Scientific Methods Chapter 2

Vocabulary flashcards covering key scientific method concepts from Chapter 2.

Scientific methods

Set of procedures used to gather, analyze, and interpret information in a way that reduces error and leads to dependable conclusions

Critical thinking

Process of deciding what to believe and how to act based on a careful evaluation of the evidence

Theory

Organized system of ideas that seeks to explain why two or more events are related

Hypothesis

Educated guess or prediction about the nature of things based on a theory

Sample

Group of subjects who are selected to participate in a research study

Random selection

Procedure for selecting a sample of people to study in which everyone in the population has an equal chance of being chosen

Variables

Factors in a study that can be measured and that are capable of changing or varying

Operational definition

Very clear description of how a variable has been measured

Replication

Repeating an earlier study's scientific procedures using different participants in an attempt to duplicate the findings

Naturalistic observation

Scientific method that describes how people or animals behave in their natural environment

Participant observation

Scientific method in which a researcher describes behavior as it occurs in its natural environment, and does so as a participant of the group being studied

Case study

Scientific method involving an in-depth analysis of a single subject

Correlation research

Scientific method that assesses the nature of the relationship between two or more variables that are not controlled by the researcher

Survey

Structured set of questions or statements given to a group of people to measure their attitudes, beliefs, values or behaviors

Experiment

Scientific method in which researchers manipulate or change variables to observe the effect on some other variables

Independent variable

Variable that is manipulated in an experiment

Dependent variable

Variable that may change in response to the manipulated changes in the independent variable

Random assignment

Procedure ensuring that all research participants have an equal chance of being exposed to different levels of the independent variable