PSYC 100 SLides 2

Hypothesis

A specific prediction about how variables relate, based on a theory.

Independent Variable (IV)

The variable that is manipulated or affects another variable.

Dependent Variable (DV)

The variable that is affected or influenced by another variable.

Reliability

The consistency and reproducibility of a given research result.

Validity

The accuracy of a result in measuring what it is designed to measure.

Control Group

The group in an experiment that does not receive the specific treatment.

Experimental Group

The group in an experiment that receives the specific treatment or manipulation.

Random Assignment

Assigning participants to groups based on chance alone to ensure equivalence.

Between-Participants Design

Different, equivalent participants are randomly assigned to each experimental condition.

Within-Groups Design

An experimental design where the same participants are exposed to all conditions.

Double-Blind Experiment

An experiment where neither subjects nor research staff know who is in which condition.

Positive Correlation

A relationship where both variables increase or decrease together.

Negative Correlation

A relationship where as one variable increases, the other decreases.

Illusory Correlation

Perceiving a relationship between two things when none actually exists.

Third Variable Problem

An unanticipated outside factor that affects both variables, creating a false impression of causation.

Experiment

Carefully regulated procedure in which one or more factors believed to influence the behavior being studied are manipulated and all other factors are held constant