Psychology Exam 1

Why is it important to study psychology empirically?

What does it mean to call psychology an “empirical science?”

What does it mean to say that the experiment can identify causal relationships? How does it do so?

Operational Definition

A statement of the procedures (operations) used to define research variables

Case Study

An observation technique where one person is studied in depth in order to find universal principles

Naturalistic Observation

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

Survey

A technique for learning the self-reported attitudes/behaviors of a specific group, usually by questioning a random sample of the group

Correlation

A measure of how much two factors vary together and how well either factor predicts/relates to the other

Experiment

A research method where an investigator manipulates one or more independent variables to see their effect on a dependent variable

Random Assignment

Assigning participants to experimental and control groups by random chance, which minimizes preexisting differences between those assigned to different groups

Experimental Group

The group that is exposed to the treatment, one version of the independent variable

Control Group

• The group that is not exposed to the treatment.

• Used as a comparison to the experimental group to see the effects of the treatment

Independent Variable

• The manipulated variable

• Study this variable’s effects

Dependent Variable

• The outcome variable

• May change in response to the independent variable

Theory

An explanation using an integrated set of principles that organizes observations and predict behaviors/events

Hypothesis

A testable prediction implied by a theory