Unit 2 - Research Methods

Question 1

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

“I knew it all along”

Answer 1

hindsight bias

Question 2

a questioning attitude

• “smart thinking”
• asses the source

Answer 2

critical thinking

Question 3

an explanation that organizes observations and predicts future behavior or events

• ORGANIZES

Answer 3

theory

Question 4

testable prediction that gives direction to research

• can be confirmed or refuted

Answer 4

hypothesis

Question 5

specification of how a researcher measures a research variable

• MEASURES
• gives research validity

Answer 5

operational definition

Question 6

technique that involves repeating the essence of an earlier research study with different participants and in different circumstances

• REPLICATE the same variables

Answer 6

replication

Question 7

research method where we study one individual or a small group in depth to try to carefully draw conclusions about others based on what we observe

• can’t show cause and effect

Answer 7

case study

Question 8

observing and recording behavior in naturally occurring situations without trying to manipulate and control the situation

• natural environment
• describes and observes behavior, does not explain

Answer 8

naturalistic observation

Question 9

a technique for ascertaining the self-reported attitudes or behaviors of a particular group, usually by questioning a representative, random sample group

• looks at many cases at once

Answer 9

survey

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

• narrowing your population down

Answer 11

random sampling

Question 12

a flawed sampling process that produces an unrepresentative sample

• when your sample is no longer representative

Answer 12

sampling bias

Question 13

measure of the direction and strength of the relationship between two variables

• correlation can be positive or negative
• how well does A predict B

Answer 13

correlation coefficient

Question 14

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

• graphically represents the correlation between two variables

Answer 14

scatterplot

Question 15

change in the same direction

• if variable A goes up the variable B will go up

Answer 15

positive correlation

Question 16

change in opposite direction

• if variable A goes up then variable B will go down

Answer 16

negative correlation

Question 17

0 is the weakest; 1 or -1 is the strongest

• whether it is 1 or -1 does not matter, it just shows the direction

Answer 17

strong correlation

Question 18

a perceived but nonexistent correlation

• ex. not being able to conceive a child so they adopt and then after they adopt they are able to conceive

Answer 18

illusory correlation

Question 19

0 is the weakest correlation

Answer 19

weak correlation

Question 20

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

• manipulation of the factors of interest

Answer 20

experiment

Question 21

assigning participants to experimental and control groups by change, thus minimizing preexisting differences between the different groups

• everyone has equal opportunity to be chosen

Answer 21

random assignment

Question 22

inert substance; in a drug treatment study, it does not contain the actual drug

• doesn’t do anything
• does not contain the actual drug

Answer 22

placebo

Question 23

in an experiment, the group not exposed to the treatment

Answer 23

control condition

Question 24

in an experiment, the group who receives the experimental treatment

Answer 24

experimental group

Question 25

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

Answer 25

independent variable

Question 26

the outcome factor; the variable that may change in response to manipulations of the independent variable

Answer 26

dependent variable

Question 27

most frequently occurring score

Answer 27

mode

Question 28

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

Answer 28

mean

Question 29

the middle score ina distribution; half the scores are above it and half are below - best for determining housing values in a community

Answer 29

median

Question 30

the difference between the highest and lowest scores in a distribution

Answer 30

range

Question 31

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

Answer 31

standard deviation

Question 32

normal curve

Answer 32

68% of scores fall within 15 pts. of either side of the mean (85 to 115) 95% of scores fall within 30 pts. of either side of the mean (70-130)

Question 33

a statistical statement of how likely it is that an obtained result occurred by chance

Answer 33

statistically significant

Question 34

enduring traditions, attitudes, and behaviors shared by a large group of people

Answer 34

culture

Question 35

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

Answer 35

debriefing

Question 36

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

Answer 36

informed consent