1.
Case Study: A detailed description of an individual's behaviour during the course of clinical treatment or diagnosis
2.
Clinical Observation: The observation of the behaviour of people who are undergoing diagnosis or treatment
3.
Confidentiality: Privacy of participants and non-disclosure of their participation in a research project
4.
Control Group: A comparison group used in an experiment, the members of which are exposed to the naturally occurring or zero value of the independent variable
5.
Correlation Coefficient: A measurement of the degree to which two variables are related
6.
Correlational Study: The examination of relations between two or more measurements of behaviour or other characteristics of people or other animals
7.
Debriefing: Full disclosure to research participants of the nature and purpose of a research project after its completion
8.
Dependent Variable: The variable the is measured in an experiment
9.
Descriptive Statistics: Mathematical procedures for organizing collections of data, such as determining the mean, the median, the range, the variance, and the correlation coefficient
10.
Double-Blind Study: An experiment in which neither the participant nor the researcher knows the value of the independent variable
11.
Experiment: A study in which the researcher changes the value of the independent variable and observes whether this manipulation affects the value of a dependent variable. Only these can confirm the existence of cause-and-effect relations among variables
12.
Experimental Group: A group of participants in an experiment, the members of which are exposed to a particular value of the independent variable, which has been manipulated by the researcher
13.
Generalization: The conclusion that the results obtained from a sample apply also to the population from which the sample was taken
14.
Hypothesis: A statement, usually designed to be tested by an experiment that tentatively expresses a cause-and-effect relationship between two or more events
15.
Independent Variable: The variable that is manipulated in an experiment as a means of determining cause-and-effect relations
16.
Inferential Statistics: Mathematical procedures for determining whether relations or differences between samples are statistically significant
17.
Informed Consent: Agreement to participate in an experiment after being informed about the nature of the research and any possible risks and benefits
18.
Interrater Reliability: The degree to which two or more independent observers agree in their ratings of another organism's behaviour
19.
Manipulation: Setting the values of an independent variable in an experiment to see whether the value of another variable is affected
20.
Matching: A systematic selection of participants in groups in an experiment or (more often) a correlational study to ensure that the mean values of important participant variables of the group are similar
21.
Mean: A measure of central tendency; the sum of a group of values divided by their number; the arithmetical average
22.
Measure of Central Tendency: A statistical measure used to characterize the value of items in a sample of numbers
23.
Measure of Variability: A statistical measure used to characterize the dispersion in values of items in a sample of numbers
24.
Median: A measure of central tendency; the midpoint of a group of values arranged numerically
25.
Naturalistic Observation: The observation of the behaviour of people or other animals in their natural environments
26.
Nominal Fallacy: The false belief that one has explained the causes of a phenomenon by identifying and naming it; for example, believing that one has explained lazy behaviour by attributing it to "laziness"
27.
Operational Definition: The definition of a variable in terms o the operation the researcher performs to measure or manipulate it
28.
Placebo: An inert substance that cannot be distinguished in appearance from a real medication; used as the control substance in a single-blind or double-blind experiment
29.
Random Assignment: Procedure in which each participant has an equally likely chance of being assigned to any of the conditions or groups of an experiment
30.
Range: The difference between the highest score and the lowest score of a sample
31.
Replication: Repetition of an experiment or observational study to see whether previous results will be obtained
32.
Sample: A selection of elements fro a larger population - for example, a group of participants selected to participate in an experiment
33.
Scatterplot: A graph of items that have two values; one value is plotted against the horizontal axis and the other against the vertical axis
34.
Scientific Method: A set of rules that governs the collection and analysis of data gained through observational studies or experiments
35.
Single-Blind Study: An experiment in which the researcher but not the participant knows the value of the independent variable
36.
Standard Deviation: A statistic that expresses the variability of a measurement; square root of the average of the square deviations from the mean
37.
Statistical Significance: The likelihood that an observed relation or difference between two variables really exists rather the is due to chance factors
38.
Survey Study: A study of people's responses to standardized questions
39.
Theory: A set of statements designed to explain a set of phenomena; more encompassing than a hypothesis
40.
Variable: Anything capable of assuming any of several values
