Psychology Chapter 1 Terms

Front 1

Hindsight Bias

Back 1

The tendency to believe, after learning an outcome, that one would have foreseen it.

Front 2

Critical Thinking

Back 2

Thinking that does not blindly accept arguments and conclusions. Rather, it examines assumptions discerns hidden values, evaluates evidence, and assesses conclusions.

Front 3

Theory

Back 3

An explanation using an integrated set of principles that organizes observations and predicts behaviors or events.

Front 4

Hypothesis

Back 4

A testable predicyion, often implied by a theory.

Front 5

Operational Definition

Back 5

A statement of the procedures (operations) used to define research variables.

Front 6

Replication

Back 6

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.

Front 7

Case Study

Back 7

An observation technique in which one person is studied in depth in the hope of revealing iniversal principles.

Front 8

Naturalistic Observation

Back 8

Observing and recording behavior in naturally occuring situations without trying to manipulate and control the situation.

Front 9

Survey

Back 9

A technique for ascertaining the self-reported attitudes or behaviors of a particular group, usually by questioning a representative, random sample of the group.

Front 10

Population

Back 10

Allthe cases in a group being studied, from which samples may be drawn.

Front 11

Random Sample

Back 11

A sample that fairly represents a population because each member has an equal chance of inclusion.

Front 12

Correlation Coefficient

Back 12

A statistical index of the relationship between two things.

Front 13

Scatterplot

Back 13

A graphed cluster of dots, each of which represents the values of two variables.

Front 14

Experiment

Back 14

A research method in which an investigator manipulates one or more factors (independent variable)to observe the effect on some behavior or mental process (the dependent variable.)

Front 15

Experimental Group

Back 15

In an experiment, the group that is exposed to the treatment, that is, to one version of the independent variable.

Front 16

Control Group

Back 16

In an experiment, the group that is not exposed to the treatment; contrasts with the experimental group and serves as a comparison for evaluating the effect of the treatment.

Front 17

Random Assignment

Back 17

Assigning participants to experimental and control groups by chance, thus minimizing preexisting differences between those assigned to the different groups.

Front 18

Double-Blind Procedure

Back 18

An experimantal procedure in which both the research participants and the research staff are ignorant (blind) about whether the research participants have received the treatment or a placebo.

Front 19

Placebo Effect

Back 19

Experimental results caused by expectations alone; any effect on behavior caused by the administration of an inert substance or condition, which the recipient assumes is an active agent.

Front 20

Independent Variable

Back 20

The experimental factor that is manipulated; the variable whose effect is being studied.

Front 21

Confounding Variable

Back 21

A factor other than the independent variable that might produce an effect in an experiment.

Front 22

Dependent Variable

Back 22

The outcome factor; the variable that may change in response to manipulations of the independent variable.

Front 23

Mode

Back 23

The most frequently occuring score(s) in a distribution.

Front 24

Mean

Back 24

The arithmetic average of a distribution, obtained by adding the scores and then dividing by the number of scores.

Front 25

Median

Back 25

The middle score in a distribution; half the scores are above it and half are below it.

Front 26

Range

Back 26

The difference between the highest and lowest scores in a distribution.

Front 27

Standard Deviation

Back 27

A computed measure of how much scores vary around the mean score.

Front 28

Normal Curve

Back 28

A symmetrical, bell-shaped curve that describes the distribution of many types of data; most scores fall near the mean, or average (about 68 percent fall within one standard deviation of it) and fewerand fewer near the extremes.

Front 29

Statistical Significance

Back 29

A statistical Statement of how likely it is that an obtained result occurred by chance.

Front 30

Culture

Back 30

The enduring behaviors, ideas, attitudes, values, and traditions shared by a group of people and transmitted from one generation to the next.

Front 31

Informed Consent

Back 31

An ethical principle that research participants be told enough to enable them to choose whether they wish to participate.

Front 32

Debriefing

Back 32

The postexperimental explanation of a study, including its purpose and any deceptions, to its participants.