Psych 300 Exam A Ch. 2

Front 1

Conceptual Variables

Back 1

Abstract ideas that form the basis of research hypotheses

Front 2

Construct Validity

Back 2

The extent to which the measured variables used in the research adequately assess the conceptual variables they were designed to measure

Front 3

Correlational Research

Back 3

Research designed to discover relationships among variables and to allow the prediction of future events from present knowledge

Front 4

Descriptive Research

Back 4

Research designed to provide a snapshot of the current state of affairs

Front 5

Experimental Research

Back 5

Research in which initial equivalence among research participants in more than one group is created, followed by a manipulation of a given experience for these groups and a measurement of the influence of the manipulation

Front 6

Institutional Review Board (IRB)

Back 6

A committee of at least five members whose goal is to determine cost-benefit ratio of research conducted within an institution

Front 7

Multiple Regression

Back 7

A statistical technique, based on correlation coefficients among variables, that allows predicting a single outcome variable from more than one predictor variable

Front 8

Pearson Correlation Coefficient

Back 8

Symbolized by the letter r, a statistic indicating the strength and direction of a linear relationship. The value of the correlation coefficient ranges from r = –1.00 to r = +1.00.

Front 9

Statistical Significance

Back 9

The confidence with which we can conclude that data are not due to chance or random error

Front 10

Applied Research

Back 10

Research that investigates issues that have implications for everyday life and provides solutions to everyday problems

Front 11

Arithmetic Mean

Back 11

Symbolized by the letter M, the most commonly used measure of central tendency

Front 12

Basic Research

Back 12

Research that answers fundamental questions about behavior

Front 13

Case Studies

Back 13

A descriptive record of one or more individual’s experiences and behavior

Front 14

Common-Casual Variable

Back 14

A variable that is not part of the research hypothesis but that causes both the predictor and the outcome variable and thus produces the observed correlation between them

Front 15

Confounding Variable

Back 15

A variable other than the independent variable on which the participants in one experimental condition differ systematically from those in other conditions

Front 16

Debriefing

Back 16

A procedure designed to fully explain the purposes and procedures of the research and remove any harmful aftereffects of participation

Front 17

Deception

Back 17

A situation that occurs whenever research participants are not completely and fully informed about the nature of the research project before participating in it

Front 18

Dependent Variable

Back 18

In an experiment, the measured variable that is expected to be influenced by the experimental manipulation

Front 19

Descriptive Statistics

Back 19

Numbers that summarize the distribution of scores on a measured variable

Front 20

Double-Blind Experiment

Back 20

An experimental design in which both the researcher and the research participants are blind to condition

Front 21

Empirical

Back 21

Based on systematic collection and analysis of data

Front 22

Experimenter Bias

Back 22

A situation in which the experimenter subtly treats the research participants in the various experimental conditions differently, resulting in an invalid confirmation of the research hypothesis

Front 23

External Validity

Back 23

The extent to which the results of a research design can be generalized beyond the specific way the original experiment was conducted

Front 24

Falsifiable

Back 24

A characteristic of a theory or research hypothesis in which the variables of interest can be adequately measured and the predicted relationships among the variables can be shown through research to be incorrect

Front 25

Generalization

Back 25

The tendency to respond to stimuli that resemble the original conditioned stimulus

Front 26

Independent Variable

Back 26

In and experiment, the causing variable that is created (manipulated) by the experimenter

Front 27

Informed Consent

Back 27

A procedure, conducted before a participant begins a research session, designed to explain the research procedures and inform the participant of his or her rights during the investigation

Front 28

Internal Validity

Back 28

The extent to which we can trust the conclusions that have been drawn about the causal relationship between the independent and dependent variables

Front 29

Laws

Back 29

Principles that are so general as to apply to all situations in a given domain of inquiry

Front 30

Measured Variables

Back 30

Variables consisting of numbers that represent the conceptual variables

Front 31

Median

Back 31

The score in the center of the distribution, meaning that 50% of the scores are greater than the median and 50% of the scores are less than the median

Front 32

Meta-Analysis

Back 32

A statistical technique that uses the results of existing studies to integrate and draw conclusions about those studies

Front 33

Mode

Back 33

The value or values that occur most frequently in a variable’s distribution

Front 34

Naturalistic Observation

Back 34

Research based on the observation of everyday events

Front 35

Normal Distribution

Back 35

A data distribution that is shaped like a bell

Front 36

Objective

Back 36

Free from the personal bias or emotions of the scientist

Front 37

Operational Definition

Back 37

A precise statement of how a conceptual variable is turned into a measured variable

Front 38

Population

Back 38

In a descriptive research design, the people that the researcher wishes to know about

Front 39

Random Assignment To Conditions

Back 39

A procedure used in experimental research designs in which the condition that each participant is assigned to is determined through a random process

Front 40

Reliability

Back 40

The consistency of a measured variable

Front 41

Replication

Back 41

The process of repeating previous research

Front 42

Research Hypothesis

Back 42

A specific and falsifiable prediction about the relationship between or among two or more variables

Front 43

Research Design

Back 43

An approach used to collect, analyze, and interpret data

Front 44

Sample

Back 44

The people chosen to participate in a research project

Front 45

Scatter Plot

Back 45

A visual image of the relationship between two variables

Front 46

Scientific Method

Back 46

The set of assumptions, rules, and procedures scientists use to conduct research

Front 47

Spurious Relationship

Back 47

A relationship between two variables in which a common-causal variable produces and “explains away” the relationship

Front 48

Standard Deviation

Back 48

Symbolized by the letter s, the most commonly used measure of the dispersion of a variable’s distribution

Front 49

Statistical Conclusion Validity

Back 49

The extent to which we can be certain that the researcher has drawn accurate conclusions about the statistical significance of the research

Front 50

Survey

Back 50

A measure administered through either interviews or written questionnaires to get a picture of the beliefs or behaviors of a sample of people of interest

Front 51

Theory

Back 51

An integrated set of principles that explains and predicts many, but not all, observed relationships within a given domain of inquiry

Front 52

Variable

Back 52

Any attribute that can assume different values among different people or across different times or places