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Chapter 1
David G. Meyers
31
Psychology
Undergraduate 1
11/14/2010

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Term
Hindsight Bias
Definition
The tendency to believe, after learning an outcome, that one would have foreseen it. 
Term
Critical Thinking
Definition
Thinking that does not blindly accept arguments and conclusions. Rather, it examines assumptions, discerns hidden values, evaluates evidence, and assesses conclusions. 
Term
Theory
Definition
An Explanation using an integrated set of principles that organizes and predicts observations. 
Term
Hypothesis
Definition
A testable prediction, often implied by a theory
Term
Operational Definition
Definition
A Statement of the procedures used to define research variables. For example, human intelligence may be operationally defined as what an intelligence test measures. 
Term
replication
Definition
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. 
Term
Case Study
Definition
the observation technique in which one person is studied in depth in the hope of revealing universal principles
Term
Survey 
Definition
A technique for ascertaining the self-reported attitudes or behaviors of people, usually by questioning a representative, random sample of them. 
Term
False consensus effect
Definition
the tendency to overestimate the extent to which others share our beliefs and behaviors. 
Term
Population
Definition
All the cases in a group, from which samples may be drawn for a study. 
Term
random Sample
Definition
A sample that fairly represents a population because each member had an equal chance of inclusions. 
Term
Random Sample
Definition
A Sample that fairly represents a population becuase each member has an equal chance of inclusion
Term
Naturalistic Observation
Definition
Observing and recording behavior in naturally occurring situations without trying to manipulate and control the situation.  
Term
Correlation
Definition
A measure of the extent to which two factors vary together, and thus of how well either factor predicts the other.  
Term
Scatterplot
Definition
A graphed cluster of dots, each of which represents that values of two variables. 
Term
Illusory Correlation
Definition
The perception of a relationship between two variables where none exists. 
Term
Experiment
Definition
A research methof in which an investigator manipulates one or more factors to observe the effect on some behavior or mental process. By Random assignment of participants, the experimenter aims to control other relevant factors. 
Term
Double Blind Procedure
Definition
An experimental procedure in which both the research participants and the research staff are ignorant about whether the research participants have received the treatment or the placebo. Commonly used in drug-evaluation studies. 
Term
Placebo Effect
Definition
Experimental results caused by expectations alone; any effect on behavior caused by the administration of an inert substance or condition, which is assumed to be an active agent. 
Term
Experimental Condition
Definition
the condition of an experiment that exposes participants to the treatment, that is, to one version of the independent variable. 
Term
Control Condition
Definition
The condition of an experiment that contrasts with the experimental condition and serves as a comparison  for evaluating the effect of the treatment. 
Term
random assignment
Definition
Assigning participants to experimental and control conditions by chance, thus minimizing preexisting differences between those assigned to the different groups. 
Term
Independent Variable
Definition
The experimental factor that is manipulated; the variable whose effect is being studied. 
Term
Dependent Variable
Definition
The outcome factor; the variable that may change in response to manipulations of the independent variable. 
Term
Mode
Definition
the most frequently occurring scores in a distribution. 
Term
Mean 
Definition
the arithmetic average of a distribution, obtained by adding the scores and then diving by the number of scores. 
Term
Median
Definition
The middle score in a distribution; half the scores are above it and half are below it. 
Term
Range
Definition
the difference between the highest and lowest scores in a distribution
Term
standard Deviatiation
Definition
a Computed measure of how much scores vary around the mean score. 
Term
Statistical Significance
Definition
A statistical Statement of how likely it is that an obtained result occurred by chance. 
Term
Culture
Definition
The enduring behavior, ideas, attitudes, and traditions shared by a large group of people and transmitted from one generation to the next. 
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