Flashcards on Psychology Chapter 2 Test
Unlock all answers in this set
Unlock answersquestion
Variable
answer
Anything that can change.
question
Theory
answer
A broad idea or set of closely related ideas that attempts to explain observations and to make predictions about future observations.
question
Hypothesis
answer
An educated guess that derives logically from a theory; a prediction that can be tested.
question
Empirical Research
answer
Used to test a hypothesis by collecting and analyzing data.
question
Operational Definition
answer
A definition that provides an objective description of how a variable is going to be measured and observed in a particular study.
question
Data
answer
Refers to all the information researchers collect in a study.
question
Meta-Analysis
answer
A method that allows researchers to combine the results of several different studies on a similar topic in order to establish the strength of an effect.
question
Descriptive Research
answer
Research that determines the basic dimensions of a phenomenon, defining what it is, how often it occurs, and so on. However, it can't answer questions about how and why things are the way they are.
question
Survey
answer
Presents a standard set of questions, or items to obtain people's self-reported attitudes or beliefs about a particular topic. Are a straightforward way to measure psychological variables, constructing them requires care.
question
Case Study
answer
An in-depth look at a single individual. Are performed mainly by clinical psychologists when, for either practical or ethical reasons, the unique aspects of an individual's life can't be duplicated and tested in other individual's. It provides information about one person's goals, hopes, fantasies, fears, traumatic experiences, family relationships, and health. The subject of a case study is unique, but may not apply to the general population.
question
Correlational Research
answer
Research that examines the relationships between variables, whose purpose is to examine whether and how two variable change together.
question
Correlational Coefficient
answer
The degree of relationship between two variables. It always falls between -1 to +1, the closer to 1 the stronger the relationship. The positive sign refers to if one variable increases, the other also increases. The negative sign refers to if one variable increases, the other decreases. Zero correlational means there is no systematic relationship between the variables.
question
Third Variable Problem
answer
The circumstance where a variable that has not been measured accounts for the relationship between two other variables. Are also known as confounds.
question
Experience Sampling Method (EPM)
answer
A form of journal keeping used by correlational researchers to study people in their natural settings. It has people report on their experiences in a diary a few times a day in order to get a gauge of a person's behavior and emotions.
question
Longitudinal Design
answer
A special kind of systematic observation, used by correlational researchers, that involves obtaining measures of the variables of interest in multiple waves over time. It provides ways to demonstrate relations among variables, but may not be too completely clear about casual relationships.
question
Experiment
answer
A carefully regulated procedure in which the researcher manipulates one or more variables that are believed to influence some other variable.
question
Random Assignment
answer
Researchers' assignment of participants to groups by chance, to reduce the likelihood that an experiment's results will be due to preexisting difference between groups.
question
Independent Variable
answer
A manipulated experimental factor; the variable that the experimenter changes to see what its effects are. It is the cause.
question
Confederate
answer
A person who is given a role to play in a study so that the social context can be manipulated.
question
Dependent Variable
answer
The outcome; the factor that can change in an experiment in response to changes in the independent variable. It is the effect.
question
Experimental Group
answer
The participants in an experiment who receive the drug or other treatment under study, those that are exposed to the change that the independent variable represents.
question
Control Group
answer
The participants in an experiment who are similar to the experimental group and are treated the same except for the manipulated factor, the independent variable. Provides comparison to the experimental group to test the effects of the independent variable.
question
External Validity
answer
The degree to which an experimental design actually reflects the real-world issues it is supposed to address. Is concerned with whether the results apply to the real world.
question
Internal Validity
answer
The degree to which changes in the dependent variable are due to the manipulation of the independent variable.
question
Experimenter Bias
answer
Occurs when the experimenter's expectations influence the outcome of the research.
question
Demand Characteristics
answer
Any aspects of a study that communicate to the participants how the experimenter wants them to behave.
question
Confounds
answer
Factors that come with experimental manipulation which undesirably influence the dependent variable.
question
Research Participant Bias
answer
Occurs when the behavior of research participants during the experiment is influenced by how they think they are supposed to behave or their experiences about what is happening to them.
question
Placebo Effect
answer
Occurs when participants' expectations, rather than the experimental treatment, produce an outcome.
question
Placebo
answer
A harmless substance with no physiological effect that is given to participants in a control group so that they are treated identical to the experimental group, except for the independent variable.
question
Double-Blind Experiment
answer
An experimental design in which neither the experimenter nor the participants are aware of who is in the experimental and control groups until results are calculated.
question
Population
answer
The entire group about which the investigators wants to draw conclusions.
question
Sample
answer
The subset of the population chosen by the investigator for study.
question
Random Sample
answer
A sample that gives every member of the population an equal chance of being selected.
question
Naturalistic Observation
answer
The observation of behavior in a real-world setting.
question
Descriptive Statistics
answer
Mathematical procedures that are used to describe and summarize sets of data in a meaningful way.
question
Measure of Central Tendency
answer
A single number that indicates the overall characteristics of a set of data. Three measures of central tendency are mean, median, and the mode.
question
Mean
answer
A measure of central tendency that is the average for a sample.
question
Median
answer
A measure of central tendency that is the middle score in a sample.
question
Mode
answer
A measure of central tendency that is the most common score in a sample.
question
Range
answer
A measure of dispersion that is the difference between the highest and lowest scores.
question
Standard Deviation
answer
A measure of dispersion that tells us how much scores in a sample differ from the mean of the sample.
question
Inferential Statistics
answer
Mathematical methods that are used to indicate whether results for a sample are likely to generalize to a population. The standard is that a value of .05 is the minimum level of probability that scientists will accept for concluding that the differences are real and supporting a hypothesis.
question
Institutional Review Board
answer
A review board that evaluates the ethical nature of research conducted at their institutions. Proposed research plans must pass a research ethics committee before research can be initiated.
question
Informed Consent
answer
All participants must know what their participation will involve and what risks might develop. Participants must retain the right to drop out at any time.
question
Confidentiality
answer
Researchers are responsible for keeping all of the data they gather on individuals completely confidential and anonymous.
question
Debriefing
answer
After the study is completed, researchers should inform the participants of its purpose and the methods they used.
question
Deception
answer
The researcher deceives participants about the purpose of the study in order to avoid an alteration of data. The researchers must ensure that the deception will not harm the participants and that the participants are debriefed after the study is completed.
question
What are the five steps in the scientific method?
answer
The five steps in the scientific method are observing some phenomenon, formulating hypotheses and predictions, testing through empirical research, drawing conclusions, and evaluating the theory.
question
What is an operational definition, and what is its value in a study?
answer
Operational definition provides an objective description of ow a variable is going to be measured and observed in a particular study.
question
What is meta-analysis? Why do researchers use this procedure?
answer
Meta-analysis allows researchers to combine the results of several different studies on a similar topic in oder to establish the strength of an effect.
question
Define descriptive, correlational, and experimental research.
answer
Descriptive research determines the basic dimensions of a phenomenon. Correlational research examines the relationships between variables. Experimental research determines whether a casual relationship exists between variables.
question
Explain why correlation is not the same as causation.
answer
Correlation is not the same as causation because causation means it occurred because something happened, correlation means that it occurs when something happens.
question
What is the difference between an experimental group and a control group?
answer
An experimental group is one that is exposed to the independent variable, the control group is put under the same conditions but without the independent variable.
question
With respect to a research study, what is meant by a population? What is a sample?
answer
A population is an entire group about which the investigator wants to draw conclusions. A sample is a subset of the population chosen by the investigator for study.
question
What is the difference between a random sample and random assignment?
answer
A random sample is a sample that gives every member of the population an equal chance of being selected. Random assignment makes sure that experimental and control groups are equivalent.
question
What are two common physical settings for research?
answer
Two common physical settings for research are research laboratories and natural settings.
question
What is meant by a measure of central tendency? Name three measures of central tendency.
answer
A measure of central tendency is a single number that indicates the overall characteristics of a set of data. The three measures of central tendency are the mean, the median, and the mode.
question
What do measures of dispersion describe?
answer
Measures of dispersion describe how much the scores in a sample differ from one another.
question
What does standard deviation measure?
answer
Standard deviation measures how much scores in a sample differ from the mean of a sample.
question
What two things do the ethical principles used in research seek to balance?
answer
...
question
With respect to the participants in a study, what do the various ethical guidelines covering research all fundamentally seek to protect?
answer
...
question
What four key issues do the APA's ethics guidelines address?
answer
...
question
For what reasons are media reports on psychological studies often problematic?
answer
...
question
Why is it wise to look beyond the conclusions of just one research study?
answer
...
question
How does the submission of research findings to a respectable academic journal aid both researchers and the public?
answer
...
