Psychology 2-1
correlation coefficient
statistic that describes the direction and strength of the relationship between 2 sets of variables
experimental
study group exposed to the independent variable
control
study group to which the independent variable is not applied
single- blind experiment
subjects are unaware of which group they belong to
central tendency
the mean, median, and mode
dependent
variable that changes in relation to the other variable
independent
variable that is deliberately manipulated
frequency distribution
way of arranging data so that we know how often a particular score or observation occurs
statistical significance
when the result supports the hypothesis
variable
conditions and behaviors in a study that are subject to change
sample
a small group used by researchers to conduct a study of a given population
statistics
branch of mathematics that enables researchers to organize and evaluate the data they collect
placebo effect
change in the s's illness or behavior that result from a belief that the treatment/drug will have an effect rather from the actual treatment
longitudinal
data are collected about a same group of subjects over a number of years to assess how certain characteristics change or remain the same during development
cross sectional
data are collected from groups of participants of different ages and compared at the same time so that conclusions can be drawn about differences due to age
THEN
dependent variable
random sample
each potential participant has an equal chance of being selected
hypothesis
educated guess about an expected outcome of an experiment
experiment
enables E to control the situation and to decrease possibility of hidden variables
stratified sample
entire population of potential participants is divided into subgroups; random sample is then taken from each subgroup
survey
fixed set of questions asked of many individuals
normal curve (bell-shaped curve)
graph of frequency distribution shaped like a symmetrical-bell shaped curve; a graph go normally distributed data
self-fulfilling prophecy
having expectations about a behavior and then acting in some way, usually unknowingly, to carry out that behavior
IF
independent variable
case study
intensive investigation of one or more participants
descriptive statistics
list or summarize data in practical, efficient ways
correlation
measure of how 2 variables or sets of data relate to each other
ethics
methods of conduct for proper and responsible behavior
human subject committee
must submit experiment proposals to this group for approval
double-blind experiment
neither the e or s knows which subject's receive exposure to the independent variable
psychological tests
objective methods for observation and measurement of subjects in various areas such as intelligence
naturalistic
observation conducted under normal circumstances
negative correlation
one factor rises as the other falls
positive correlation
one factor rises as the other rises; one falls as the other falls
debrief
remove misconceptions
