Psychology Key Terms 21-40

Front 1

random sample

Back 1

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

Front 2

naturalistic observation

Back 2

observing and recording behavior in natural occuring situations without trying to manipulate and control the situation

Front 3

correlation coefficient

Back 3

a statistical of the extent to which two factors vary together, and thus of how well either factor predicts the other

Front 4

scatterplot

Back 4

a graphed cluster of dots, each of which represents the values of two variables. The amount of scatter suggest the strenght of the correlation

Front 5

illusory correlation

Back 5

the preception of a relationship where none exists

Front 6

experiment

Back 6

a research method in which an investigator manipulates one or more factors to observe the effect on some behavior or mental process. By random assignment of particpants, the experiment controls other relevant factors.

Front 7

double-blind procedure

Back 7

an expirmental procedure in which both the research participants and the research staff are ignorant about whether the research participants have recieved the treatment or placebo. Commonly used in drug-evaluation studies

Front 8

placebo effect

Back 8

expiermental results caused by expectations alone; any effect on behavior caused by the administration of an inert substance or condition, which is assumed to be an active agent

Front 9

expirmental condition

Back 9

the condition of an expirment that exposes participants to the treatment, that is one version of the independant variable

Front 10

control condition

Back 10

the condition of an expirment that contrasts with the expirmental condition and serves as a comparision for evaluating the effect of the treatment

Front 11

random assignment

Back 11

assingning participants to expirmental and control conditions by chance, thus minimizing preexisting differences between those assigned to the different groups

Front 12

independant variable

Back 12

the expirmental factor that is being manipulated; the variable whos effect is being studied

Front 13

dependant variable

Back 13

the expirmental factor- in psychology, the behavior or mental process-that is being measured; the variable that may change in response to manipulations of the independant variable

Front 14

mode

Back 14

the most frequently occuring score in a distribution

Front 15

mean

Back 15

the arithmetic average of distribution; obtained by adding the scores and then dividing by the total number of scores

Front 16

median

Back 16

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

Front 17

range

Back 17

the difference between the highest and lowest scores in a distributon

Front 18

standard diviation

Back 18

a computed measure of how much scores vary around the mean score

Front 19

statistical significance

Back 19

a statical statment of how likely it is that an obtained result occured by chance

Front 20

culture

Back 20

the enduring behaviors, ideas, attitudes, and traditions shared by a large group and transmitted from one generation to the next.