Unit Zero Terms


  1. Hindsight Bias: The tendency to believe, after an event has occurred, that one would have predicted or expected the outcome (also known as the "I-knew-it-all-along" effect).

  2. Hypothesis: A testable prediction about the relationship between two or more variables, often formulated as a statement that can be tested through experimentation or observation.

  3. Operational Definitions: A clear, precise, and measurable definition of a variable or concept, specifying how it will be observed, measured, or manipulated in a study.

  4. Control Group: In an experiment, the group that does not receive the treatment or intervention being tested, serving as a baseline to compare the effects of the treatment in the experimental group.

  5. Case Study: An in-depth analysis of an individual, group, event, or situation to explore causation and find underlying principles. It is often used in psychology and medicine.

  6. Naturalistic Observation: A research method where subjects are observed in their natural environment without interference or manipulation by the researcher.

  7. Survey: A research method that involves collecting data from a large number of respondents through questionnaires or interviews to gather information about attitudes, beliefs, or behaviors.

  8. Social Desirability Bias: The tendency of respondents to answer questions in a manner that will be viewed favorably by others, often leading to over-reporting of positive behaviors and under-reporting of negative behaviors.

  9. Sampling Bias: A bias that occurs when the sample chosen for a study is not representative of the population from which it was drawn, leading to inaccurate or skewed results.

  10. Random Sample: A sampling method where every individual in the population has an equal chance of being selected, ensuring that the sample is representative of the population.

  11. Illusory Correlation: The perception of a relationship between two variables when no such relationship exists, often due to cognitive biases or the focus on confirming evidence

  12. Random Assignment: The process of assigning participants to different groups in an experiment (e.g., experimental group vs. control group) by chance, minimizing pre-existing differences between groups.

  13. Double-Blind Procedure: An experimental procedure in which both the participants and the researchers are unaware of who is receiving the treatment or the placebo, reducing bias in the results.

  14. Placebo Effect: The phenomenon in which participants experience improvements or changes in behavior simply because they believe they are receiving a treatment, even if it is inactive or a placebo.

  15. Dependent Variable: The variable in an experiment that is measured and expected to change as a result of the manipulation of the independent variable.

  16. Independent Variable: The variable in an experiment that is manipulated by the researcher to observe its effect on the dependent variable.

  17. Confounding Variable: An extraneous factor in an experiment that correlates with both the independent and dependent variables, potentially skewing the results and leading to incorrect conclusions.

  18. Experimenter Bias: The unintentional influence that researchers can have on the outcome of an experiment due to their expectations or desires, which may affect the participants' behavior or the interpretation of data.

  19. Informed Consent: The process of informing participants about the nature of a study, including any potential risks, so they can voluntarily decide whether to participate.

  20. Debriefing: The procedure conducted after an experiment or study to inform participants about the true nature of the research, address any misconceptions, and ensure that they leave with a positive experience.

  21. Mode: The most frequently occurring score or value in a data set.

  22. Median: The middle score in a data set when the scores are arranged in ascending or descending order, separating the higher half from the lower half.

  23. Mean: The arithmetic average of a data set, calculated by summing all the values and dividing by the number of values.

  24. Correlation Coefficient: A statistical measure that describes the direction and strength of the relationship between two variables, typically ranging from -1 to +1.