2-1 Vocabulary

hypothesis

an educated guess about the relationship between two variables

variable

any factor that is capable of change

survey

research method that involves an intensive investigation of one or more participants

naturalistic observation

research method in which the psychologist observes the participant in a natural setting without interfering

case study

research method that involves an intensive investigation of one or more participants

control group

the group of participants that is treated in the same way as the experimental group except that the experimental treatment (independent variable) is not applied

experimental group

the group of participants to which an independent variable is applied

correlation

the measure of a relationship between two variables or sets of data

sample

the small group of participants, out of the total number available, that a researcher studies

cross-sectional study

research method in which data is collected about a group of participants of different ages and compared so that conclusions can be drawn about differences due to age

longitudinal study

research method in which data is collected about a group of participants over a number of years to assess how certain characteristics change and remain the same during development