Research

What is a hypothesis?

Predictions about behavior that can be tested.

What distinguishes a theory from a hypothesis?

A theory uses observations to explain better, while a hypothesis predicts outcomes.

What is causation in research?

The ability to generalize to the population through randomization.

What is sampling bias?

Occurs when participants are not randomly selected, leading to a lack of diversity.

What is experimental bias?

Subconsciously influencing results due to researcher opinions.

Who is considered a true scientist?

Someone who seeks results without a predetermined outcome.

What is confirmation bias?

The tendency to look for data that confirms existing beliefs.

What is hindsight bias?

The feeling of having predicted an outcome after it occurs.

What is self-report bias?

The tendency of individuals to exaggerate strengths and minimize weaknesses on surveys.

What is the false consensus effect?

The overestimation of how much others agree with you.

What is illusory correlation?

Believing there is a correlation when none exists.

What does regression toward the mean refer to?

The phenomenon where extreme results tend to return closer to the average over time.

What is normal distribution?

A statistical distribution where the mean, median, and mode are the same.

What is bimodal distribution?

A distribution with two modes, suggesting the need for two different studies.

What is social desirability bias?

When respondents alter their answers to appeal to social norms.

What does a positive correlation entail?

As one variable increases, so does the other; for example, junk food intake and heart disease risk.

What does a negative correlation entail?

As one variable increases, the other decreases; for example, junk food intake and academic performance.

What is a longitudinal study?

A study that follows the same person over a long time to observe changes.

What is a cross-sectional study?

A study comparing different age groups at one point in time.

What is meta-analysis?

An analysis of multiple studies on the same subject to find trends.

What is the primary goal of descriptive statistics?

To summarize, organize, and describe the features of a dataset.

What does central tendency refer to?

It measures the center or typical value of a data set, usually through mean, median, and mode.

What does variance measure?

The extent to which data points differ from the mean.

What is the significance of a p-value in research?

It determines the statistical significance of results, typically used to test hypotheses.

What are Type I errors?

False positives where a true null hypothesis is incorrectly rejected.

What are Type II errors?

False negatives where a false null hypothesis is not rejected due to insufficient evidence.

What is a positively skewed distribution?

A distribution where the tail on the right side is longer; mean is greater than the median.

What is the significance of operational definitions in research?

They provide clear, detailed descriptions of variables to allow for replication.

What is the purpose of using random sampling in research?

To ensure that the sample represents the population to avoid bias.

What is informed consent in research?

Participants' permission to participate, fully understanding the study.

What does it mean to debrief participants after a study?

Informing them of the study's purpose and what was done after it concludes.

What rights do participants have in research ethics?

Rights to confidentiality, withdrawal, and refusal to participate or answer specific questions.