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Definition
| an observation techniquie in which one person is studied in depth in the hope of revealing universal principles. P. 26 |
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Definition
variables that the researcher fail to control, or eliminate, damaging the internal validity of an experiment.
This may cause the researcher to analyze the results incorrectly. |
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| Control condition (ID examples) |
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Definition
| a standard against which other conditions can be compared in a scientific experiment |
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| Correlation (& be able to identify positive and negative correlations) |
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Definition
| a measure of the extent to which 2 factors vary together, and thus of how well either factor predicts the other. P. 30 |
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Term
| Correlation coefficients (know direction and strength as well!) |
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Definition
| The mathematical expression of the relationship, ranging from -1 to +1. P. 30 |
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| Dependent variable (ID examples) |
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Definition
| the outcome factor, the variable that may change in response to manipulations of the independent variable. P 38. |
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Definition
| When both the sesearch participants and the research staff are ignorant about whether the research participant have received the treatment or a placebo. Commonly used in drug-evaluation studies. P 37. |
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Definition
| Principles that when followed, promote values such as trust, good behavior, fairness, and/or kindness |
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Definition
| a form of reactivity, in which a researcher's cognitive bias causes them to unconsciously influence the participants of an experiment. It is a significant threat to a study's internal validity, and is therefore typically controlled using a double-blind experimental design. |
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| Experimental condition (ID examples) |
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Definition
| the condition of an experiment that exposes participants to the treatment, that is, to one version of the independent variable. P 37. |
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Definition
| An attempt by the researcher to maintain control over all factors that may affect the result of an experiment. In doing this, the researcher attempts to determine or predict what may occur. |
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Definition
| The tendency to overestimate the extent to which others share our beliefs and behaviors. |
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Definition
| the tendency to believe, after learning an outcome, that one would have foreseen it. (Also known as the I knew it all along phenomenon.). South Park Episode Captain Hindsight. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jyb1KYiFkBM |
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Term
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Definition
| the perception of a relationship where none exits |
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Term
| Independent variable (ID examples) |
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Definition
| the experimental factor that is manipulated, the variable whose effect is being studies. P. 38. |
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Term
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Definition
| the arithmetic average of a distribution, obtained by adding the scores and then dividing by the number of scores. P 41. |
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Term
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Definition
| the diddle score in a distribution, half the scores are above it and half are below it. P. 41 |
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Definition
| the most frequently occurring score in a distribution. P 41. |
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Definition
| observating and recording behavior in naturally occurring situations without trying to manipulate and control the situation. P 29. |
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Term
| Normal distribution & bell curve |
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Definition
| the symmetrical shaped curve that describes the distribution of many physical and psychological attributes. Most scores fall near the average, and fewer and fewer scores lie near the extremes. P. 447. |
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Term
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Definition
| The tendency to be more sure of one's self than correct. To overestimate the accuracy of one's beliefs and judgments. P 403. |
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Term
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Definition
| effect 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. P 37. |
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Term
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Definition
| all the cases in a group, from which samples may be drawn for a study. (except for natural studies this does not refer to a nation's population.) p. 28. |
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Definition
| assigning participants to experimental and control conditions by chance, thus minimizing preexisting differences between those assigned to the different groups. P. 37. |
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Definition
| a sample that fairly represents a population because each member has an equal chance of inclusion. P. 28 |
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Term
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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. P. 25. |
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Term
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Definition
| A subset of a statistical population that accurately reflects the members of the entire population. A representative sample should be an unbiased indication of what the population is like. In a classroom of 30 students in which half the students are male and half are female, a representative sample might include six students: three males and three females. |
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Term
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Definition
| a graphed cluster of dots, each of which represents the values of 2 variables. The slope of the points suggests the direction of the relationship between the 2 variables. The amount of scatter suggests the strength of the correlation (little scatter indicates high correlation). p. 31. |
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Term
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Definition
| assigning participants to experimental and control conditions by chance, thus minimizing preexisting differences between those assigned to the different groups. |
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Definition
| procedure that has characterized natural science since the 17th century, consisting in systematic observation, measurement, and experiment, and the formulation, testing, and modification of hypotheses. |
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Definition
| A testing procedure in which the administrators do not tell the subjects if they are being given a test treatment or a control treatment in order to avoid bias in the results. |
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Definition
| the tendency of respondents to answer questions in a manner that will be viewed favorably by others. It can take the form of over-reporting good behavior or under-reporting bad behavior. The tendency poses a serious problem with conducting research with self-reports, especially questionnaires. This bias interferes with the interpretation of interpreting average tendencies as well as individual differences. |
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Definition
| a computed measure of how much scores vary around the mean score. P. 42. |
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Definition
| a technique for asceraining the self-reported attitudes or behaviors of people, usually by questioning a representative, random sample of them. P. 27. |
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Definition
| a measure of how far a set of numbers is spread out. It is one of several descriptors of a probability distribution, describing how far the numbers lie from the mean (expected value). |
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Term
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Definition
| the effect that the precise wording of a question or statement makes upon the response it generates when presented to a given person or group of people. This effect can be quite considerable in emotionally charged situations and with regards to controversial and emotion-laden topics |
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Term
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Definition
| A measure of the distance in standard deviations of a sample from the mean. |
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