| archival research | Research in which existing data, such as census documents, college records, or newspaper clippings, are examined to test a hypothesis
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| behavioral perspective | The approach that suggests that observable behavior should be the focus of study
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| case study | An in-depth, intensive investigation of an individual or small group of people
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| cognitive perspective | The approach that focuses on how people think, understand, and know about the world
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| control group | A group participating in an experiment that receives no treatment
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| correlational research | Research in which the relationship between two sets of variables is examined to determine whether they are associated, or "correlated"
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| dependent variable | The variable that is measured and is expected to change as a result of changes caused by the experimenter's manipulation of the independent variable
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| determinism | The idea that people's behavior is produced primarily by factors outside their willful control
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| experiment | The investigation of the relationship between two (or more) variables by deliberately producing a change in one variable in a situation and observing the effects of that change on other aspects of the situation
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| experimental bias | Factors that distort how the independent variable affects the dependent variable in an experiment
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| experimental bias | Factors that distort how the independent variable affects the dependent variable in an experiment
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| experimental group | Any group participating in an experiment that receives a treatment
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| experimental manipulation | The change that an experimenter deliberately produces in a situation
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| experimental manipulation | The variable that is manipulated by an experimenter
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| free will | The idea that behavior is caused primarily by choices that are made freely by the individual
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| functionalism | An early approach to psychology that concentrated on what the mind does‚ the functions of mental activity‚ and the role of behavior in allowing people to adapt to their environments
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| gestalt (geh SHTALLT) psychology | An approach to psychology that focuses on the organization of perception and thinking in a "whole" sense, rather than on the individual elements of perception
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| humanistic perspective | The approach that suggests that all individuals naturally strive to grow, develop, and be in control of their lives and behavior
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| hypothesis | A prediction, stemming from a theory, stated in a way that allows it to be tested
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| independent variable | Any group participating in an experiment that receives a treatment
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| informed consent | A document signed by participants affirming that they have been told the basic outlines of the study and are aware of what their participation will involve
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| introspection | A procedure used to study the structure of the mind, in which subjects are asked to describe in detail what they are experiencing when they are exposed to a stimulus
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| naturalistic observation | Research in which an investigator simply observes some naturally occurring behavior and does not make a change in the situation
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| neuroscience perspective | The approach that views behavior from the perspective of the brain, nervous system, and other biological functions
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| operationalization | The process of translating a hypothesis into specific, testable procedures that can be measured and observed
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| placebo | A false treatment, such as a pill, "drug," or other substance without any significant chemical properties or active ingredient
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| psychodynamic perspective | The approach based on the belief that behavior is motivated by unconscious inner forces over which the individual has little control
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| random assignment to condition | A procedure in which participants are assigned to different experimental groups or "conditions" on the basis of chance and chance alone
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| replication | The repetition of research, sometimes using other procedures, settings, and other groups of participants, in order to increase confidence in prior findings
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| scientific method | The approach through which psychologists systematically acquire knowledge and understanding about behavior and other phenomena of interest
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| significant outcome | Meaningful results that make it possible for researchers to feel confident that they have confirmed their hypotheses
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| structuralism | Wundt's approach that focuses on the fundamental elements that form the foundation of thinking, consciousness, emotions, and other kindsof mental states and activities
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| survey research | Research in which people chosen to represent some larger population are asked a series of questions about their behavior, thoughts, or attitudes
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| theories | Broad explanations and predictions concerning phenomena of interest
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| treatment | The manipulation implemented by the experimenter
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| variable | Behaviors, events, or other characteristics that can change, or vary, in some way
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