Psych - Chapter 2 Key Terms

Theory

Well-developed set of ideas that propose an explanation for observed phenomena; generally accepted.

Hypothesis

Tentative and testable statement (prediction) about the relationship between two or more variables.

Falsifiability

Capable of being proven wrong.

Case study

Focus on one individual, typically in an extreme or unique psychological circumstance.

Naturalistic observation

Observation of behavior in its natural setting.

Surveys

A list of questions that can be delivered in many ways to gather a large amount of data from a sample.

Archival research

Uses past records or data sets to answer various research questions.

Longitudinal research

Studies in which the same group of individuals is surveyed or measured repeatedly over an extended period of time.

Cross sectional research

Compares multiple segments of a population at a single time (such as different age groups).

Correlation

Relationship between two or more variables; when two variables are correlated, one variable changes as the other does.

Positive Correlation

Two variables change in the same direction, both becoming either larger or smaller.

Negative Correlation

Two variables change in different directions, with one increasing as the other decreases.

Confounding variable

Unanticipated outside factor that affects both variables of interest.

Illusory correlation

Seeing relationships between two things when in reality no such relationship exists.

Confirmation bias

Tendency to ignore evidence that disproves ideas or beliefs.

Experimental group

The participants that experience the manipulated variable (group designed to answer the research question).

Control group

Participants that do not experience the manipulated variable; serve as a basis for comparison.

Placebo effect

People’s expectations or beliefs influencing or determining their experience in a given situation.

Independent variable

Variable that is influenced/controlled by the experimenter.

Dependent variable

Variable that the researcher measures to see how much effect the independent variable had.

Sample

Subset of individuals selected from the larger population.

Population

Overall group of individuals that the researcher is interested in.

Random sample

Subset of a larger population in which every member of the population has an equal chance of being selected.

Random assignment

Method of experimental group assignment in which all participants have an equal chance of being assigned to either group.

Reliability

Consistency and reproducibility of a given result.

Validity

Does the test measure what it is meant to measure?

Informed consent

Process of informing a research participant about what to expect during an experiment and obtaining consent.