True/False.

An experiment must have the conditions of treatment controlled via the experimenter and random assignments (also called randomization) into groups.

The researcher uses preexisting groups

The IV cannot be altered

One cannot state with any degree of statistical confidence that the IV caused the DV

Literally means "after the fact"

A correlational study or research in which intact, preexisting groups.

The IV was administered before the research began.

Maturation of subjects (psychological & physical changes including fatigue)

Mortality (subjects withdrawing)

Instruments used to measure the behavior or trait

Statistical regression (high or low scores moving toward the mean if the measure is used again)

Statistical procedures that use the important or underlying "factors" in an attempt to summarize a lot of variables.

Concerned with data reduction.

The easiest and less complex explanation is said to be the best

An economical description.

Another term for the concept of parsimony.

Principle of economy (Lloyd Morgan's 1894 Canon)

Interpret the results in the simplest manner.

Action research

Experience-near research

A behavior or circumstance that can exist on at least two levels or conditions.

A factor that "varies" or is capable of change.

1. Subjects are informed of risks

2. Negative after effects are removed

3. You will allow subjects to withdraw at any time

4. Confidentiality of all subjects will be protected

5. Research report results will be presented in an accurate format that is not misleading

6. You will use only techniques that you are trained in

Control group does not receive the IV.

Experimental group does receive the IV.

True/False.

If you cannot randomly assign the subjects to two groups, you must consider your research quasi-experimental.

A variable that the researcher cannot control yet exists.

Height weight, gender

A hunch or educated guess which can be tested using the experimental model.

Can be tested regarding the relationship of the IV and the DV.

Asserts that the samples will not change even after the experimental variable is applied.

The control group and the experimental group will not differ at the end of the experiment.

The IV does not affect the DV.

Also called affirmative hypothesis.

Asserts that the IV has caused a change.

The IV has affected the DV.

Describes data.

Mean, median, mode.

Also called "two-groups"/"two-randomized groups"

Two groups are independent of each other in the sense that the change (or lack of it) in one group did not influences the other group.

Described as a "independent group comparison design"

A value obtained from a population

Summarizes a characteristic of a population

Occurs when a research rejects the null hypothesis when it is actually true.

Alpha Error

Occurs when you accept the null hypothesis when it is actually false.

Beta Error

1. Researcher sets the level of significance and then runs the experiment.

2. The t test is computed and this yields a t value.

3. The researcher looks at a t table to determine if the t value obtained is statistically lower than the t value in the table (critical t)

4.  If it is statistically lower, accept the null hypothesis.

Analysis of Variance

Used when there are more than two groups

Results yield an F-statistic 

Researcher consults an F table for a critical value F

If obtained F exceeds critical F, the null hypothesis is rejected

Tests 2/+ groups while controlling for extraneous variables (called covariates)

What does MANOVA stand for and when is it used?

Multivariate Analysis of Variance

Used when a study has more than one DV

Positive: both variables change in the same direction

Negative: the variables are inversely associated; one goes up and the other goes down

Another word for correlation

When two variables vary together, they covary positively

When one variable increases as the other decreases, they covary negatively

Behaviorists often utilize N=1, which is called intensive experimental design. 

What is the first step in this approach?

What does A,B,C stand for in this approach?

Take a baseline measure

A: baselines

B: intervention implementation

C: Second or alternative form of intervention

Cues or features of a study which suggest a desired outcome. 

Can enable the subject to manipulate and confound an experiment by purposely trying to confirm or disprove the experimental hypothesis

Neither the participant nor the researcher know which subjects are in the control group and which are in the experimental group.

People who rate/judge the subjects often don't even know the research hypothesis

Occurs when the experimenter unconsciously communicates his or her intent or expectations to the subjects

Can flaw an experiment

The simplest type of single-subject research- popularized in the 1960s & 1970s.

Rely on continuous measurement: A) Baseline secured; B) intervention implemented; A) Outcome is examined via new baseline.

Also called "withdrawal designs."

In a normal distribution:

68% of the scores fall within plus/minus 1 SD of the mean;

95% within plus/minus 2 SD of the mean;

99.7% within plus/minus 3 SD of the mean

The highest or maximum point of concentration.

The highest point on the curve.

The distance between the highest and lowest scores.

The larger the range, the greater the dispersion or spread of the scores from the mean.

The left & right side of the curve are not mirror images.

The mean, median, & mode all fall at different points.

The tail indicates whether the distribution is positively or negatively skewed.

Negative: long tail to the left

Positive: long tail to the right

X-axis: abscissa

Y-axis: ordinate

A pictorial diagram or graph of the two variables being correlated

Also known as a scatterplot

A threat to the internal validity of an experiment that occurs when subjects strive to prove that an experimental treatment that could threaten their livelihood really isn't all that effective

Also called compensatory rivalry of a comparison group

They are the same as standard deviations

Often called standard scores

The most elementary scale- does not provide quantitative information

Classifies, names, labels, or identifies by groups

Has no true zero point and does not indicate order

The highest level of measurement

Time, height, weight, temperature on the Kelvin scale, volume, and distance

The researcher does not intervene

The setting is "natural" rather than in a laboratory environment

The oldest method of research

The first variable has two levels (e.g. male or female)

The second variable has three levels

The researcher attempts to gather large amounts of data

Often uses a questionnaire or an interview

Used to generate generalizations regarding the behavior of the population as a whole

Poor construction of the instrument

A low return rate

Subjects are often not picked at random (not representative of the population)

Occurs when observations are made and the subjects' behavior is influenced by the very presence of the researcher

The subject is reacting to the presence of the investigator

Refers to the points that divide a distribution into fourths.

25th percentile is in the first quartile, etc.

The score distance between the 25th percentile and the 75th percentile is called the interquartile range

Cross-sectional: clients are assessed at one point in time (also called the synchronic method)

Longitudinal: the same people are studied over a period of time (also called the diachronic method)

Implies a within-person analysis rather than a normative analysis between individuals

Looking at an individual's own patterns revealed via measurement

Any bit of knowledge (correct or incorrect) that the subject in an experiment is aware of that can influence his or her behavior

Can confound an experiment

Deception has been used to reduce this

Used to control for the fact that the order of an experiment could impact its outcome

The solution is to change the order of the experimental factors

Each subject has the same probability of being selected

The selection of one subject does not affect the selection of another subject

Eliminates the researcher's tendency to pick a biased sample of subjects

Inductive: the research goes from the specific to a generalization.

Deductive: reduces the general to specific