BBH 310 EXAM 1 STUDY GUIDE
dependent variable - Answers :outcomes
independent variable - Answers :The experimental factor that is manipulated (predictor)
biological plausibility - Answers :biological explanation that is already known to be true
person variable - Answers :stable variable, it is not easily manipulated, used in
observational research
situational variable - Answers :a variable that can be manipulated, used in experimental
research
causality - Answers :the relation between causes and effects
reverse causality - Answers :when cause is identified as effect and vice versa, not sure
which causes what.
bidirectional causality - Answers :variables influence one another to create a cycle
third variable causality - Answers :a third variable is responsible for the correlation
between two other variables
empiricism - Answers :Based on sensory observations. Empirical means, in Greek,
"from experience". Empiricism means that to decide whether something is known, it
must be seen, heard, felt, or somehow otherwise observed
dogma - Answers :set of principles or beliefs that cannot be doubted because they
came from an authority figure
predictor variable - Answers :is simply observed by researcher, not manipulated
mechanism - Answers :underlying cause of the observed association between predictor
and outcome
confound - Answers :a variable that is not part of the study, but influences the outcome
observational research - Answers :researchers only gathering the independent variable
(person/predictor variable)
experimental research - Answers :researchers manipulate the independent variable
(situational variable)
test-retest reliability - Answers :A method for determining the consistancy of a test by
repeatedly testing same individual (within-subject differences)
, random error - Answers :error that has equal probability of being too high or too low
systematic error - Answers :error that is consistently biased in one direction
within-subject differences - Answers :can measure the changes on the same individual
if tested twice (test-retest)
between-subject differences - Answers :differences between different individuals
constant - Answers :a variable that does not change
quantitative scale - Answers :data is expressed numerically
nominal scale - Answers :a set of categories that have completely different names
(boy/girl)
ordinal scale - Answers :a scale that does state how far apart they are (very, somewhat,
a little, none)
normal distribution - Answers :represents the distribution of variables as a symmetrical
bell-shaped graph
uniform distribution - Answers :a distribution where the values along the vertical axis all
fall roughly on a horizontal line
gamma distribution - Answers :unequal substitution rates at different sites
asymptote - Answers :a line that a graph approaches but never touches
operational definition - Answers :detailed, specific procedures
theoretical definition - Answers :assumes both knowledge and acceptance of the
theories that it depends on
reliability - Answers :how consistent an answer is after being tested multiple times
validity - Answers :how accurate the answer is compared to true answer
lack of reliability - Answers :implies RANDOM error
lack of validity - Answers :implies SYSTEMATIC error
gold standard validity - Answers :comparing unknown data to already know and
accepted, true, data
dependent variable - Answers :outcomes
independent variable - Answers :The experimental factor that is manipulated (predictor)
biological plausibility - Answers :biological explanation that is already known to be true
person variable - Answers :stable variable, it is not easily manipulated, used in
observational research
situational variable - Answers :a variable that can be manipulated, used in experimental
research
causality - Answers :the relation between causes and effects
reverse causality - Answers :when cause is identified as effect and vice versa, not sure
which causes what.
bidirectional causality - Answers :variables influence one another to create a cycle
third variable causality - Answers :a third variable is responsible for the correlation
between two other variables
empiricism - Answers :Based on sensory observations. Empirical means, in Greek,
"from experience". Empiricism means that to decide whether something is known, it
must be seen, heard, felt, or somehow otherwise observed
dogma - Answers :set of principles or beliefs that cannot be doubted because they
came from an authority figure
predictor variable - Answers :is simply observed by researcher, not manipulated
mechanism - Answers :underlying cause of the observed association between predictor
and outcome
confound - Answers :a variable that is not part of the study, but influences the outcome
observational research - Answers :researchers only gathering the independent variable
(person/predictor variable)
experimental research - Answers :researchers manipulate the independent variable
(situational variable)
test-retest reliability - Answers :A method for determining the consistancy of a test by
repeatedly testing same individual (within-subject differences)
, random error - Answers :error that has equal probability of being too high or too low
systematic error - Answers :error that is consistently biased in one direction
within-subject differences - Answers :can measure the changes on the same individual
if tested twice (test-retest)
between-subject differences - Answers :differences between different individuals
constant - Answers :a variable that does not change
quantitative scale - Answers :data is expressed numerically
nominal scale - Answers :a set of categories that have completely different names
(boy/girl)
ordinal scale - Answers :a scale that does state how far apart they are (very, somewhat,
a little, none)
normal distribution - Answers :represents the distribution of variables as a symmetrical
bell-shaped graph
uniform distribution - Answers :a distribution where the values along the vertical axis all
fall roughly on a horizontal line
gamma distribution - Answers :unequal substitution rates at different sites
asymptote - Answers :a line that a graph approaches but never touches
operational definition - Answers :detailed, specific procedures
theoretical definition - Answers :assumes both knowledge and acceptance of the
theories that it depends on
reliability - Answers :how consistent an answer is after being tested multiple times
validity - Answers :how accurate the answer is compared to true answer
lack of reliability - Answers :implies RANDOM error
lack of validity - Answers :implies SYSTEMATIC error
gold standard validity - Answers :comparing unknown data to already know and
accepted, true, data
