Hindsight Bias - ANSWER The tendency to believe, after learning an outcome, that one would have foreseen it. (Also known as the I-knew-it-all-along
... [Show More] phenomenon.)
Theory - ANSWER An explanation using an integrated set of principles that organizes observations and predicts behaviors or events.
Hypothesis - ANSWER A testable prediction, often implied by a theory.
Operational Definition - ANSWER A statement of the procedures (operations) used to define research variables.
Replication - ANSWER Repeating the essence of a research study, usually with different participants in different situations, to see whether the basic finding extends to other participants and circumstances.
Case Study - ANSWER An observation technique in which one person is studied in depth in the hope of revealing universal principles.
Survey - ANSWER A technique for ascertaining the self-reported attitudes or behaviors of a particular group, usually by questioning a representative, random sample of the group.
Population - ANSWER All the cases in a group being studied, from which samples may be drawn.
Random Sample - ANSWER A sample that fairly represents a population because each member has an equal chance of inclusion.
Naturalistic Observation - ANSWER Observing and recording behavior in naturally occurring situations without trying to manipulate and control the situation.
Correlation - ANSWER A measure of the extent to which two factors vary together, and thus of how well either factor predicts the other.
Correlation Coefficient - ANSWER A statistical index of the relationship between two things (from -1 to +1).
Scatterplot - ANSWER A graphed cluster of dots, each of which represents the values of two variables. The slope of the points suggests the direction of the relationship between the two variables.
Experiment - ANSWER A research method in which an investigator manipulates one or more factors (independent variables) to observe the effect on some behavior or mental process (the dependent variable). By random assignment of participants, the investigator aims to control other relevant factors.
Random Assignment - ANSWER Assigning participants to experimental and control groups by chance, thus minimizing preexisting differences between those assigned to the different groups. [Show Less]