Research Vocabulary: Unit 0

Hypotheses

A testable tentative statement describing the relationship between two or more variables.

Falsifiable

The requirement that a scientific hypothesis must be capable of being proven wrong.

Theory

An organized system of ideas that explains a specific set of phenomena or observations.

Experiment

A carefully controlled method of investigation used to establish a cause and effect relationship.

Operational Definition

A clear, precise statement of the exact procedures used to measure or define a research variable.

Replication

The process of repeating a research study to determine if the original findings extend to other participants and circumstances.

Case Study

An in-depth investigation of an individual subject or small group.

Naturalistic Observation

Observing and recording behavior in naturally occurring situations without trying to manipulate or control the situation.

Survey

A technique for gathering data on the self-reported attitudes or behaviors of a particular group.

Social Desirability Bias

The tendency of research participants to respond in ways they think will be viewed favorably by others.

Meta-analysis

A statistical technique that combines and analyzes the results from many different studies on the same topic.

Self-report Bias

The tendency of participants to provide inaccurate or distorted information about themselves in surveys or interviews.

Experimental Bias

A process where the researchers' expectations or preferences about the outcome of the study influence the results.

Population

The entire group that a researcher is interested in studying and from which a sample is drawn.

Sample

A subset of a population selected for study.

Sampling Bias

A flawed sampling process that produces an unrepresentative sample.

Random Sample

A sample that fairly represents a population because each member has an equal chance of inclusion.

Random Assignment

Assigning participants to experimental and control groups by chance to minimize pre-existing differences.

Representative Sample

A sample that accurately reflects the characteristics of the population from which it was drawn.

Correlation

A measure of the extent to which two variables change together.

Correlation Coefficient

A statistical index of the relationship between two things.

Positive Correlation

A relationship where both variables increase or decrease together.

Negative Correlation

A relationship where one variable increases while the other decreases.

Third Variable / Co-confounding Variable

A factor other than the independent variable that might produce an effect in an experiment.

Experimental Group

In an experiment, the group exposed to the treatment, which is the independent variable.

Control Group

In an experiment, the group not exposed to the treatment, used as a comparison for evaluating the effect of the treatment.

Independent Variable

The experimental factor that is manipulated, the variable whose effect is being studied.

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 about whether the research participants have received the treatment or placebo.

Placebo Effect

Experimental results caused by expectations alone.

Quantitative Research

Research that collects and reports data primarily in numerical form.

Qualitative Research

Research that relies on what is seen in a field or naturalistic settings more than on statistical data.

Empirical

Based on, concerned with, or verifiable by observation or experience rather than theory or pure logic.

Novel

New, original, or unusual in nature.

Causal

Relating to or acting as a cause, establishing a cause and effect relationship.

Hindsight Bias

To believe after learning the outcome that we could have foreseen it.

Overconfidence

As humans, we think we know more than we do.