Chapter 2 Terms Case Study- method; involves intensive examination of one person Central tendency- a measure; represents typical behavior of a group as a whole Confound- anything that affects a dependent variable that may unintentionally vary b/t the different experimental conditions of a study Correlation- statistical procedure; b/t +1 and -1 that indicates the strength/direction of the relation b/t 2 variables Correlational study- method; how variables are naturally related to the real world, w/o any attempt by the researcher to alter them Dependent variable- the measure that is affected by manipulation of ind. variable Descriptive study- method; observing/noting behavior of ppl/animals in order to provide a systematic &amp; objective analysis of behavior Electrophysiology- method; data collection, measures electrical activity in the brain Experimenter expectancy effect- actual change in behavior of ppl/animals due to observer bias <a href="/keyword/functional-magnetic-resonance-imaging/" >functional <a href="/keyword/magnetic-resonance-imaging/" >magnetic <a href="/keyword/resonance-imaging/" >resonance imaging</a> </a> </a> (fMRI)- imaging technique; to examine changes in activity of the working human brain Independent variable- condition that's manipulated to examine its impact on the dep. variable Inferential statistics- procedures; to make judgments about whether diff exist b/t # sets Informed consent- process; ppl given full info on study, allows them to decide to participate <a href="/keyword/institutional-review-board/" >institutional review board</a> s (IRBs)- groups of ppl; review proposed research to ensure it meets standards of science and provides for physical/emotional well-being of participants <a href="/keyword/magnetic-resonance-imaging/" >magnetic <a href="/keyword/resonance-imaging/" >resonance imaging</a> </a> (MRI)- method; imaging, produces high-quality images of brain Naturalistic observation- observers don't change/alter ongoing behavior Observational technique- careful/systematic assessment/coding of overt behavior Observer bias- systematic errors in observation due to an observer's expectations Operational definition- quantification of a variable that allows it to be measured Participant observation- study where researcher is actively involved in the situation <a href="/keyword/positron-emission-tomography/" ><a href="/keyword/positron-emission/" >positron emission</a> tomography</a> (PET)- method; imaging, assess metabolic activity using radioactive substance injected in the bloodstream Psychophysiological assessment- method; how changes in bodily functions are associated w/ behavior or mental state Reactivity- effect; occurs when knowledge that one is being observed alters their behavior Reliability- stable and consistent over time Replication- replicate experiment to confirm results Self-report method- ppl provide info on themselves Socially desirable responding- most socially acceptable response Theory- ideas/concepts that explain what is observed and makes predictions Third-variable problem- when experimenter can't be sure another variable s affecting the result Validity- extent to which data addresses hypothesis in way intended Variable- something that can be measured