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Research & Stats
Term | Definition |
---|---|
case study | an observation technique in which one person is studied in depth in the hope of revealing universal principles |
confounding variable | a factor other than the independent that might produce an effect in an experiment |
control group | in an experiment, the group that is NOT exposed to the treatment; contrasts with the experimental group and serves as a comparison for evaluating effects |
correlation | a measure of the extent to which two factors vary together, and thus of how well either factor predicts the other |
correlation coefficient | equals a statistical index of the relationship between two things (from -7 to +7) |
critical thinking | thinking that does not blindly accept arguments and conclusions. Rather, it examines assumptions, discerns hidden values, evaluates evidence, and assesses conclusions. |
culture | the enduring behavior, ideas, attitudes, and traditions shared by a group of people and transmitted from one generation to the next |
debriefing | the post experimental explanation of a study, including its purpose and any deceptions to its participants |
dependent variable | the outcome factor; the variable that may change in response to manipulations of the independent variable |
double-blind procedure | an experimental procedure in which both the research participants and the research staff are ignorant (blind) about whether the research participants have received the treatment or placebo. |
experiment | a research method in which an investigator manipulates one or more factors to observe the effects on some behavior or mental processes. |
experimental group | in an experiment, the group that is exposed to the treatment, that is, to one version of the independent variable. |
hindsight bias | the tendency to believe, after learning an outcome, that one would have foreseen it. |
hypothesis | a testable prediction, often implied by a theory. |
illusory correlation | the perception of a relationship where none exists. |
independent variable | the experimental factor that is manipulated; the variable whose effects being studied. |
informed consent | an ethical principle that research participants be told enough to enable them to chose whether they wish to participate |
mean | the arithmetic average of a distribution, obtained by adding the scores and then dividing by the number of scores. |
median | the middle score in a distribution, half the scores are above it and half are below it. |
mode | the most frequent occurring score(s) in a distribution |
naturalistic observation | observing and recording behavior in naturally occurring situations without trying to manipulate and control the situation |
normal curve | a symmetrical, bell-shaped curve that describes the distribution of many types of data; most scores fall near the mean and fewer and fewer near the extremes |
operational defintion | a statement of the procedures used to define research variables |
placebo | experimental results caused by expectation alone |
population | all the cases in a group being studied, from which samples may be drawn |
random assignment | assigning participants to experimental and control groups by chance, thus minimizing pre existing differences between those assigned to the groups |
random samples | a sample that fairly represents a population because each member has an equal chance of inclusion |
range | the difference between the highest and lowest score in a distribution |
replication | repeating the essence of research study, usually with different participants in different situations, to see whether the basic findings extend to other participants and circumstances |
scatterplot | a graphed cluster of dots, each of which represents the values of two variables. the slope of the point suggests the direction of the relationship between two variables. |
standard deviation | a computed measure of how much scores vary around the mean score |
statistical significance | a statistical statement of how likely it is that an obtained result occurred by chance |
survey | a technique for ascertaining the self-reported attitudes or behaviors of a particular group, usually by questioning a representative, random sample of the group |
theory | an explanation using an integrated set of principles that organizes observations and predicts behaviors or events. |