Research Methods

Statistics helpful in organizing and summarizing (but not interpreting) data

Research method in which independent variables are manipulated and which permits causal interpretation

Judgment inferred from statistics that probability of observed findings occurring by chance is low.

A system of interrelated ideas used to explain a set of observations

Exists when a sample is not representative of the population from which it was drawn

A link or association between variables such that one can be predicted from the other

The group in an experiment that is not exposed to manipulation of the independent variable

A statistical procedure that combines the results of many studies

An in-depth, generally subjective, investigation of an individual subject

The average, obtained by adding up all scores and dividing by the number of scores in a distribution.

A representation of scores that lack symmetry around their average value.

An experiment tests the effects of room temperature on test performance. What is the dependent variable?

The tendency to answer questions about oneself in a socially approved manner

Perceiving a relationship where none exists, or actually perceiving a stronger than actual relationship.

Occurs when an extraneous variable makes it difficult to sort out the effects of the independent variable.

Effects that occur when subjects experience change due to expectations (or to "fake" treatment)

Distribution of subjects in experiment in which each has equal chance of being assigned to experimental or control group

What is the range of the following scores. 12, 25, 33, 40, 80

A graphed cluster of dots, each represents the values of two variables.

The statistic that indicates the degree and direction of relationship between variables

Occurs when a researcher's expectations influence the results of a study

Research strategy in which neither subjects nor experimenters know which group the subjects are in.

The group in an experiment that is exposed to manipulation of the independent variable

The score that occurs most frequently

The variable that results from the manipulation in an experiment

A condition or event that an experimenter manipulates in order to observe its impact

Precisely defines each variable in study in terms of specific operations needed to produce/measure them

A measure of variability in data, used to show how much scores vary around the mean

Measure of central tendency that is MOST influenced by outliers/ data that is different from other data.

A larger group from which a sample is drawn and to which the researcher wishes to generalize the findings to

Any variables other than the independent variables that seem likely to influence the dependent variable in an experiment

Descriptive statistic & measure of central tendency; exact halfway point of data distribution

Statistical procedures used to interpret data in an experiment and draw conclusions

A tentative statement about the expected results in an experiment