Chapter 2 Vocab

Case Study- An in-depth analysis of the behavior of one person or a small number of people
Confounding Variable- Variables that are irrelevant to the hypothesis being tested but can alter a
researcher’s conclusions
Control Group- A group that experiences all experimental procedures with the exception of
exposure to the independent variable
Correlation- A measure of the direction and strength of the relationship between two variables
Critical Thinking- The ability to think clearly, rationally, and independently
Cross-Sectional Study- An experimental design for assessing age-related changes in which data
are obtained simultaneously from people of differing ages
Dependent Variable- A measure that demonstrates the effects of an independent variable; the
“result” part of a hypothesis
Descriptive Method- Research methods designed for making careful, systematic observations
Descriptive Statistics- Statistical methods that organize data into meaningful patterns and
summaries, such as finding the average value
Double-Blind Procedure- A research design that controls for placebo effects in which neither the
participant nor the experimenter observing the participant knows whether the participant was
given an active substance or treatment or a placebo
Experiment- A research method that tests hypotheses and allows researchers to make conclusions
about causality
Experimental Group- A group of participants that is exposed to the independent variable
Generalize- To extend conclusions to larger populations outside your research sample
Hypothesis- A proposed explanation for a situation, usually taking the form “if A happens, then
B will be the result”
Independent Variable- An experimental variable controlled and manipulated by the
experimenter; the “if A happens” part of a hypothesis
Inferential Statistics- Statistical methods that allow experimenters to extend conclusions from
samples to larger populations
Informed Consent- Permission obtained from a research participant after risks and benefits of an
experimental procedure have been thoroughly explained
Longitudinal Study- An experimental design for assessing age-related changes in which data are
obtained from the same individuals at intervals over a long period
Mean- The numerical average of a set of scores
Measure- A method for describing a variable’s quantity
Median- The halfway mark in a set of data, with half of the scores above and half below
Meta-Analysis- A statistical analysis of many previous experiments on a single topic
Mixed Longitudinal Design- A method for assessing age-related changes that combines the
cross-sectional and longitudinal approaches by observing a cross-section of participants over a
shorter period
Mode- The most frequently occurring score in a set of data
Naturalistic Observation- An in-depth study of a phenomenon in its natural setting
Normal Distribution- A symmetrical probability function
Null Hypothesis- A hypothesis stating the default position that there is no real difference
between two measures
Objectivity- The practice of basing conclusions on facts without influence of personal emotion
and bias
Operationalization- Defining variables in practical terms
Peer Review- The process of having other experts examine research prior to its publication
Placebo- An inactive substance or treatment that cannot be distinguished from a real, active
substance or treatment
Population- The entire group from which a sample is taken
Random Assignment- The procedure in which each participant has an equal chance of being
assigned to any group in an experiment
Reliability- The consistency of a measure, including test–retest, inter-rater, intermethod, and
internal consistency
Replication- Repeating an experiment and producing the same results
Sample- A subset of a population being studied
Science- A method for learning about reality through systematic observation and
experimentation
Standard Deviation- A measure of how tightly clustered a group of scores is around the mean
Statistical Significance- A standard for deciding whether an observed result is because of chance
Survey- A descriptive method in which participants are asked the same questions
Theory- A set of facts and relationships between facts that can explain and predict related
phenomena
Third Variable- A variable that is responsible for a correlation observed between two other
variables of interest
Validity- A quality of a measure that leads to valid conclusions
Variable- A factor that has a range of values