Unit 2 Research Methods

Question 1

Hindsight Bias

Answer 1

The tendency to think that we knew it all along after the fact. Seems obvious.

Question 2

Critical Thinking

Answer 2

Thought revolved around analyzing facts and evidence to come to a conclusion.

Question 3

Theory

Answer 3

A well-backed up explanation grounded in evidence, hypotheses , and facts

Question 4

Hypothesis

Answer 4

An idea that can be tested with experiments that help explain the natural world

Question 5

Operational Definition

Answer 5

The operations or procedures a scientist uses to observe or measure something.

Question 6

Replication

Answer 6

Copying an experiment to further prove its results accuracy

Question 7

Case Study

Answer 7

A case study is a detailed study of a single individual, family, event, or other entity. It gathers multiple types of data and is done to get a grasp of an individual’s behavior, background, and relationships. However the information from a case study tends to be generalized.

Question 8

Survey

Answer 8

Study in which a group of participants are selected from the targeted population to give information or opinions on a certain topic. This information is collected then analyzed to infer about that targeted population

Question 9

Population

Answer 9

A theoretically complete group of people, animals, or institutions that are used to obtain samples of information from which is able to generalize about the population.

Question 10

Random Sampling

Answer 10

Choosing subjects for an experiment from a population with an equal chance of everyone being able to participate.

Question 11

Naturalistic Observation

Answer 11

The process of collecting data outside of a lab and without the ability to manipulate variables and without being able to test controls. Testing participants in their natural environment

Question 12

Correlation

Answer 12

Relationship between two variables. Measured by correlation coefficient

Question 13

Correlation Coefficient

Answer 13

A numerical value indicating the relationship between two variables.
+1 meaning positive. 1 goes up the other goes up.
0 meaning no correlation.
-1 meaning negative. 1 goes down the other goes up.

Question 14

Scatterplot

Answer 14

A graph where every data point in placed on the graph individual with nothing connecting any of them

Question 15

Illusory Correlation

Answer 15

The appearance of a correlation between two variables or events. An overestimation of the degree of correlation

Question 16

Experiment

Answer 16

A series of observations conducted under a controlled environment with the purpose of drawing casual inferences about that relationship

Question 17

Random Assignment

Answer 17

The assignment of participants to certain conditions in a experiment where they all have an equal chance of being selected to a condition

Question 18

Double Blind Procedure

Answer 18

A procedure in which the participant and the experimenters are completely unaware of the conditions being tested in an experiment. While the Data analysts are aware of what is being tested.

Question 19

Placebo Effect

Answer 19

A clinically significant reaction from an inert substance derived from the patient’s expectations of the treatment.

Question 20

Experimental Group

Answer 20

The group being tested and administered different levels of the IV

Question 21

Control Group

Answer 21

A comparison group that received no intervention or no IV. This is used to compare how much the IV affected the Experimental Group

Question 22

Independent Variable

Answer 22

The variable in the experiment that is intentionally manipulated

Question 23

Confounding Variable

Answer 23

It is a variable that influences both the independent and dependent variable and its degree of correlation cannot be measured. Not desirable

Question 24

Dependent Variable

Answer 24

The outcome that is observed as a result of manipulating the Independent variable

Question 25

Mode

Answer 25

The most frequently occurring value in the data set

Question 26

Mean

Answer 26

Average

Question 27

Median

Answer 27

The data point that is the middle

Question 28

Range

Answer 28

The difference between the greatest data point and the lowest data point

Question 29

Standard Deviation

Answer 29

A measure of the variability of the data set. How much they points deviate from the mean. Z Scores

Question 30

Normal Curve

Answer 30

The Bell curve. The normal distribution of a data set.

Question 31

Statistical Significance

Answer 31

The probability that one's research outcome did not occur by chance

Question 32

Culture

Answer 32

The characteristics and behaviors of a particular group. ie - profession, social class, or age group.

Question 33

Informed Consent

Answer 33

A voluntary agreement from the participant of an experiment that states that they are aware of the potential risks, benefits, and alternatives of an experiment.

Question 34

Debriefing

Answer 34

The process of giving the participant a more full explanation of the process of the experiment that was not possible prior to the experiment.