hindsight bias
The tendency to believe, after learning an outcome, that one would've foreseen it.
critical thinking
Thinking that doesn't blindly accept arguments and conclusions. Rather it examines assumptions, discerns hidden values, evaluates evidence and assesses conclusions.
theory
An explanation using an integrated set of principles that organizes and predicts observations.
hypothesis
A testable prediction, often implied by theory.
operational definition
A statement of the procedures (operations) used to define research variables. Example: intelligence may be operationally defined as what intelligence tests measure.
replication
Repeating the essence of r
case study
An observation technique in which one person is studied in depth in the hope of revealing universal principles
survey
A technique for ascertaining the self-reported attitudes or behaviors of people, usually by questioning a representative, random sample of them.
false consensus effect
The tendency to overestimate the extent to which others share our beliefs and behaviors.
population
All the cases in a group, from which samples may be drawn for a study.
random sample
A sample that fairly represents a population because each member has an equal chance of inclusion
naturalistic observation
Observing and recording behavior in naturally occurring situations without trying to manipulate the situation.
correlation coefficient
A statistical measure of the extent to which two factors vary together, and thus how well either factor predicts the other.
scatterplot
A graphed cluster of dots each of which represents the values of two variables.
illusory correlation
The perception of a relationship where none exists.
experiment
A research method in which an investigator manipulates one or more factors (IV's) to observe the effect on some behavior on mental processes (DV).
placebo
An inert placebo is equal to a pseudotreatment
double-blind procedure
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 placebo.
placebo effect
Experimental results caused by expectations alone; any effect on behavior caused by the administration of an inert substance / condition, which is assumed to be an active agent.
experimental condition
The condition of an experiment that exposes participant to the treatment, that is, to one version of the IV.
control condition
The condition of an experiment that contrasts with the experimental condition and serves as a comparison for evaluation the effect of the treatment.
random assignment
Assigning participants to experimental and control conditions by chance, thus minimizing the preexisting differences between those assigned to the different groups
independent variable
The experimental factor that is manipulated; the variable whose effect is being studied
dependent variable
The experimental factor - in psychology the behavior or mental process - that is being measured ; the variable that may change in response to manipulations of the IV.
mode
The most frequently occurring score in a distribution
mean
The arithmetic average of a distribution, obtained by adding the scores, and then dividing by the number of the scores.
median
The middle score in a distribution ; half of the scores above it and half are below it.
range
The difference between the highest and lowest scores in a distribution
standard deviation
A computed measure of how much scores vary around the mean score
statistical significance
A statistical statement of how likely it is that an obtained result occurred by chance
culture
The enduring behaviors, ideas, attitudes and traditions shared by a large group of people and transmitted from one generation to the next.
hindsight bias
The tendency to believe, after learning an outcome, that one would've foreseen it.
critical thinking
Thinking that doesn't blindly accept arguments and conclusions. Rather it examines assumptions, discerns hidden values, evaluates evidence and assesses conclusions.
theory
An explanation using an integrated set of principles that organizes and predicts observations.
hypothesis
A testable prediction, often implied by theory.
operational definition
A statement of the procedures (operations) used to define research variables. Example: intelligence may be operationally defined as what intelligence tests measure.
replication
Repeating the essence of r
case study
An observation technique in which one person is studied in depth in the hope of revealing universal principles
survey
A technique for ascertaining the self-reported attitudes or behaviors of people, usually by questioning a representative, random sample of them.
false consensus effect
The tendency to overestimate the extent to which others share our beliefs and behaviors.
population
All the cases in a group, from which samples may be drawn for a study.
random sample
A sample that fairly represents a population because each member has an equal chance of inclusion
naturalistic observation
Observing and recording behavior in naturally occurring situations without trying to manipulate the situation.
correlation coefficient
A statistical measure of the extent to which two factors vary together, and thus how well either factor predicts the other.
scatterplot
A graphed cluster of dots each of which represents the values of two variables.
illusory correlation
The perception of a relationship where none exists.
experiment
A research method in which an investigator manipulates one or more factors (IV's) to observe the effect on some behavior on mental processes (DV).
placebo
An inert placebo is equal to a pseudotreatment
double-blind procedure
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 placebo.
placebo effect
Experimental results caused by expectations alone; any effect on behavior caused by the administration of an inert substance / condition, which is assumed to be an active agent.
experimental condition
The condition of an experiment that exposes participant to the treatment, that is, to one version of the IV.
control condition
The condition of an experiment that contrasts with the experimental condition and serves as a comparison for evaluation the effect of the treatment.
random assignment
Assigning participants to experimental and control conditions by chance, thus minimizing the preexisting differences between those assigned to the different groups
independent variable
The experimental factor that is manipulated; the variable whose effect is being studied
dependent variable
The experimental factor - in psychology the behavior or mental process - that is being measured ; the variable that may change in response to manipulations of the IV.
mode
The most frequently occurring score in a distribution
mean
The arithmetic average of a distribution, obtained by adding the scores, and then dividing by the number of the scores.
median
The middle score in a distribution ; half of the scores above it and half are below it.
range
The difference between the highest and lowest scores in a distribution
standard deviation
A computed measure of how much scores vary around the mean score
statistical significance
A statistical statement of how likely it is that an obtained result occurred by chance
culture
The enduring behaviors, ideas, attitudes and traditions shared by a large group of people and transmitted from one generation to the next.