Representative samples
Definition: Samples that accurately reflect the characteristics of the population from which they are drawn.
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Term: Convenience samples
Definition: Samples that are taken from a group that is easily accessible, which may lead to bias.
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Term: Sampling bias
Definition: A bias that occurs when certain members of the population are less likely to be included in the sample.
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Term: Generalizability
Definition: The extent to which research findings can be applied to or have relevance for settings, people, times, and measures other than the ones used in the study.
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Term: Experimental group
Definition: The group in an experiment that receives the treatment or intervention.
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Term: Placebo group
Definition: A group that receives a placebo or mock treatment to test the efficacy of the actual treatment.
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Term: Single-blind procedure
Definition: An experimental setup where the participants do not know whether they are in the experimental group or the control group.
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Term: Double-blind procedure
Definition: An experimental setup where neither the participants nor the experimenters know who is receiving the treatment, to eliminate bias.
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Term: Experimenter bias
Definition: The influence of the researcher’s expectations on their interpretation of the data.
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Term: Case study
Definition: An in-depth examination of an individual, group, or phenomenon.
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Term: Correlation (does not equal causation)
Definition: The principle that correlation between two variables does not imply that one causes the other.
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Term: Positive correlation
Definition: A relationship in which two variables increase or decrease together.
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Term: Negative correlation
Definition: A relationship in which one variable increases as the other decreases.
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Term: Directionality problem
Definition: An issue in correlational studies that arises when the direction of the relationship between two variables is unclear.
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Term: Third-variable problem
Definition: An issue in correlational studies where a third variable affects both of the variables being studied, potentially misleading the results.
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Term: Scatterplots
Definition: Graphs that depict the relationship between two numerical variables.
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Term: Correlation coefficient
Definition: A numerical index of the degree of relationship between two variables, ranging from -1 to +1.
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Term: Quantitative measures
Definition: Data expressed in numerical format, such as scores or ratings on a Likert scale.
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Term: Qualitative measures
Definition: Data that is descriptive and conceptual, often gathered through methods like structured interviews.
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Term: Surveys
Definition: Research tools used to gather data from a predefined group of respondents.
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Term: Framing
Definition: The way information is presented, which can influence how it is interpreted.
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Term: Social desirability bias
Definition: The tendency of respondents to answer questions in a manner they believe will be viewed favorably by others.
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Term: Self-report bias
Definition: The tendency for people to respond inaccurately or falsely to questions to present themselves in a favorable light.
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Term: Meta-analysis
Definition: A statistical technique for combining the results of multiple studies to arrive at a conclusion.
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Term: Naturalistic observation
Definition: A research method involving the observation of subjects in their natural environment.
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Term: Hypothesis
Definition: A testable prediction about the relationship between two or more variables.
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Term: Replication
Definition: The process of repeating a study to see if the same results can be obtained.
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Term: Peer review
Definition: A process by which research is evaluated by other experts in the field before it is published.
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Term: Ethical guidelines
Definition: Protocols that govern the ethical conduct of research involving human and non-human participants.
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Term: Institutional review board
Definition: A committee that reviews research proposals to ensure ethical standards are met.
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Term: Informed consent
Definition: The process of providing potential research participants with all relevant information regarding the study before they agree to participate.
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Term: Informed assent
Definition: The agreeing to participate in research by individuals who may not fully understand the implications, often used for minors.
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Term: Protection from harm
Definition: An ethical principle that protects participants from physical or psychological harm.
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Term: Confidentiality of participants
Definition: The ethical obligation to protect the privacy of research participants.
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Term: Minimal deception
Definition: The ethical practice of only using deception when absolutely necessary and justified in research.
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Term: Confederates
Definition: People who are part of the research team but pretend to be participants or bystanders.
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Term: Debriefing
Definition: The process of informing participants about the true nature and purpose of a study after it has concluded.
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Term: Central tendency
Definition: A statistical measure that identifies a single score as representative of an entire distribution (mean, median, mode).
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Term: Measures of variation
Definition: Statistical indicators that describe how much scores in a data set differ from one another (e.g., range, standard deviation).
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Term: Normal curve
Definition: A bell-shaped distribution that describes the spread of a set of data.
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Term: Positive skew
Definition: A distribution in which most values are clustered at the lower end, with a few large values extending the tail to the right.
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Term: Negative skew
Definition: A distribution where most values are concentrated at the higher end, with a few low values extending the tail to the left.
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Term: Bimodal distributions
Definition: Distributions with two different modes or peaks.
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Term: Regression toward the mean
Definition: The phenomenon where extreme values tend to be followed by more moderate ones.
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Term: Effect sizes
Definition: Quantitative measures of the magnitude of an experiment's effect.
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Term: Cognitive biases
Definition: Systematic deviations from norm or rationality in judgment, examples include confirmation bias, hindsight bias, and overconfidence.
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Term: Nature and nurture
Definition: The debate over the relative impact of genetic inheritance and environmental factors on human development.
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Term: Genetic predisposition
Definition: An increased likelihood of developing a particular disease or condition due to an individual's genetic makeup.
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Term: Seven perspectives
Definition: Different theoretical approaches to understanding human behavior, including biological, cognitive, behavioral, humanistic, psychodynamic, sociocultural, and evolutionary perspectives.
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Term: Eugenics
Definition: A set of beliefs and practices aimed at improving the genetic quality of a human population often through selective breeding.
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Term: Twin studies
Definition: Research studies that involve comparing the similarities and differences between identical and fraternal twins to understand the influence of genetics and environment on behavior and traits.
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Term: Wilhelm Wundt
Definition: Considered the father of experimental psychology, he established the first psychology laboratory in 1879.
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Term: G. Stanley Hall
Definition: An American psychologist who was the first president of the American Psychological Association and is known for his work in child development and educational psychology.
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Term: William James
Definition: An influential American philosopher and psychologist, referred to as the 'father of American psychology' and author of 'The Principles of Psychology'.
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Term: Mary Whiton Calkins
Definition: A pioneering psychologist and the first female president of the American Psychological Association, known for her work in self-psychology.
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Term: Margaret Washburn
Definition: The first woman to earn a Ph.D. in psychology, known for her work in animal behavior and her book 'The Animal Mind'.
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Term: Sigmund Freud
Definition: The founder of psychoanalysis, known for his theories on the unconscious mind and the significance of early childhood experiences.
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Term: John B. Watson
Definition: A psychologist who established behaviorism, emphasizing the study of observable behavior over inner mental states.
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Term: B.F. Skinner
Definition: A behaviorist recognized for his work on operant conditioning and the development of the Skinner box for studying behavior.
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Term: Carl Rogers
Definition: A major figure in humanistic psychology, he developed client-centered therapy, emphasizing the importance of self-concept.
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Term: Dorthea Dix
Definition: A reformer who advocated for the mentally ill, significantly improving conditions in mental hospitals in the United States.
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Term: Francis Cecil Sumner
Definition: The first African American to earn a Ph.D. in psychology, focusing on racial issues and the education of African Americans.
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Term: Inez Beverly Prosser
Definition: The first African American woman to earn a Ph.D. in psychology, researching the effects of segregated education.
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Term: Kenneth Clark
Definition: A psychologist known for his research on segregation's impact on children, influential in the Brown v. Board of Education case.
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Term: Mamie Phipps Clark
Definition: A psychologist known for her work on racial identity and children's development, co-conducted the doll experiments with Kenneth Clark.