Oxford Text pg 1-8 Vocab

IB Psychology

psychology

the scientific study of behavior and mental processes

artifacts

results that are associated with the effect of unforeseen factors

behavior

everything that can be registered by an independant observer

mental processes

internal patterns of information processes like attention, perception, memory, and thinking

nomothetic approach

orientation on deriving universal laws

quantitative research

research that operates with variables

variables

any characteristic that is objectively registered and quantified

construct

any theoretically defined variable

operationalization

expressing a construct in terms of observable behavior

independent variable/IV

the variable manipulated by the researcher

dependant variable/DV

the variable expected to change as the IV changes

experimentive studies

a type of quantitative research that includes one independent variable and one dependant variable

cause and effect inferences

a conclusion that, if the DV is different in two groups, a change in the IV “caused” a change in the DV

correlation studies

a type of quantitative research where variables are measured and the relationship between them is quantified

descriptive studies

a type of quantitative research where relationships between variables are not investigated, and the variables are approached separately

qualitative research

an in-depth study of a particular phenomenon

idiographic approach

orientation on an in-depth analysis of a particular case or phenomenon (without trying to derive universally applicable laws)

sample

the group of individuals taking part in the research study

sampling

the process of finding and recruiting individuals for the study

credibility

the degree to which the results of the study can be trusted to reflect the reality

bias

when the results of a study do not reflect reality

generalizability

the extent to which the results of the study can be applied beyond the sample and the settings used in the study itself