Testable Hypothesis - a testable prediction, often implied by a theory. They help to test and reject or revise the theory.

Operational Definitions - a statement of the procedures used to define research variables. Psychologists report their research enough with clear operational definitions of concepts to help others replicate their observations.

Positive Correlation - a direct relationship where as the amount of one variable increases, the amount of a second variable also increases.

Negative Correlation - as the amount of one variable goes up, the levels of another variable go down.

Casual Relationships - when one variable causes a change in another variable. These relationships are investigated by experimental research in order to determine if changes in one variable truly causes changes in another variable. "correlation does not imply causation" - important concept. 

Naturalistic Observation - observing and recording behavior in naturally occurring situations without trying to manipulate and control the situation.

Case Studies - an observation technique in which one person is studied in depth in the hope of revealing universal principles.

Surveys - a technique for ascertaining the self-reported attitudes or behaviors of people, usually by questioning a representative, random sample of them.

Correlational Research - a first step prior to experimentation

Sampling - A portion, piece, or segment that is representative of whole. 

Assignment to Groups - people can be chosen randomly to be in the controlled group or the group being studied.

Independent Variable - the experimental factor that is manipulated. The effect is being studied.

Dependent Variable - the experimental factor that is being measured. The variable may change in response to manipulations of the independent variable.

Placebo - used as a controlled experiment, a substance having no pharmacological effect but given merely to satisfy a patient who supposes it to be a medicine.

Experimenter Bias - bias introduced by an experimenter whose expectations about the outcome of the experiment can be subtly communicated to the participants in the experiment 

Replication - repeating the essence of a research study, usually with different participants in different situations, to see whether the basic finding extends to other participants and circumstances.

— Statistics —

Measures of Central Tendency - this would be described or used using mode, mean, and median.

Mode - most frequent occurring score.

Mean - the arithmetic average of a distribution done by adding all scores then dividing them by the number of scores.

Median - the middle score in a distribution, half below and half above.

Measures of Variability - by knowing central tendency you also know more of the variation. Range and Standard Deviation help find variation.

Range - the difference between highest and lowest scores.

Standard Deviation - a computed measure of how much scores vary around the mean score.

Normal Curve - normal distribution.

Evolution of Chance - change can easily affect data and you might believe something else, changes fluctuates.

Test of Significance - to make them significant you need three things:

1. representative of the population we wish to study.

2. gives us consistent rather than highly variable data.

3. are larger rather than small.

-when averages from two samples are each reliable than their difference is just as likely.

Statistical Significance - when the sample averages are reliable.

-statistical significance indicates the likelihood that a result will happen by chance. It does not indicate the importance of the result.

— Ethics in Research —

-informed constant still doesn't allow fair testing on hormones it is unethical to experiment even if people say no harm or pain is put on anything.

Confidentiality - The ethical principle or legal right that a physician or other health professional will hold secret all information relating to a patient, unless the patient gives consent permitting disclosure

Debriefing - to question formally and systematically in order to obtain useful intelligence or information