Video Notes: Research Methods & Critical Thinking – Vocabulary Flashcards

Vocabulary-style flashcards covering key concepts from the lecture notes on Research Methods and Critical Thinking.

Critical Thinking

Active analysis, evaluation, and questioning of information with skepticism and evidence-seeking in psychology.

Hindsight Bias

The 'I knew it all along' effect where outcomes seem predictable after they occur.

Peer Reviewers

Scientists who evaluate research before publication to ensure standards and data-supported conclusions.

Theory

A broad explanation that integrates principles and organizes observations to predict behavior or events.

Hypothesis

A testable prediction about the relationship between variables, often derived from a theory.

Operational Definition

A precise description of how a variable will be measured or manipulated.

Replication

Repeating a study to see if the same results occur, helping establish reliability.

Case Study

In-depth examination of one person or a small group, providing detailed information but limited generalizability.

Naturalistic Observation

Observing and recording behavior in natural settings without manipulating variables.

Survey

A research method that gathers information from many people using questionnaires or interviews.

Social Desirability Bias

Tendency to answer questions in a way that makes one look good rather than honestly.

Self-Report Bias

Errors that occur when people inaccurately report their own behaviors, thoughts, or feelings.

Sampling Bias

A flaw in sample selection that makes the sample unrepresentative of the population.

Random Sample

A sample where every member of the population has an equal chance of being selected.

Population

The entire group researchers want to study and draw conclusions about.

Correlation

A statistical measure indicating the extent to which two variables are related.

Correlation Coefficient

A numerical value between -1 and +1 showing the strength and direction of a relationship.

Variable

An factor that can change or vary in an experiment or study.

Scatterplot

A graph showing the relationship between two variables; each point represents scores on both variables.

Illusory Correlation

Perceiving a relationship between two variables when no real relationship exists.

Regression Toward the Mean

Extreme scores tend to move closer to the average on subsequent measurements.

Experimental Design

A method where the researcher manipulates one variable to determine its effect on another.

Experimental Group

The group that receives the treatment or manipulation being tested.

Control Group

The group that does not receive the treatment and serves as a baseline for comparison.

Random Assignment

Assigning participants to groups by chance to minimize pre-existing differences.

Single-Blind Procedure

Participants do not know which condition they are in, but researchers do.

Double-Blind Procedure

Neither participants nor researchers know which condition participants are in.

Placebo Effect

Improvement due to the belief that one is receiving treatment.

Independent Variable

The variable that the researcher manipulates or changes.

Confounding Variable

An unwanted variable that influences the dependent variable, complicating cause-and-effect conclusions.

Experimenter Bias

Researchers’ unconscious influence on results to fit expectations.

Dependent Variable

The variable measured in an experiment; the outcome that may change due to the IV.

Validity

The extent to which a study measures what it claims to measure and yields accurate results.

Quantitative Research

Research that focuses on numerical data and statistical analysis.

Qualitative Research

Research that focuses on non-numerical data like observations, interviews, and case studies.

Informed Consent

Participants' agreement to take part after being told what the study involves.

Debriefing

Explaining the true purpose and results of a study to participants after it is completed.

Descriptive Statistics

Numerical measures that summarize and describe data.

Histogram

A bar graph showing the frequency distribution of a dataset.

Mode

The most frequently occurring score in a dataset.

Mean

The arithmetic average of all scores in a dataset.

Median

The middle score when scores are ordered from lowest to highest.

Percentile Rank

The percentage of scores that fall below a particular score.

Skewed Distribution

A distribution where scores pile up on one side, creating an asymmetrical shape.

Range

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

Standard Deviation

A measure of how much individual scores vary from the mean.

Normal Curve

A bell-shaped distribution where most scores cluster around the mean.

Inferential Statistics

Statistical methods used to draw conclusions about a population from sample data.

Meta-Analysis

A statistical technique that combines results from multiple studies to identify overall patterns.

Statistical Significance

The likelihood that results occurred by chance; commonly set at p < .05.

Effect Size

A measure of the strength or magnitude of a relationship or difference found in research.