Chapter 1: Thinking Critically with Psychological Science

An observation technique in which one person is studied in depth in hope of revealing universal

A testable prediction, often implied by a theory

A sample that fairly represents a population because each member has an equal chance of inclusion.

Assigning participants to experimental and control conditions by chance.

The middle score in a distribution; half the scores are above it and half are below it.

A research method in which an investigator manipulates one or more factors.

The tendency to believe after learning an outcome that one would have foreseen it.

Involves repeating a study using the same methods but with different subjects and experimenters

Observing and recording behavior in naturally occurring situations without trying to manipulate

A computed measure of how much scores vary around the mean score.

A technique for ascertaining the self-reported attitudes or behaviors of people

A statistical statement of how likely it is that an obtained result occurred by chance.

An explanation using an integrated set of principles that organizes and predicts observations

Experimental results caused by expectations alone; not due to any treatment.

The outcome factor the variable that may change in response to manipulations of the independent variable.

Experimental procedure in which the participants and the staff do not know if they have the placebo or the treatment

The experimental factor that is manipulated; the variable whose effect is being studied.

The arithmetic average of a distribution, obtained by adding the scores and then dividing by the number of scores.

Defining something in terms of its process or purpose in a study.

The most frequently occurring score(s) in a distribution.

Measuring the extent to which two factors vary together, and thus of how well either factor will predict the other.

The difference between the highest and lowest scores in a distribution.

All the cases in a group, from which samples may be drawn for a study.

The objective analysis and evaluation of an issue in order to form a judgment.