controlled observationA research method
similar to naturalistic observation in which care-
fully planned observations are made in real-life
settings, except that the investigator exerts a
degree of control over the events being observed.
correlation coefficientA statistic (usually sym-
bolized byr) that describes the relationship between
two variables.rranges between–1.00 and +1.00; its
sign indicates the direction of the association, and its
absolute value indicates the strength.
correlation matrixAn array that displays the
correlations between all possible pairs of variables
in the array.
correlational methodsStatistical methods that
allow us to determine whether one variable is
relatedtoanother.Ingeneral,correlational
methods do not allow us to draw inferences about
cause and effect.
cross-sectional designA research design that
compares different groups of individuals at one
point in time.
debriefingIn research on human subjects, the
legal requirement that researchers explain to
participants the purpose, importance, and results of
the research following their participation.
deceptionDeception is sometimes used in
research when knowing the true purpose of a
study would change the participants’responses or
produce non-veridical data.
dependent variableThevariableinanexperi-
mental design that is measured by the investigator.
double-blind procedureAprocedureforcir-
cumventing the effects of experimenter or parti-
cipant expectations. In a double-blind study,
neither the participant nor the experimenter
knowswhattreatmenttheparticipantisreceiving
until the very end of the study.
epidemiologyThe study of the incidence,
prevalence, and distribution of illness or disease in
a given population.
expectationsWhat the investigator or the
research participant anticipates about the experi-
mental outcome.
experimental groupThe group in an experi-
mental design that receives the treatment of
interest.
experimental hypothesisThe theory or propo-
sal on which an experimental study is based.
Often, the hypothesis predicts the effects of the
treatment administered.
experimental methodA research strategy that
allows the researcher to determine cause-
and-effect relationships between variables or
events.
external validityAn experiment is considered
externally valid to the extent that its results are
generalizable beyond the narrow conditions of the
study.
factorThe hypothesized dimension underlying an
interrelated set of variables.
factor analysisA statistical method for examining
the interrelationships among a number of variables
at the same time. This method uses many separate
correlations to determine which variables change
together and thus may have some underlying
dimension in common.
fraudulent dataData that are fabricated, altered,
or otherwise falsified by the experimenter.
incidenceThe rate of new cases of a disease or
disorder that develop within a given period of
time. Incidence figures allow us to determine
whether the rate of new cases is stable or changing
from one time period to the next.
independent variableThevariableinan
experimental design that is manipulated by the
investigator.
informed consentIn research on human sub-
jects, the legal requirement that researchers
inform potential participants about the general
purpose of the study, the procedures that will be
used, any risks, discomforts, or limitations on
confidentiality, any compensation for participa-
tion, and their freedom to withdraw from the
study at any point.
internally validAn experiment is considered
internally valid to the extent that the change in theRESEARCH METHODS IN CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY 125