An integrated set of principles that explain and predict observed events
hypothesis
A testable proposition that describes a relationship that may exist between events
field research
Research done in natural, real-life settings outside the laboratory
correlational research
The study of the naturally occurring relationships among variables
experimental research
Studies that seek clues to cause-effect relationships by manipulating one or more factors while controlling others
independent
The experimental factor that a researcher manipulates
dependent variable
the variable being measured, so-called because it may depend on manipulations of the independent variable
random assignment
the process of assigning participants to the conditions of an experiment such that all persons have the same chance of being in a given condition
mundane realism
Degree to whcih an experiment is superficially similar to everyday situations
experimental realism
degree to which an experiment absorbs and involves its participants
informed consent
An ethical principle requiring that research participants be told enough to enable them choose whether they wish to participate
hindsight bias
The tendency to exaggerate, after learning an outcome, one's ability to have foreseen how something turned out
self concept
A person's answers to the qeustion, "Who Am I?"
self-schema
Beliefs about self that organize and guide the processing of self-relevant information
individualism
the concept of giving priority to one's own goals over group goals and defining one's identity in terms of personal attributes rather than group identifications