Term
|
Definition
| a research procedure in which some factor is varied, all else is held constant, and some result is measured |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| the factor of interest to the researcher, it can be directly manipulated by the experimenter or participants can be selected by virtue of their possessing certain attributes |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| an experiment that is conducted outside the lab, a narrower term than field research |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| research that occurs in any location other than a scientific lab |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| type of independent variable in which subjects encounter different environmental circumstances |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| type of independent variable in which participants are given different types of tasks to perform |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| type of independent variable in which participants are given different sets of instructions about how to perform |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| in a study with an identified control group, the experimental group is given the treatment being tested |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| a group not given a treatment that is being evaluated in a study, provides a means of comparison |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| any uncontrolled factor that is not of interest to the researcher but could affect the results |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| any extraneous variable that covaries with the independent variable and could provide an alternative explanation of the results |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| behavior measured as the outcome of an experiment |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| occurs when scores on two or more conditions are at or near the maximum possible for the scale being used, giving the impression that no differences exist between the conditions |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| occurs when scores on two or more conditions are at or near the minimum possible for the scale being used, giving the impression that no differences exist between the conditions |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| a type of independent variable that is selected rather than manipulated by the experimenter, refers to an already existing attribute of the individuals selected for the study |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| the extent to which the findings of a study generalize to other populations, other settings, and other times |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| group of students asked to participate in research, typically as part of an intro psych course req, "participant pool" |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| said to exist when research studies psychological phenomena in everyday situations |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| the extent to which a study is free from methodological flaws, especially confounding factors |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| a measurement given to participants at the outset of a study, prior to their being given a treatment (or not treated when in control group) |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| a measurement given to participants at the conclusion of a study after they have experienced a treatment or been in a control group, comparisons are made with pretest scores to determine if change occured |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| a threat to the internal validity of a study, occurs when some historical event that could affect participants happens between the beginning and end of a study |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| a threat to the internal validity of a study, occurs when participants change from the beginning to the end of a study simply as a result of maturational changes within them and not as a result of some independent variable |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| if a score on a test is extremely high or low, a 2nd score taken will be closer to the mean source, can be a threat to the internal validity of a study if a pretest score is extreme and the posttest score changes in the direction of the mean |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| a threat to the internal validity of a study, occurs when the fact of taking a pretest influences posttest scores perhaps by sensitizing participants to the purpose of a study |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| a threat to the internal validity of a study, occurs when the measuring instrument changes from pre to posttest |
|
|
Term
| subject selection effects |
|
Definition
| a threat to the internal validity of a study, occurs when those participating in a study cannot be assigned randomly to groups, hence the groups are nonequivalent |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| a threat to the internal validity of a study, occurs when participants fail to complete a study, usually but not necessarily in longitudinal studies, those finishing the study may not be equivalent to those who started it |
|
|
