Research terms CE psychology

hindsight bias

I knew it all along phenomenon.

overconfidence

tendency to think we know more than we do

theory

Explains, organizes observations, and predicts behaviors or events.

hypothesis

Testable prediction, often implied by a theory.

operational definition

Describe concepts with precise procedures or measures.

replication

Repeating the essence of a research study.

case study

Technique in which one person is studied in depth.

survey

Technique that looks at many cases in less depth.

sampling bias

Flawed sampling process that produces an unrepresentative sample.

population

All the cases in a group being studied from which samples may be drawn.

random sample

Every person in the entire group has an equal chance of participating.

naturalistic observation

Descriptive method recording behavior in natural environment.

correlation

The measure of the extent to which two factors vary together.

scatterplot

Graphed cluster of dots, each of which represents the values of two variables.

illusory correlation

The perception of a relationship where none exists.

experiment

Research method in which an investigator manipulates one or more factors.

double-blind procedure

Neither the participants nor the research assistants collecting data will know which group is receiving the treatment.

placebo effect

Just thinking you are getting a treatment can boost your spirits, relax your body, and relieve your symptoms.

experimental group

The group that is exposed to the treatment.

control group

The group that is not exposed to the treatment.

random assignment

Assigning participants to experimental and control groups by chance.

independent variable

The experimental factor that is manipulated.

dependent variable

The variable that may change in response to manipulations of the independent variable.

mode

The most frequently occurring score(s) in a distribution.

mean

The average score of a distribution.

median

The middle score in a distribution.

range

The difference between the highest and lowest scores in a distribution.

standard deviation

Measure of how much scores vary around the mean score.

statistical significance

Statistical statement of how likely it is that an obtained result occurred by chance.

culture

Behaviors, ideas, attitudes, and traditions shared by a group of people.

correlation coefficient

Statistical index of the relationship between two variables.

confounding variable

Factor other than the IV that might produce an effect in an experiment.

validity

The extent to which a test or experiment measures or predicts what it is suppose to.

descriptive statistics

Numerical data used to measure and describe characteristics of groups.

skewed distribution

A representation of scores that lack symmetry around their average value.

normal curve

Bell-shaped curve that describes the distribution of data.

inferential statistics

Numerical data that allow one to generalize.

informed consent

Research participants are told enough information to choose to participate.

debriefing

Post experimental explanation of a study.