Alternative Explanation
The idea that it is possible that there is some other, uncontrolled variable that may be responsible for the observed relationship.
Case Study Method
An in-depth study of one or more individuals.
Control
Manipulating the independent variable in an experiment or any other extraneous variables that could affect the results of a study.
Control Group
The group of participants that does not receive any level of the independent variable and serves as the baseline in a study.
Correlational Method
A method in which the degree of relationship between two variables is assessed.
Dependent Variable
The variable in a study that is measured by the researcher.
Experimental Group
The group of participants that receives some level of the independent variable.
Experimental Method
A research method that allows a researcher to establish a cause-and-effect relationship through manipulation of a variable and control of the situation.
Independent Variable
The variable in a study that is manipulated by the researcher.
Laboratory Observation
Observing the behavior of humans or other animals in a more contrived and controlled situation, usually the laboratory.
Naturalistic Observation
Observing the behavior of humans or other animals in their natural habitat.
Negative Relationship
A relationship between two variables in which an increase in one variable is accompanied by a decrease in the other variable.
Observational Methods
Make observations of human or other animal behavior.
Population
All of the people about whom a study is meant to generalize.
Positive Relationship
A relationship between two variables in which an increase in one variable is accompanied by an increase in the other variable.
Quasi-experimental Method
A study in which the variable of interest cannot be manipulated.
Random Assignment
Assigning participants randomly to the groups in a study.
Random Sample
A means of generating a representative sample.
Sample
The group of people who participate in a study.
Subject (Participant) Variable
A characteristic inherent in the participants that cannot be changed.
Survey Method
Questioning individuals on a topic or topics and then describing their responses.
Three goals of schience
descrive
predict
explain
Adantages/disadvantages Description Method
Advantages:
Study large groups
Flexible
allows dicription of behaviour
Disadvantages:
Non flexible
Does not support reliable predictions
Does not support cause and effect predictions
Adantages/disadvantages Prediction Method
Advantages:
allows discription of behaviors
supports predictions of one variable based on another
Disadvantages:
Does not support cause and effect relations.