Unit 0: Psychological Science Practices

Question 1

thinking that does not blindly accept arguments and conclusions. Rather, it examines assumptions, discerns hidden biases, evaluates evidence, and assesses conclusions.

Answer 1

critical thinking

Question 2

the tendency to believe, after learning an outcome, that one would have foreseen it

Answer 2

hindsight bias

Question 3

an explanation using an integrated set of principles that organizes observations and predicts behaviors or events

Answer 3

Theory

Question 4

A testable prediction, often implied by a theory

Answer 4

Hypothesis

Question 5

repeating the essence of a research study, usually with different participants in different situations, to see whether the basic finding extends to other participants and circumstances

Answer 5

Replication

Question 6

an observation technique in which one person is studied in depth in the hope of revealing universal principles

Answer 6

case study

Question 7

a descriptive technique of observing and recording behavior in naturally occurring situations without trying to manipulate and control the situation

Answer 7

naturalistic observation

Question 8

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

Answer 8

survey

Question 9

a flawed sampling process that produces an unrepresentative sample

Answer 9

sampling bias

Question 10

all those in a group being studied, from which samples may be drawn

Answer 10

Population

Question 11

a sample that fairly represents a population because each member has an equal chance of inclusion

Answer 11

random sample

Question 12

A measure of the extent to which two factors vary together, and thus of how well either factor predicts the other.

Answer 12

Correlation

Question 13

a statistical index of the relationship between two things (from -1 to +1)

Answer 13

correlation coefficient

Question 14

anything that can vary and is feasible and ethical to measure

Answer 14

Variable

Question 15

a graphed cluster of dots, each of which represents the values of two variables

Answer 15

Scatterplot

Question 16

perception of a relationship where none exists, or perception of a stronger relationship than actually exists

Answer 16

illusory correlation

Question 17

the tendency for extreme or unusual scores to fall back (regress) toward their average.

Answer 17

regression toward the mean

Question 18

A research method in which an investigator manipulates one or more factors to observe the effect on some behavior or mental process

Answer 18

experiment

Question 19

In an experiment, the group that is exposed to the treatment, that is, to one version of the independent variable.

Answer 19

experimental group

Question 20

In an experiment, the group that is not exposed to the treatment; contrasts with the experimental group and serves as a comparison for evaluating the effect of the treatment.

Answer 20

control group

Question 21

assigning participants to experimental and control conditions by chance, thus minimizing preexisting differences between those assigned to the different groups

Answer 21

random assignment

Question 22

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.

Answer 22

double-blind procedure

Question 23

experimental results caused by expectations alone; any effect on behavior caused by the administration of an inert substance or condition, which the recipient assumes is an active agent.

Answer 23

placebo effect

Question 24

The experimental factor that is manipulated; the variable whose effect is being studied.

Answer 24

independent variable

Question 25

a factor other than the independent variable that might produce an effect in an experiment

Answer 25

confounding variable

Question 26

in an experiment, the outcome that is measured

Answer 26

dependent variable

Question 27

the extent to which a test measures or predicts what it is supposed to

Answer 27

Validity

Question 28

an ethical principle that research participants be told enough to enable them to choose whether they wish to participate

Answer 28

informed consent

Question 29

the post experimental explanation of a study, including its purpose and any deceptions, to its participants

Answer 29

Debriefing

Question 30

numerical data used to measure and describe characteristics of groups. Includes measures of central tendency and measures of variation.

Answer 30

descriptive statistics

Question 31

a bar graph depicting a frequency distribution

Answer 31

Histogram

Question 33

the most frequently occurring score(s) in a distribution

Answer 33

Mode

Question 34

the arithmetic average of a distribution, obtained by adding the scores and then dividing by the number of scores

Answer 34

mean

Question 35

the middle score in a distribution; half the scores are above it and half are below it

Answer 35

Median

Question 36

a representation of scores that lack symmetry around their average value

Answer 36

skewed distribution

Question 37

the difference between the highest and lowest scores in a distribution

Answer 37

range

Question 38

a computed measure of how much scores vary around the mean score

Answer 38

standard deviation

Question 39

the symmetrical bell-shaped curve that describes the distribution of many types of data; most scores fall near the mean and fewer and fewer near the extremes

Answer 39

normal curve

Question 40

numerical data that allow one to generalize- to infer from sample data the probability of something being true of a population

Answer 40

inferential statistics

Question 41

how likely it is that an obtained result occurred by chance

Answer 41

statistical significance

Question 42

scientific experts who evaluate a research article's theory, originality, and accuracy

Answer 42

peer reviewers

Question 43

the possibility that an idea, hypothesis, or theory can be disproven by observation or experiment

Answer 43

falsifiable

Question 44

bias from people's responding in ways they presume a researcher expects or wishes

Answer 44

social desirability bias

Question 45

bias when people report their behavior inaccurately

Answer 45

self-report bias

Question 46

An experimental procedure in which the research participants are ignorant about whether they have received the treatment or a placebo

Answer 46

single-blind procedure

Question 47

bias caused when researchers may unintentionally influence results to confirm their own beliefs

Answer 47

experimenter bias

Question 48

a research method that relies on quantifiable, numerical data

Answer 48

quantitative research

Question 49

a research method that relies on in-depth, narrative data that are not translated into numbers

Answer 49

qualitative research

Question 50

the strength of the relationship between two variables. The larger the effect size, the more one variable can be explained by the other

Answer 50

effect size

Question 51

the percentage of scores that are lower than a given score

Answer 51

percentile rank