pysch handout 2-3

longitudinal study

studying the same group of individuals over a long period of time

population

the entire group from which subjects may be sleeved for a study

experimental group

the participants in an experiment who are exposed to the treatment; that is the independent variable

control group

the participants in an experiment who are not exposed to the independent variable

independent variable

the research variable that is hypothesized to cause a change in the dependent variable

dependent variable

what changes as a result of the independent variable

case study

when one person is studied in depth

participant bias

when participants in research respond differently than they normally would because of what the believe the researcher wants

researcher bias

when researchers selectively notice evidence that supports their hypothesis or expectations

placebo

a nonactive substance that may be administered instead of a drug

experiment

a research method in which the researchers manipulates one or more factors to observe the effect on another variable while confounding variables remain controlled

correlational study

a research project strategy that investigates the degree to which two variables are related to one another

survey method

a research technique designed to discover the self-reported attitudes or behaviors of people thought he use of questionnaires or interviews

random sampling

a sample that fairly represents a population because each member has an equal change of being included

operational definition

a statement of the exact behaviors a researcher is looking for in a research study

hypothesis

an investigators testable prediction about the outcome of research

random assignment

assuming participants to experimental and control groups by change

double blind procedure

both the data collectors and the research participants do not know the expected outcome of the experiment

cross sectional study

compare people of different ages at one time

confounding variables

could inadvertently influence the dependent variable; can be eliminated through random assignment; types: environmental differences and expectation effects

replication

repeating the essence of a research study to see whether the results can be reliably reproduced

blind procedure

research participants are ignorant to the expected outcome of the experiment