the subjects selected that should represent the population
Population
the group the researcher wants to study, the sample is taken from here
Purpose of Research
to measure & describe behavior, explain and predict behavior
Scientific Method
method to gather & test data, test predictions to form theories
Theory
organizing information so that it creates an explanation
Hypothesis
a prediction of expected results given certain conditions used in research
Naturalistic Observation
study of subject in their natural setting
Case Study
in-depth investigation of a subject
Survey
Polling of a sample of the population to see what they think
Experiment
a study that compares different conditions, controls variables, to be able to predict behavior
Operational Definition
how you will measure a variable, ie: attraction can be operationalized as number of times you call a person of times
Correlation
statistical method that measures the relationship between 2 variables described as positive, when 1 variable increases so does the other or as negative when 1 variable increases the other decreases. Correlation is not causation.
Correlation Coefficient
Mathimatical measure of the strength of a relationship, ranging between a +1 (positive) to -1 (negative), the closer to either end the stronger the relationship. ie: A .9 is stronger than a .5 & a -.9 is stronger than a -.3
Reliability
produces the same result when performed again.
Validity
Actually measures the trait it claims to measure. The 2 types are Content: includes all the elements & Criterion: not only measures the trait but an aspect of the trait.
Independent Variable
The conditions studied, the variables you are comparing.
Dependent Variable
What you are measuring ie: Data
Controlled Variables
Variables or aspects that are kept the same for all subjects. Different from a control group a group of subjects that does not get a treatment.
Subject Selection Error
Group does not represent the population , is not selected randomly from the population. Also known as Sampling Bias
Random Assignment Error
Subjects are not assigned to experimental groups randomly
Confounding Error
A different variable that could of caused the result
Control Error
An important aspect was not kept the same for all subjects
Demand Effect
Subject Bias, Hawthorne Effect. Subject expectations can change how they behave by trying to please the experimenter, the study sets up an expectation. Remedies are single blind (subject does not know which condition they are in) or use of a placebo
Bias Error
Experimenter might influence data, use a double blind study where neither the subject or experimenter knows who is in what condition
Practice Effect
If subjects have multiple trials they will naturally show improvement, randomly change the order of trials.
