 | Term | Definition |
| |
hypothesis |
a prediction stated as a testable proposition, usually in the form of an if-then statement. |
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variables |
specific factors that are manipulated and measured in research |
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operational definition |
a statement of the specific methods used to measure a variable (a detailed description of the variable to aid in reliability and validity) |
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theory |
cohesive cluster of explanations of behavior - they allow for prediction of behavior and are constantly amended as new data is gathered (singular) |
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naturalistic observation |
method of gathering info - involves watching behaviors of interest without interfering, in their natural setting |
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case study |
collect descriptive data through intense examination of a phenomenon in a single person, group, or situation (particularly useful for studying rare phenomena) (singular) |
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survey |
a questionnaire administered to a large group - used to gather descriptive information |
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correlational study |
a method that examines relationships between variables to examine trends in data, evaluate theories, etc. - does NOT discern cause and effect |
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experiment |
tests a hypothesis - this is the only research method that shows causation (researcher controls all variables in this data-collection process) |
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independent variable |
this is the factor that is controlled by the researcher in an experiment (it is the "critical" part of the experiment, the phenomenon in question) |
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dependent variable |
a measurement of the effect of a controlled variable in an experiment |
