A statistical index of the relationship between two variables from -1.0 to +1.0
Scatter plot
A grapes cluster of dots, each of which represents the values of two variables. The slope of the two points suggests the direction of the relationship between the two variables. The amount of scatter suggests the strength of the correlation (little scatter indicates high correlation)
Experiment
A research method in which an investigator manipulated one or more factors (independent variables) to observe the effect on some behaviour or mental process (the dependent variable). By random assignment of participants, the experimenter aims to control other relevant variables
Experimental group
In the 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 expectations alone ; any effect on behaviour caused by the administration of an inert substance or condition
Independent variable
The experimental factor that is manipulated ; the variable whose effect is being studied
Confounding variable
A factor other than the independent variable that might produce an effect in an experiment
