Psychology 101 Final Exam Latest 2022

Variables the events, characteristics, behaviors, or conditions that researchers measure and study. subject or participant an individual person or animal a researcher studies. Sample a collection of subjects researchers study. Researchers use samples because they cannot study the entire population. Population the collection of people or animals from which researchers draw a sample. Researchers study the sample and generalize their results to the population. The Purpose of Research -To find ways to measure and describe behavior -To understand why, when, and how events occur -To apply this knowledge to solving real-world problems The scientific method a standardized way of making observations, gathering data, forming theories, testing predictions, and interpreting results. A theory an explanation that organizes separate pieces of information in a coherent way. replicable when others can repeat an experiment and get the same results. hypothesis a testable prediction of what will happen given a certain set of conditions. naturalistic observation researchers collect information about subjects by observing them unobtrusively, without interfering with them in any study The researcher collects data about the subject through interviews, direct observation, psychological testing, or examination of documents and records about the subject. survey a way of getting information about a specific type of behavior, experience, or event. When using this method, researchers give people questionnaires or interview them to obtain information. experiment a researcher manipulates or changes a particular variable under controlled conditions while observing resulting changes in another variable or variables. Occam's razor maintains that researchers should apply the simplest explanation possible to any set of observati