Research Methods and Data Interpretation

Flashcards covering key definitions and concepts from the lecture notes on Research Methods and Data Interpretation, in a fill-in-the-blank style.

Correlation is a measure of the extent to which two factors , and thus of how one factor predicts the other.

vary together

A is anything that can vary and is feasible and ethical to measure.

variable

is perceiving a relationship where none exists, or perceiving a stronger-than-actual relationship.

Illusory correlation

An is a research method in which an investigator manipulates one or more factors to observe the effect on some behavior or mental process.

experiment

A is a statistical index of the relationship between two variables, ranging from -1.00 to +1.00.

correlation coefficient

A is a graphed cluster of dots, each representing the values of two variables, where the slope suggests the direction and scatter suggests the strength of the correlation.

scatter plot

The tendency for extreme or unusual scores or events to fall back toward the average is known as .

regression toward the mean

In an experiment, the group exposed to the treatment (one version of the independent variable) is called the .

experimental group

A descriptive technique involving an in-depth study of one individual or group in hopes of revealing universal principles is a .

case study

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

Naturalistic observation

A is a technique for ascertaining self-reported attitudes or behaviors of a group, usually by questioning a representative, random sample.

survey

The tendency of individuals to present themselves favorably by giving socially acceptable answers is known as .

social desirability bias

is a systematic error occurring when individuals provide inaccurate or distorted information about their own behaviors, attitudes, or experiences.

Self-report bias

A flawed sampling process that produces an unrepresentative sample is called .

sampling bias

is a sampling process where each member of a population has an equal chance of inclusion, aiming for a representative sample.

Random sampling

The term for all those in a group being studied, from which samples may be drawn, is .

population

In an experiment, the group not exposed to the treatment, used for comparison, is called the .

control group

is the process of assigning participants to experimental and control groups by chance, minimizing pre-existing differences.

Random assignment

In a , participants do not know which treatment they are receiving, but the researchers do.

single-blind procedure

In a , both research participants and staff are unaware of who received the treatment versus a placebo.

double-blind procedure

Experimental results caused by expectations alone, such as an effect on behavior from an inert substance, are an example of the .

placebo effect

The experimental factor that is manipulated and whose effect is being studied is called the .

independent variable

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

confounding variable

The unconscious or unintentional influence researchers can have on study results due to their expectations is known as .

experimenter bias

is thinking that examines assumptions, appraises sources, discerns biases, evaluates evidence, and assesses conclusions, rather than automatically accepting arguments.

Critical thinking

The tendency to believe, after learning an outcome, that one "would have foreseen it" is called .

hindsight bias

Scientific experts who evaluate a research article's theory, originality, and accuracy are known as .

peer reviewers

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

theory

A testable prediction, often implied by a theory, is a .

hypothesis

The possibility that a hypothesis or theory can be disproven by observation or experiment means it is .

falsifiable

A carefully worded statement of the exact procedures used in a research study is called an .

operational definition

involves repeating the essence of a research study, usually with different participants and situations, to see if the basic finding can be reproduced.

Replication

The outcome factor, or the variable that may change in response to manipulation of the independent variable, is the .

dependent variable

The extent to which an experiment measures or predicts what it is supposed to is its .

validity

is a systematic method for collecting and analyzing numerical data to test theories, identify patterns, and make objective, generalizable predictions.

Quantitative research

explores people's thoughts, experiences, and motivations using non-numerical data like interviews, providing in-depth understanding of social phenomena.

Qualitative research

The ethical principle requiring research participants to be told enough to choose whether to participate is .

informed consent

The post-experiment explanation of a study, including its purpose and any deceptions, to its participants is called .

debriefing

are numerical data used to measure and describe characteristics of groups, including central tendency and variation.

Descriptive statistics

A is a bar graph depicting a frequency distribution.

histogram