PSY 379 Social Psychology Midterm Exam Prep
Correlational Method correct answers A method of research in which a scientists systematically observes two or more variable to determine whether changes in one are accompanied by changes in the other.
Debriefing correct answers Procedures at the conclusion of a research session in which participants are given full information about the nature of the research and the hypothesis or hypothesis under investigation.
Deception correct answers A technique whereby researchers withhold information about the purpose or procedures of a study from people participating in it.
Dependent Variable correct answers A variable that is measured in an experiment.
Evolutionary Psychology correct answers A new branch of psychology that seeks to investigate the potential role of genetic factors in various aspects of human behavior.
Experimentation / experimental method correct answers A method of research in which
one or more factors (the independent variables) are systematically changed to determine whether such variations affect one or more other factors (dependent variables).
External Validity correct answers The extent to which findings of an experiment can be generalized to real life social situations and perhaps to people different from those who participated in the research.
Hypothesis correct answers an unverified prediction concerning some aspect of social behavior and social thought.
Independent variable correct answers The variable that is systematically changed in an
experiment.
Informed consent correct answers A procedure in which research participants are provided with as much information as possible about a research project before deciding whether to participate in it.
Mediating Variable correct answers a variable that is affected by an independent variable and then influences a dependent variable. Mediating variables help explain why
or how specific variables influence social behavior or thought in certain ways. Multicultural perspective correct answers A focus on understanding the cultural and ethnic factors that influence social behavior.
Random assignment of participants to experimental conditions correct answers A basic
requirement for conducting valid experiments. According to this principle, research participants must have an equal chance of being exposed to each level of the independent variable.
Social neuroscience correct answers An area of research in social psychology that seeks knowledge about the neural and biological bases of social processes.
Social psychology correct answers The scientific field that seeks to understand the nature and causes of individual behavior and thought in a social situation.
Survey method correct answers A method of research in which a large number of people answer questions about their attitude or behavior.
Systematic observation correct answers A method of research in which behavior is systematically observed and recorded.
Theories correct answers Efforts by scientists in any field to answer the question "why?" Theories involve attempts to understand why certain events or processes occur as they do.
Action identification correct answers The level of interpretation we place on an action; low-level interpretations focus on the action itself, while higher level interpretations focus on its ultimate goals.
Actor-observer effect correct answers The tendency to attribute our own behavior mainly to situational causes but the behavior of others mainly to internal / dispositional causes.
Attribution correct answers The process through which we seek to identify the causes of others behavior and so gain knowledge of their stable traits and dispositions.
Body language correct answers cues provided by the position, posture, and movement of others' bodies or body parts.
Consensus correct answers The extent to which other people react to some stimulus or
even in the same manner as the person we are considering. (Do others do this in this situation?)
Consistency correct answers The extent to which an individual responds to a given stimulus or situation in the same way on different occasions (i.e., across time). (Does this person usually do this in this situation?)
Correlational Method correct answers A method of research in which a scientists systematically observes two or more variable to determine whether changes in one are accompanied by changes in the other.
Debriefing correct answers Procedures at the conclusion of a research session in which participants are given full information about the nature of the research and the hypothesis or hypothesis under investigation.
Deception correct answers A technique whereby researchers withhold information about the purpose or procedures of a study from people participating in it.
Dependent Variable correct answers A variable that is measured in an experiment.
Evolutionary Psychology correct answers A new branch of psychology that seeks to investigate the potential role of genetic factors in various aspects of human behavior.
Experimentation / experimental method correct answers A method of research in which
one or more factors (the independent variables) are systematically changed to determine whether such variations affect one or more other factors (dependent variables).
External Validity correct answers The extent to which findings of an experiment can be generalized to real life social situations and perhaps to people different from those who participated in the research.
Hypothesis correct answers an unverified prediction concerning some aspect of social behavior and social thought.
Independent variable correct answers The variable that is systematically changed in an
experiment.
Informed consent correct answers A procedure in which research participants are provided with as much information as possible about a research project before deciding whether to participate in it.
Mediating Variable correct answers a variable that is affected by an independent variable and then influences a dependent variable. Mediating variables help explain why
or how specific variables influence social behavior or thought in certain ways. Multicultural perspective correct answers A focus on understanding the cultural and ethnic factors that influence social behavior.
Random assignment of participants to experimental conditions correct answers A basic
requirement for conducting valid experiments. According to this principle, research participants must have an equal chance of being exposed to each level of the independent variable.
Social neuroscience correct answers An area of research in social psychology that seeks knowledge about the neural and biological bases of social processes.
Social psychology correct answers The scientific field that seeks to understand the nature and causes of individual behavior and thought in a social situation.
Survey method correct answers A method of research in which a large number of people answer questions about their attitude or behavior.
Systematic observation correct answers A method of research in which behavior is systematically observed and recorded.
Theories correct answers Efforts by scientists in any field to answer the question "why?" Theories involve attempts to understand why certain events or processes occur as they do.
Action identification correct answers The level of interpretation we place on an action; low-level interpretations focus on the action itself, while higher level interpretations focus on its ultimate goals.
Actor-observer effect correct answers The tendency to attribute our own behavior mainly to situational causes but the behavior of others mainly to internal / dispositional causes.
Attribution correct answers The process through which we seek to identify the causes of others behavior and so gain knowledge of their stable traits and dispositions.
Body language correct answers cues provided by the position, posture, and movement of others' bodies or body parts.
Consensus correct answers The extent to which other people react to some stimulus or
even in the same manner as the person we are considering. (Do others do this in this situation?)
Consistency correct answers The extent to which an individual responds to a given stimulus or situation in the same way on different occasions (i.e., across time). (Does this person usually do this in this situation?)
