Unit 1B AP Psy Hartland
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saramasters1 on May 17, 2010
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37 terms
Terms | Definitions |
|---|---|
 empirical investigation | an approach to research that relies on sensory experience and observation as research data |
| operational definition | A statement that describes how to measure (in #s) a variable or define a term |
| hypothesis | testable prediction, often implied by a theory |
| scientific method | A research method whereby a problem is identified, a hypothesis stated, and hypothesis is tested |
| independent variable | the experimental factor that is manipulated; the variable whose effect is being studied |
| dependent variable | variable that changes as a result of a change in the independent variable |
| population | all people in a group, from which subjects may be drawn for a study |
| sample | the small group of participants, out of the total number available, that a researcher studies |
| random sample | method of selecting from a population in which each person has an equal probability of being selected |
| control group | the group that does NOTreceive the experimental treatment; often recieve the placebo |
| experimental group | subjects in an experiment to whom the independent variable is administered |
| confounding variables | anything other than the IV that might affect the DV |
| single blind | subject does not know what is being tested or what group they are in |
| double blind | Neither subjects nor researchers know who is in the control group or the experimental group |
| placebo effect | improvement resulting from the mere expectation of improvement |
| self fulfilling prophecy | a situation in which a researcher's expectations influence their own behavior, and thereby influence the participant's behavior |
| naturalistic observation | research method in which the psychologist observes the subject in a natural setting without interfering |
| case study | research method that involves an intensive investigation of one or event |
| survey | research method in which information is obtained by asking many individuals a fixed set of questions |
| longitudinal study | research in which the same people are restudied and retested over a long period |
| cross sectional study | A research study that examines effects of development (maturation) by examining different subjects at various ages at the same time |
| correlation | research method which measures the relationship between two variables or sets of data |
| positive correlation | both variable increases, or both variables decreases; they move in the same direction |
| negative correlation | a relationship that exists when one set of data values increases while the other decreases |
| causation | cause and effect relationship in which one variable controls the changes in another variable |
| scatterplot | 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. |
| frequency distribution | a chart or array of scores, usually arranged from highest to lowest, showing the number of instances for each score |
| mode | number that occurs most often in a set of data |
| mean | average (add all values and divide by how many there are) |
| median | the middle score in a distribution; half the scores are above it and half are below it |
| range | the difference between the highest and lowest scores in a distribution |
| standard deviation | a measure of variability that describes an average distance of every score from the mean |
| statistical significance | a statistical statement of how likely it is that an obtained result occurred by chance |
| descriptive statistics | branch of statistics that focuses on describing in numerical format, numbers that describe and summarize a set of research data |
| inferential statistics | mathematical analysis that allow researchers to draw conclusions regarding the reliability and generalizability of their data |
| normal curve | symmetrical bell shaped curve in which most scores fall near the average and fewer and fewer individual have scores at either end; normal distribution |
| central tendency | number that describes something about the average score of a distribution |
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