Comprehensive Research Methods and Statistics Vocabulary

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms, methodology, experimental design, and statistics concepts from the lecture notes.

Naturalistic Observation

Observing behavior in its natural setting without artificial manipulation or invasive intervention by the researcher.

Emic Perspective

A research standpoint that involves observing and understanding a culture from within that culture.

Etic Perspective

A research standpoint that involves observing a culture from an outsider's perspective.

Jane Goodall

A researcher known for her study of chimpanzees who faced criticism for losing objectivity and attributing human emotions to animals after naming her participants.

Inter-rater Reliability

The degree of consensus or agreement among multiple independent observers counting or coding the same behavior.

Mary Ainsworth

A developmental psychologist known for investigating infant attachment styles to caregivers using a structured observational procedure.

Strange Situation

A structured observation sequence developed by Mary Ainsworth where an infant and caregiver enter a room, a stranger enters, the caregiver leaves, and the caregiver returns to measure reunion behavior.

Observer Bias

A distortion in observation occurring when a researcher's own cultural norms, belief systems, or expectations skew how behaviors are rated or interpreted.

Survey

A research method using a list of questions to poll large groups of individuals regarding their opinions, attitudes, or self-reported characteristics.

Face Validity Response

A survey response given when directly questioned, where participants answer in a way that presents themselves in the best or most socially desirable light.

Mode

The most frequently occurring value or score within a dataset.

Median

The middle value in a set of ordered numerical data.

Mean

The arithmetic average of a distribution, calculated by summing all data points and dividing by the total count of numbers.

Sample

A smaller subset or segment selected from a larger population to participate in a study.

Population

The overall group or total whole to which research findings from a sample are generalized.

Archival Research

A research design that analyzes data previously collected by other researchers or organizations, offering cost-effective and fast execution with predefined questions.

Longitudinal Research

A research design in which the exact same subjects are repeatedly observed and measured over an extended period of time.

Cohort Effects

Variations or shared perspectives among participants resulting from belonging to a specific generation or living through particular historical events.

Cross-Sectional Research

A research method that compares multiple population segments or age groups at a single point in time.

Attrition

The reduction in participant numbers when individuals drop out of a longitudinal study over time, which can jeopardize study completion.

Correlation

A relationship between two or more variables where a change in one corresponds to a systematic change in another.

Collinearity

A state where two variables move in the same direction simultaneously and potentially mask the underlying influence of one another.

Confounding Variable

An unanticipated third variable that influences both main variables of interest, accounting for or explaining their observed relationship.

Positive Correlation

A relationship between two variables where both increase or decrease together in the same direction.

Negative Correlation

A relationship between two variables where an increase in one variable corresponds to a decrease in the other.

Pearson Correlation Coefficient ($r$)

A statistic ranging from $-1$ to $+1$ that indicates the direction and strength of the linear relationship between two variables.

Scatter Plot

A graph of plotted points where each dot represents an individual observation, used to visualize relationships between variables and infer a trend line.

Illusory Correlation

The false perception of a relationship between two variables where no real relationship exists.

Confirmation Bias

The tendency to seek out and focus on information that confirms existing beliefs while ignoring disconfirming evidence.

Rotton and Kelly (1985)

A meta-analysis of 40 studies that demonstrated no scientific evidence for a correlation between full moons and erratic human behavior.

Experimental Group

The group of participants in an experiment that receives the active experimental manipulation or treatment.

Control Group

The comparison group in an experiment that is kept identical to the experimental group except that it does not receive the experimental treatment.

Operationally Defined

A clear, precise description of how variables are measured or manipulated within a research study.

Double-Blind Study

An experimental setup where both the participants and the researchers interacting with them do not know which treatment condition participants are assigned to.

Placebo Effect

A change in a participant's illness, symptoms, or behavior resulting purely from their expectation or belief that a treatment will work.

Independent Variable

The variable in an experiment that is intentionally controlled or manipulated by the experimenter.

Dependent Variable

The variable measured by researchers to determine the outcome or effect produced by the independent variable.

Random Assignment

A process of assigning participants to experimental or control conditions purely by chance, ensuring groups are equal before treatment.

Random Sampling

A selection technique where every member of a population has an equal chance of being chosen for a study sample.