Critical Concepts in Psychology: Research Methods & Statistics (Pages 1-3)

Fill-in-the-blank flashcards covering key terms and concepts from Pages 1-3 of the notes.

The process of actively and skillfully analyzing, synthesizing, and evaluating information to reach well-reasoned conclusions is __.

Critical Thinking

The tendency to believe, after learning an outcome, that we could have predicted it (the 'I-knew-it-all-along' phenomenon) is __.

Hindsight Bias

Scientific experts who evaluate research studies before publication to ensure quality and validity are called __.

Peer Reviewers

An explanation that integrates principles and organizes observations to predict behaviors or events is a __.

Theory

A testable prediction, often implied by a theory, about the relationship between variables is a __.

Hypothesis

A carefully worded statement of the exact procedures used in a research study to define variables is an __.

Operational Definition

Repeating the essence of a research study to see whether the basic finding can be reproduced is known as __.

Replication

A descriptive technique in which one individual or group is studied in depth is a __.

Case Study

A descriptive technique of observing and recording behavior in naturally occurring situations without trying to manipulate the situation is __.

Naturalistic Observation

A descriptive technique for obtaining the self-reported attitudes or behaviors of a particular group by questioning a representative sample is a __.

Survey

The tendency of survey respondents to answer questions in a manner that will be viewed favorably by others, rather than answering truthfully, is called __.

Social Desirability Bias

The tendency for people to inaccurately report their own behaviors, attitudes, or characteristics, often due to memory limitations or desire to present themselves positively, is __.

Self-Report Bias

A flawed sampling process that produces an unrepresentative sample, making it difficult to generalize findings to the larger population is called __.

Sampling Bias

A sample that fairly represents a population because each member has an equal chance of inclusion is a __.

Random Sample

All those in a group being studied, from which samples may be drawn, are the __.

Population

A measure of the extent to which two variables change together, and thus of how well either variable predicts the other is a __.

Correlation

A statistical index of the relationship between two things (from -1.00 to +1.00), indicating the direction and strength of correlation is the __.

Correlation Coefficient

Any factor that can vary and be measured in research is a __.

Variable

A graphed cluster of dots, each representing the values of two variables, used to display correlation is a __.

Scatterplot

The perception of a relationship where none exists, or the perception of a stronger relationship than actually exists is an .

Illusory Correlation

The tendency for extreme or unusual scores to fall back toward the average on subsequent measurements is called .

Regression Toward the Mean

In an experiment, the group exposed to the treatment, that is, to one version of the independent variable, is the __.

Experimental Group

The group not exposed to the treatment; contrasts with the experimental group and serves as a comparison for evaluating the effect of the treatment is the __.

Control Group

Assigning participants to experimental and control groups by chance, thus minimizing preexisting differences between the different groups is __.

Random Assignment

An experimental procedure in which the research participants are ignorant about whether they have received the treatment or a placebo is __.

Single-Blind Procedure

An experimental procedure in which both the research participants and the research staff are ignorant about whether the research participants have received the treatment or a placebo is __.

Double-Blind Procedure

Experimental results caused by expectations alone; any effect on behavior caused by the administration of an inert substance or condition, which the recipient assumes is an active agent is the _.

Placebo Effect

In an experiment, the factor that is manipulated; the variable whose effect is being studied is the __.

Independent Variable

In an experiment, a factor other than the factor being studied that might influence a research study's results is a __.

Confounding Variable

The unconscious tendency for researchers to treat members of the experimental and control groups differently to increase the chance of confirming their hypothesis is __.

Experimenter Bias

The outcome that is measured; the variable that may change when the independent variable is manipulated is the __.

Dependent Variable

The extent to which a test or experiment measures or predicts what it is supposed to measure or predict is __.

Validity

Research that relies on numerical data and statistical analysis to understand phenomena is __.

Quantitative Research

Research that focuses on qualities and characteristics that cannot be measured numerically, often involving detailed descriptions and interpretations is __.

Qualitative Research

An ethical principle that research participants be told enough to enable them to choose whether they wish to participate is __.

Informed Consent

The post-experimental explanation of a study, including its purpose and any deceptions, to its participants is __.

Debriefing

Numerical data used to measure and describe characteristics of groups, including measures of central tendency and measures of variation is __.

Descriptive Statistics

A bar graph depicting a frequency distribution, showing how often particular scores occur is a __.

Histogram

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

Mode

The arithmetic average of a distribution, obtained by adding the scores and then dividing by the number of scores is __.

Mean

The middle score in a distribution; half the scores are above it and half are below it is the __.

Median

The percentage of scores in a distribution that a specific score is greater than or equal to is the __ Rank.

Percentile Rank

A representation of scores that lack symmetry around their average value, with most scores bunched on one side is a __ Distribution.

Skewed Distribution

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

Range

A computed measure of how much scores vary around the mean score is the __.

Standard Deviation

A symmetric, bell-shaped curve that describes the distribution of many types of data; most scores fall near the mean and fewer and fewer near the extremes is the __.

Normal Curve

Numerical data that allow one to generalize—to infer from sample data the probability of something being true of a population is __ Statistics.

Inferential Statistics

A procedure for statistically combining the results of many different research studies is __.

Meta-Analysis

A statistical statement of how likely it is that an obtained result occurred by chance is __.

Statistical Significance

A measure of the strength of the relationship between two variables or the magnitude of an experimental effect is __.

Effect Size