Unit 0 Psychology Vocab terms must knows for test

Experiment

a research method where one or more variables are manipulated to see the effect on another variable

Correlational study

research that is conducted to measure the extent to which 2 variables are interconnected and thus how well 1 variable predicts the other.

Survey

a descriptive research technique that collects self-reported data by questioning a representative

Naturalistic observation

a descriptive research technique that involves recording behavior in natural settings without attempting to control

Case study

a descriptive research technique in which one individual or group is studied in depth

Operation definitions

a carefully worded statement of the exact procedures used in a research study

Placebo

an inert treatment or substance that has no known effects. (as in a sugar pill in a drug trial; Placebo Effect

Control Group

consists of similar subjects who do not receive the special treatment given to the experimental group.

Experimental Group –

consists of the subjects who receive some special treatment in regard to independent variables.

Ethical guidelines

the standards that direct the conduct of its professional members when doing research

Hypothesis –

a tentative statement about the relationship between two or more variables

Qualitative research

a method of research that produces descriptive (non-numerical) data, such as observations of behavior or personal accounts of experiences

Quantitative research

the process of collecting and analyzing numerical data

Mean

the statistical average of all numbers in a distribution

Median

the middle number of a distribution

Mode

the most frequently occurring number in a distribution

Range

the difference between the highest and the lowest number in a distribution

Central tendency

a statistic that identifies a single value as representative of the entire distribution of data

Variation

the existence of qualitative differences in form, structure, behavior, and physiology among the individuals of a population, whether due to heredity or to environment

Percentile rank

the percentage of individuals in the distribution with scores at or below the particular value.

Regression towards the mean

the tendency of results that are extreme by chance on first measurement—i.e. extremely higher or lower than average—to move closer to the average when measured a second time. Results subject to regression to the mean are those that can be influenced by an element of chance.

Correlational Coefficient -

often expressed as r, indicates a measure of the direction and strength of a relationship between two variables. When the r value is closer to +1 or -1, it indicates that there is a stronger linear relationship between the two variables.

Falsifiable

1. something can be shown to be false or logically contradicted by an empirical test. It's a standard used to evaluate scientific theories and hypotheses, and is considered a clear way to distinguish science from pseudoscience

Replication

repeating the essence of a research study, usually with different participants in different situations, to see whether the basic finding can be reproduced

Confounding of Variables –

when two variables are linked together in a way that makes it difficult to sort out their specific effects.

Normal Curve

is a theoretical, bell-shaped distribution thought to describe the frequency of occurrence of many natural phenomena

Skewness

the degree to which a set of scores, measurements, or other numbers are asymmetrically distributed around a central point

Bimodal distribution

in the context of statistics, refers to a type of distribution characterized by two distinct peaks. It indicates the presence of a subgroup with different characteristics compared to the majority group. (eg.- peak performance ages for men and women presented in the same data set)

Effect size

tells you how meaningful the relationship between variables or the difference between groups is. It indicates the practical significance of a research outcome. A large effect size means that a research finding has practical significance, while a small effect size indicates limited practical applications.

Statistical significance

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

Convenience sample

is a non-probability sampling method where units are selected for inclusion in the sample because they are the easiest for the researcher to access. This can be due to geographical proximity, availability at a given time, or willingness to participate in the research.

Random sample

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

Random assignment

assigning participants to the experimental group or the control group by chance; every participant has the same chance to be in either group.

Sample bias

a flawed sampling process that produces an unrepresentative sample.

Generalization

the tendency, once a response has been conditioned, for similar stimuli to elicit the same response. (this is a Learning/Conditioning term, so I will extrapolate that in the research methods unit, in an experiment, generalization(s) could come from a variable other than the experimental variable leading to confounding results.

Single blind

research strategy in which the subjects do not know to which group, experimental or control, they belong. The researcher does know

Double-Blind procedure –

research strategy in which neither subjects nor experimenters know which subjects are in the experimental or control groups

Variables –

any measurable conditions, events. Characteristics, or behaviors that are controlled or observed in a study

Confounding variable

a third variable that influences both the independent and dependent variables

Experimenter Bias –

occurs when a researcher’s expectations or preferences about the outcome of a study influence the results obtained.

Social Desirability Bias –

tendency to give socially approved answers to questions about oneself

Representation

that which stands for something else; meaning, if the research is accurate, the subjects offer a representation of principles to a larger population

Peer review

a quality control process used by publications to help ensure that only high quality, methodologically sound information is presented in the publication.

Directionality problem

the situation in which it is known that two variables are related although it is not known which is the cause and which is the effect. It is the reason why correlational research is not causal.

Third Variable Problem.

a type of confounding(surprising) in which a third variable leads to a mistaken causal relationship between two others.

Correlation

when two variables are related to each other.

Causation

experimental method indicating that 1 variable causes an outcome

Self-report bias

a methodological problem that arises when researchers rely on asking people to describe their thoughts, feelings, or behaviors rather than measuring these directly and objectively.

Animal research

research that is done on animals because it is unsafe to perform on humans or to study the animal to extrapolate to human behavior.

Informed consent vs informed assent

Consent is possible if a person is legally responsible (18+), but assent is for participants less than 18 or when a legal guardian gives consent.

Confidentiality

the ethical principle of protecting the privacy and personal information of research participants

Anonymity

a principle of research ethics stating that the identity of a study participant should remain unknown

Deception

when a researcher gives false information to subjects or intentionally misleads them about some key aspect of the research.

Debrief

provides participants with a full explanation of the hypothesis being tested, procedures to deceive participants and the reason(s) why it was necessary to deceive them.