Psyc. Ch. 2

deductive reasoning

ideas tested in real-world observations

inductive reasoning

conclusions are drawn from observations

theory

developed set of ideas that explain phenomena

hypothesis

how the world will behave if our idea is correct

falsifiable

capable of being shown to be incorrect

clinical or case study

focuses on one individual or few individuals

generalizing

ability to apply findings to larger segments of society

naturalistic observation

observing behavior in its natural setting

observer bias

include a one-sided approach to research goals and expectations

inter-rater reliability

different/variety observers

surveys

list of questions to be answered

sample

selected group

population

selected group

archival research

existing records, past records, or data sets for interesting patterns or relationships

Longitudinal research

gathering data over an extended period of time

cross-sectional research

compares multiple segments of the population at the same time

attrition

reduction in the number of research participants due to dropouts

correlation

relationship between two or more variables

correlation coefficient

a number from -1 to +1 that indicates strength and relationship between variables

positive correlation

when variables move in the same direction either increasing or decreasing

negative correlation

when variables move in different directions, either increasing or decreasing

no correlation

variety differences, no relationship

cause and affect

one’s actions causes the other

confounding variable

outside force causing a change in systematic movement

illusory correlation

when people believe relationships exist with no such evidence

confirmation bias

tendency to ignore evidence

experimental group

a variable being tested

control group

no variable, a variety of groups

operational definition

a precise description of the variable

experimental bias

possibility that researcher’s expectations might skew the results of the study

single blind study

when participants are unaware of the group they are in

double blind study

when both the researcher and the participants are unaware of group assignments

placebo effect

when people’s beliefs or expectations determine their experience

independent variable

a controlled group by the experimenter that remains unchanged

dependent variable

a measure of the change in effect

participants

the subjects of psychology research

random sample

larger population in which every member has an equal chance of being selected

random assigments

all participants have an equal chance of being assigned to either group

statistical analysis

determine if there are differences between group

peer-reviewed journal articles

aimed at an audience of professionals and scholars who are actively involved in research themselves

replicate

repeating the experiments using different samples to determine the reliability

reliability

ability to produce supportive results

validity

a measurement or tool that accurately measures

Institutional Review Board (IRB)

committee of individuals made up of memories of the institution’s administration, scientists, and community members

informed consent

a written description of what participants can expect, potential risks, and implications of the research

deception

purposely misleading participants but not in a harmful way

debriefing

complete honest information about the purpose of the experiment