Psychology

15 Evaluating psychological research terms

This list helps you understand 15 important psychology words about doubting if research is trustworthy, with easy explanations and examples.

Anecdotal Evidence

Noun

Evidence based on personal accounts rather than systematic analysis

Example: Relying on anecdotal evidence weakens the scientific foundation of a study (Turner, 2018).

fr: évidence anecdotique

Bias

Noun

Systematic error in the design, conduct, or interpretation of research

Example: The study's results were influenced by selection bias, compromising its reliability (Johnson, 2019).

fr: Biais

Confounding

Adjective/Noun

Variables that are not the focus of the study but may affect the results

Example: Controlling for confounding variables is crucial for valid research (Lee, 2020).

fr: Confondant

Ethical

Adjective

Pertaining to principles of morality and acceptable conduct

Example: Researchers must adhere to ethical standards to maintain research credibility (Clark, 2018).

fr: Éthique

Falsifiability

Noun

The ability of a hypothesis or theory to be proven false through empirical evidence

Example: The lack of falsifiability in the research design raised doubts about its scientific rigor (White, 2016).

fr: Falsifiabilité

Generalizability

Noun

The extent to which research findings can be applied to a broader population

Example: The limited sample size raised questions about the generalizability of the study's conclusions (Wilson, 2018).

fr: Généralisabilité

Meta-analysis

Noun

Statistical technique that combines data from multiple studies for a more comprehensive analysis

Example: A meta-analysis revealed inconsistencies in the findings across different studies (Anderson, 2022).

fr: Méta-analyse

Methodological

Adjective

Relating to the methods used in a particular area of study

Example: The methodological flaws in the study compromised its credibility (Smith, 2019).

fr: Méthodologique

Null Hypothesis

Noun

A statistical hypothesis that there is no significant difference or effect

Example: The rejection of the null hypothesis indicated a significant result in the experiment (Roberts, 2019).

fr: Hypothèse nulle

P-hacking

Verb/Noun

The manipulation of data or statistical analyses to achieve a desired result

Example: P-hacking undermines the credibility of statistical findings (Garcia, 2017).

fr: Manipulation des données

Peer Review

Noun

Evaluation of scientific, academic, or professional work by others in the same field

Example: The peer review process helps ensure the credibility of published research (Taylor, 2021).

fr: Évaluation par les pairs

Publication Bias

Noun

The tendency for journals to publish positive or significant results, leading to an incomplete representation of the literature

Example: The presence of publication bias can distort the overall interpretation of research (Chen, 2021).

fr: Biais de publication

Reliability

Noun

Consistency and stability of a measurement over repeated trials

Example: The reliability of the experiment's results was confirmed in a follow-up study (Brown, 2018).

fr: Fiabilité

Replicability

Noun

The ability of a study or experiment to be repeated and produce similar results

Example: The lack of replicability in the findings raised concerns about their accuracy (Miller, 2017).

fr: Reproductibilité

Validity

Noun

The extent to which a test measures what it claims to measure

Example: The study's validity was questioned due to its small sample size (Jones, 2020).

fr: Validité