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applied research
Research conducted primarily for the purpose of solving an existing problem.
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basic research
Research conducted primarily for the purpose of simply obtaining knowledge
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causal hypothesis
A hypothesis that tentatively explains a particular influence on, or cause of, a behavior.
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conceptual replication
The repeated test or confirmation of a hypothesis using a design different from that of the original study.
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confirmation
Evidence that are consistent with the hypotheses.
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control
The elimination of unintended, extraneous factors that might influence the behavior being studied.
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data
The scores of participants in psychological research that reflect a behavior.
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descriptive hypothesis
A hypothesis that tentatively describes a behavior in terms of its characteristics or the situation in which it occurs.
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design
The specific manner in which a research study is conducted.
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determinism
The assumption that behavior is solely influenced by natural causes and does not depend on free will.
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disconfirmation
The process of rejecting a hypothesis because evidence disproves it.
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empirical
The requirement of science that the basis for conclusions about nature be through observation of it.
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falsifiable
The requirement of a scientific hypothesis that it be possible for a test to show that the hypothesis is false.
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hypothesis
A formally stated expectation about a behavior that defines the purpose and goals of a research study.
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lawful
The assumption that events in nature can be understood as a predictable sequence of natural causes and effects.
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literal replication
The precise duplication of the specific design and results of a previous study.
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model
A generalized, hypothetical description that, by analogy, explains the process underlying a set of common behaviors.
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objectivity
The requirement of science that a researcher's personal biases do not influence observations or conclusions.
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open-minded
Scientific attitude that considers all possible explanations and looks in all directions and believes that any approach or statement may be correct.
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parsimonious
Criteria for scientific hypothesis in which the hypothesis must be as simple as possible, making few assumptions or propositions.
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participants
The individuals in a sample.
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precise
Criteria for scientific hypothesis in which the hypothesis must contain terms that are clearly defined.
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prediction
A statement as to how a behavior will be manifested in a research situation, describing the specific results that will be found.
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pseudo-explanation
A circular statement that explains an event by renaming it.
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rational
A criteria for scientific hypothesis in which the hypothesis logically fits with what is already known about the laws of behavior.
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research ethics
The question of how to balance the rights of a researcher to study a behavior with the rights of participants to be protected from abuse.
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scientific method
The assumptions, attitudes, goals, and procedures for creating and answering questions about nature in a scientific manner.
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statistical notation
The standardized code for the mathematical operations performed in formulas, for the order in which operations are performed, and for the answers obtained.
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subjects
Synonym, but outdated, of participants.
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systematic
Refers to variables that change consistently.
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testable
A requirement of a scientific hypothesis that it be possible to devise a test of the hypothesis.
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theory
A logically organized set of proposals that defines, explains, organizes, and interrelates knowledge about many behaviors.
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