Psychology By David Myers 10Th Edition Chapter 1

Front 1

Hindsight Bias

Back 1

the tendency to believe, after learning the outcome, that one would have foreseen it. (Also known as the I-knew-it-all-along phenomenon.)

Front 2

Critical Thinking

Back 2

thinking that does not blindly accept arguments and conclusion. 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 prediction, often implied by a theory

Front 5

Operational Definition

Back 5

a statement of the procedures (operations) used to define research variables. For example, human intelligence may be operationally defined as “what intellingence test measures"

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 universal principles

Front 8

Naturalistic Observation

Back 8

observing and recording behavior in naturally occurring 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

all the cases in a group being studied, from which samples may be drawn. (Note: Except for natural studies, this does not refer to a country’s whole population.)

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

Back 12

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

Front 13

Correlation Coefficient

Back 13

a statistical index of the relationship between two things (from -1 to +1)

Front 14

Scatterplot

Back 14

a graphed cluster of dots, each of which represents the values of two variables. The slope of the points suggests the direction of the relationship between the two variables. The amount of scatter suggest the strength of the correlation (little scatter indicates high correlation)

Front 15

Experiment

Back 15

a research method in which an investigator manipulates one or more factors (independent variables) to observe the effect on some behavior or mental process (the dependent variable). By random assignment of participants, the experimenter aims to control other relevant factors.

Front 16

Experimental Group

Back 16

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

Front 17

Control Group

Back 17

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 18

Random Assignment

Back 18

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

Front 19

Double-Blind Procedure

Back 19

an experimental 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. Commonly used in a drug-evaluation studies.

Front 20

Placebo

Back 20

(Latin for “I shall please”) effect 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 21

Independent Variable

Back 21

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

Front 22

Confounding Variable

Back 22

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

Front 23

Dependent Variable

Back 23

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

Front 24

Mode

Back 24

the most frequently occurring score(s) in a distribution

Front 25

Mean

Back 25

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

Front 26

Median

Back 26

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

Front 27

Range

Back 27

the difference between the highest and lowest scores in a distribution

Front 28

Standard Deviation

Back 28

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

Front 29

Normal Curve

Back 29

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

Front 30

Statistical Significance

Back 30

a statistical statement of how likely it is that an obtained result occurred by chance

Front 31

Culture

Back 31

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

Front 32

Informed Consent

Back 32

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

Front 33

Debriefing

Back 33

the post-experimental explanation of a study, including its purpose and any deceptions, to its participants

Front 34

Overconfidence

Back 34

when we think we know more than we actually do

Front 35

Scientific Attittude

Back 35

curiosity (passion for exploration) + skepticism (doubting & questioning) + humility (ability to accept when wrong)