Modules 4–5: The Need for Psychological Science & The Scientific Method

Vocabulary flashcards covering core concepts, scientific research methods, and cognitive biases from Modules 4 and 5.

Repetition effect

The phenomenon where repeating a statement (true or false) makes it feel more true and easier to remember.

Hindsight bias

The tendency to believe, after learning an outcome, that we would have foreseen it (also known as the "I-knew-it-all-along phenomenon").

Overconfidence

The tendency to think we know more than we actually do.

Perceiving order in random events

The tendency to look for patterns in random, unpredictable events because randomness feels unsettling.

Scientific method

A self-correcting process for evaluating ideas with observation and analysis.

Theory

An explanation using an integrated set of principles that organizes observations and predicts behaviors or events.

Hypothesis

A testable prediction, often implied by a theory.

Operational definition

A carefully worded statement of the exact procedures used in a study (e.g., "sleep deprived" = X hours less than normal).

Replication

Repeating a study's essence, usually with different participants/situations, to see if the finding holds.

Case study

In-depth study/analysis of one individual or group.

Naturalistic observation

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

Survey

A descriptive technique for obtaining self-reported attitudes/behaviors of a group, usually via a representative random sample.

Population

The entire group being studied.

Random sample

A sample in which every member of the population has an equal chance of being chosen.

Sampling bias

A flawed sampling process that produces an unrepresentative sample.