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| an explanation using an integrated set of principles that organizes observations and predicts behaviours or events |
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| a testable prediction often implied by a theory |
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| a statement of the procedures used to define research variables. for example, human intelligence may be operationally defined as what an intelligence test measures |
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| 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 |
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1. organizes observed facts.
2. it implies hypotheses that offer testable predictions and, sometimes, practical applications.
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| what does a good theory do? |
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| psychologists watch eagerly for new findings, but they also proceed with caution-- by awaiting other investigatiors repeatig the experiment to see if the findings will be confirmed. |
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| why is replication important. |
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| an obsercation technique in which one person is studied in depth in the hope of revealing unicersal principles. |
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| obsercing and recording behavior in naturally occurring situations without trying to manipulate and control the situation |
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| case studies involve only one individual, sp we cant know for sure whether the principles observed would apply to a large population |
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| case studies do not allow us to learn about general principles that apply to all of us, why not? |
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| a technique for ascertaining the self reported attitudes or behaviors of a particular group, usually by questioning a representative, random sample of the group. |
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| all the cases in a greoup being sudied from which the samples may be drawn. |
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| a sample that fairly represents a population because each member has an equal chance of inclusion. |
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| random sampling helps researchers avoid sampling bias, which occurs whena survey group is not representative of the population being studied |
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| what is sampling bias, and how do researchers avoid it? |
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| a measure of the extent to which two factors vary together, and thus of how well either factor predicts the other. |
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| a statistical index of the relationship between two things |
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| a graphed cluster of dots, each of which represents the values of two variables. The slope of the points suggest the direction of the relationship between the two variables. the amount of scatter suggests the strength of the correlation. |
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| Use of a control group, ehich is given a placebo and not the real treatment, allows results to be compared to the group that is given the real treatment, thus demonstating whteher the real treatment produces better results than belief in that treatment. |
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| wht measures do researchers use to prevent the pacebo effect from confusing their results? |
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| a research method in which an investigatior manipulates one of more factors to observe the effect on some behavior r mental process. By random assignment of participants, the experiment aims to control other relevant factors. |
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| in an experiment, the group that is exposed to the treatment, that is, to one version of the independent variable |
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| in an experiment, the group that is not exposed to te treatment; contrasts with the experimental group and serves as a comparison for ecaluating the effect of the treatment. |
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| assigning participants to experimental and control groups by chance, thus minimizing preexisting differences between those assigned to the different groups |
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| an experimental procedure in which both the research participants and staff are ignorant about whether the research participants have recieved the treatment or the placebo. |
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| experimental results caused by expectations alone; any effect on behavior caused by the administration of an inert substance or condition, which the recipient assumes is an active agent. |
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| the experimental factor that is manipulated; the variable whose effect is being studied |
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| a factor other than the independent variable that might produce an effect in an experiment |
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| the outcome factor; the variable that may change in response to manipulations of the independent variable |
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| by using random assignment, researchers are able to control for __________, which are other factors besides the independent variable that may influence the research results. |
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| to determine the drug's effectiveness, we must compare its effect on those randomly assigned to recieve it with the other half of the participants, who recieve a placebo. If we gave the drug to all 1000 participants, we would have no way of knowing if the drug is serving as a placebo orif it is actually medically effective. |
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| Why, when testing a new drug to control blood pressure, would we learn more about its effectiveness from giving it to half of the participants in a group of 1000 than to all 1000 participants. |
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| the most frequently occuring score in a distribution. |
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| the arithmetic average of a distribution, obtained by adding the scores and then dividing by the number of scores. |
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| the middle score in a distribution; half the scores are above it and half are below it. |
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| the difference between the highest and lowest scores in a distribution |
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| a coputed measure of how much scores vary around the mean score |
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| a symmetrical, bell-shaped curve that describes the distribution of many types of data; most scores fall near the mean and fewer and fewer near the extremes. |
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| a statistical statement of how likely it is that na obtained result occured by chance. |
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