Module 1.3

Theories

Sets of statements that propose general principles of development

Hypothesis

Testable prediction of a future event based on a theory

Variables

Characteristics that vary from person to person, within individuals, or in the environment

Descriptive methods

Research methods that define and characterize variables and associations among them

Naturalistic observation

Observing people in their normal environments.

Laboratory observation

Observation of behavior under controlled conditions

Case study

An in-depth examination of a single individual

Survey

A study in which researchers use interviews and/or questionnaires to collect data about attitudes, interests, values, and various kinds of behaviors.

Population

The entire group about which a researcher is attempting to learn something

Sample

A subset of a group about which a researcher is attempting to learn something

Representative sample

A sample that has the same characteristics as the population to which a study’s findings apply

Social desirability

The tendency of survey participants to answer questions in ways that they believe researchers want them to

Correlation

A relationship between two variables that can be expressed as a number ranging from -1.00 to + 1.00

Experiment

A study that tests a causal hypothesis

Experimental group

The group in an experiment that receives the treatment the experimenter thinks will produce a particular effect

Control group

The group in an experiment that does not receive the treatment the experimenter thinks will produce a particular effect

Independent variable

The presumed casual element in an experiment

Dependent variable

The characteristic or behavior that is expected to be affected by the independent variable.

Quasi- experiment

A study with a manipulated independent variable but no random assignment of participants to experimental and control groups.