Glossary / Q
Psychology terms starting with Q
98 terms with short definitions. Study these as flashcards
- Qother
- In statistics, this letter marks the gap between sample means after adjusting for measurement error.
- Q dataabbreviation
- Questionnaire data capture what people report about their own traits, experiences, or behavior through written questions or rating forms.
- Q factor analysisnoun
- A statistical method identifies shared patterns among people by comparing their responses across many characteristics or statements.
- Q methodologynoun
- A research approach studies viewpoints through statement sorting and statistical methods that reveal patterns shared among participants.
- Q sortnoun
- A research procedure asks someone to arrange statements or other materials into categories according to given instructions.
- Q testnoun
- A statistical test compares yes-or-no outcome rates across three or more conditions involving the same participants or matched groups.
- Q-technique factor analysisnoun
- A statistical approach finds shared response patterns by analyzing similarities between people across multiple ratings or measurements.
- Q–Q plotabbreviation
- A quantile–quantile plot compares values at matching percentage positions in two distributions to examine how closely their patterns agree.
- QALYsabbreviation
- Quality adjusted life years combine survival time with health quality, counting one year in full health as one unit.
- qatnoun
- Leaves from the Catha edulis shrub contain the stimulant cathinone, which can increase alertness and lead to dependence.
- qEEGabbreviation
- A quantitative electroencephalograph records brain electrical signals and produces numerical measurements for statistical study.
- qinoun
- In Chinese philosophical traditions, a proposed vital energy is believed to flow through living beings and influence health.
- qigongnoun
- A traditional Chinese health practice combines controlled breathing with coordinated movements and held body positions.
- QoL-ADabbreviation
- A questionnaire uses thirteen ratings from patients or caregivers to assess everyday well-being when Alzheimer disease is present.
- QTabbreviation
- The Quick Test screens intellectual ability using 50 words that participants match to pictures, allowing responses without speech.
- QTLabbreviation
- Quantitative trait loci are DNA regions associated with differences in continuously varying characteristics, such as height.
- Quaaludenoun
- A former brand name identifies methaqualone, a sedative drug that causes sleepiness and carries a risk of dependence.
- quacknoun
- An unqualified practitioner falsely presents their skills or credentials for diagnosing or treating physical, mental, or behavioral problems.
- quadrantnoun
- One of the four sections of a graph made by where the x- and y-axes cross.
- quadrant samplingnoun
- A sampling method divides a physical or conceptual space into four sections and selects cases from every section.
- quadrantanopianoun
- Loss of sight in one quarter of the visual field, often from damage behind the optic chiasm.
- quadraturenoun
- A numerical method estimates an integral, such as the area under a curve, to support calculations in statistical models.
- quadriparesisnoun
- Weakness or partial loss of movement affects both arms and both legs because of a nervous system injury or condition.
- quadriplegianoun
- Paralysis affects both arms and both legs following an injury to the brain or spinal cord.
- qualianoun
- The felt qualities of conscious experiences make sensations and emotions personally distinctive, such as a color’s appearance or sadness’s feeling.
- qualitativeadjective
- Using words or other descriptions instead of numbers to study or describe something.
- qualitative analysisnoun
- Researchers examine words, stories, or other descriptive materials to interpret recurring themes, meanings, and the reasons behind them.
- qualitative dataphrase
- Information described in words or categories rather than numbers, such as behaviors, thoughts, attitudes, or experiences.
- qualitative evaluationnoun
- An assessment uses accounts, observations, and records to understand a program’s effects and discover which questions deserve attention.
- qualitative observationnoun
- A systematic description records what happens and its surrounding circumstances using words rather than numerical measurements.
- qualitative researchphrase
- Studies people using words, stories, and observations instead of numbers to understand their experiences and viewpoints.
- qualitative variablenoun
- A characteristic groups observations into descriptive categories without a numerical order, such as eye color or favorite sport.
- qualitynoun
- A trait or feature that describes how something is, such as its color, accuracy, or style.
- quality adjusted life years (QALYs)noun
- A health outcome measure weights years lived by health quality, giving a full-health year a value of one.
- quality adjusted survival analysisnoun
- A statistical approach examines time until an event while accounting for how treatment affects well-being during that period.
- quality assurancephrase
- An organized process for checking care quality, fixing problems, and making services better over time.
- quality circlenoun
- A small employee group that meets to solve work problems and improve quality and efficiency.
- quality controlnoun
- Steps used to catch and reduce mistakes in measurements, products, or services.
- quality of carephrase
- How well health services follow professional standards and improve the chances of good results.
- quality of lifephrase
- How satisfied and able a person feels across health, relationships, choices, and daily life.
- Quality of Life in Alzheimer’s Disease Scale (QoL-AD)noun
- A questionnaire assesses everyday well-being in Alzheimer’s through 13 questions answered by the affected person or a caregiver.
- quality of worklife (QWL)noun
- The degree of satisfaction and commitment people experience at work depends on conditions, rewards, responsibilities, and recognition.
- quality weightingnoun
- When combining study findings in a meta-analysis, researchers assign influence according to how well each study was planned, conducted, and analyzed.
- quantal hypothesis (quantal theory)noun
- A proposed explanation suggests sensation changes in separate steps because underlying nerve activity follows an all-or-none pattern.
- quantificationnoun
- Turning an idea or trait into numbers so it can be measured and studied.
- quantifiernoun
- A word accompanying a noun indicates quantity or extent, as with many, some, most, or all.
- quantilenoun
- A cutoff marks a chosen percentage position among ordered values, with the median marking the halfway position.
- quantile–quantile plot (Q–Q plot)noun
- A graph pairs values at corresponding percentage positions in two distributions to show similarities and differences in their patterns.
- quantitativeadjective
- Using numbers to measure and study information or behavior.
- quantitative analysisnoun
- Researchers use numerical measurements and statistical methods to summarize observations, test ideas, or estimate relationships.
- quantitative dataphrase
- Information shown with numbers, like ratings, reaction times, or ages, so amounts can be compared.
- quantitative electroencephalograph (qEEG)noun
- An instrument records electrical signals from the brain and turns them into numerical measurements that researchers can analyze statistically.
- quantitative evaluationnoun
- An assessment uses planned measurements and numerical results to answer specific questions about a program’s performance or effects.
- quantitative psychologyphrase
- This branch of psychology creates and tests math and statistics methods for measuring behavior and studying data.
- quantitative researchphrase
- Research that uses numbers to measure things and statistics to test patterns, differences, or links.
- quantitative scorephrase
- A numeric result showing how many test items or course requirements were completed correctly.
- quantitative semanticsnoun
- A form of content analysis systematically counts selected words, concepts, or themes in communication to study its patterns.
- quantitative trait loci (QTL)noun
- Regions of DNA are linked to differences in traits measured along a continuous scale, such as height.
- quantitative variablenoun
- A characteristic takes numerical values that express meaningful amounts or measurements, such as age, weight, or test performance.
- quantumnoun
- In neuroscience, the smallest usual packet of chemical messenger released by a nerve cell is called a quantum.
- quantum mindnoun
- A disputed proposal suggests that quantum events within nerve cells help produce consciousness.
- quantum theorynoun
- A proposed sensory theory explains some response patterns by suggesting that perceived intensity changes in distinct steps tied to nerve activity.
- quartilenoun
- Each of three cutoff values divides ordered data into four groups containing approximately equal numbers of observations.
- quartile deviationnoun
- A measure of spread equals half the distance between the lower quartile and the upper quartile.
- quartimax rotationnoun
- A factor-analysis adjustment simplifies each measured variable’s links to underlying factors while keeping those factors uncorrelated.
- quasi-experimental control groupnoun
- A comparison group receives no studied intervention in research where participants are placed into conditions without random assignment.
- quasi-experimental designphrase
- Studies a real-world treatment without random group assignment, so cause-and-effect conclusions are less certain.
- quasi-experimental researchnoun
- Studies estimate effects of interventions or changes without randomly assigning participants to conditions, leaving alternative explanations harder to rule out.
- quasi-independencenoun
- In a table of category counts, independence holds only for selected cells included in the statistical model.
- quasi-independent variablenoun
- A personal characteristic, such as age, serves as a study predictor but cannot reasonably be changed or randomly assigned.
- quasi-interval scalenoun
- An ordered rating scale has steps whose distances are not consistently equal.
- quasi-likelihood functionnoun
- A statistical formula estimates model values using assumptions about averages and variability without specifying a complete probability distribution.
- quasi-observationnoun
- Researchers gather information about someone through a close informant or recordings instead of directly observing and questioning them.
- quasi-vegetative statenoun
- An older name describes a minimally conscious state, with limited but detectable awareness following serious brain damage.
- quasi–F rationoun
- An approximate F statistic uses estimated sources of variation when an exact error comparison cannot be calculated.
- quasigroupnoun
- A collection of people has some group features but lacks others, such as shared goals or established roles.
- quasineednoun
- In Lewin's theory, an intention creates tension that motivates action toward a goal without a biological shortage.
- quasirandomadjective
- A process appears nearly random even though an underlying rule prevents it from being fully random.
- quasirandom samplingnoun
- Researchers select entries at regular intervals from a population list, usually after choosing a random starting position.
- quaternitynoun
- Jung proposed a fourfold personality pattern involving thinking, feeling, sensing, and intuition, understood as an archetype.
- quazepamnoun
- A benzodiazepine medicine helps treat insomnia by promoting sleep and can cause lingering daytime drowsiness.
- queernoun
- A self-chosen identity label some LGBTQ+ people use, though others may find it offensive.
- queer rights movementnoun
- A social movement works for LGBTQ+ people's equal rights, acceptance, and freedom from discrimination.
- querulentadjective
- Someone described this way frequently complains or argues and shows irritability or suspicion.
- questionnairenoun
- A planned list of questions used to gather information about a person's traits, opinions, behaviors, or experiences.
- quetiapinenoun
- A newer antipsychotic medicine that treats psychosis and bipolar disorder by blocking dopamine and serotonin signals.
- queuenoun
- A line of waiting people whose order is usually guided by shared social rules.
- Quick Test (QT)noun
- A brief intelligence screening test uses 50 vocabulary items requiring people to choose matching pictures, with no spoken response needed.
- quick trajectorynoun
- In studies of dying, a person's condition progresses rapidly toward death, often during an emergency involving attempts to save life.
- quick-and-dirtyadjective
- A research design or analysis is deliberately informal and imperfect, offering an early look with limited refinement.
- quid pro quophrase
- A benefit is offered in exchange for an action or promise, including workplace benefits made conditional on sexual compliance.
- Quincke’s disease (Quincke’s edema)noun
- Another name for angioedema describes episodes of swelling beneath the skin or in tissues lining internal surfaces.
- Quinian bootstrapping (Quinean bootstrapping)noun
- A learning theory proposes that children connect initially separate symbols to build concepts beyond their earlier understanding.
- quintilenoun
- A cutoff in ordered scores marks one of four boundaries separating the distribution into five equally sized portions.
- quota controlnoun
- A survey sets limits on total participants or particular subgroups and stops recruitment when those limits are reached.
- quota samplingnoun
- Researchers recruit people without random selection until preset numbers for groups with chosen characteristics are filled.
- quotient hypothesisnoun
- An adaptation of Weber's law proposes that successive smallest detectable sensory differences increase by a constant ratio.
- QWLabbreviation
- Quality of worklife describes how satisfying someone finds their job and how connected they feel to their organization.
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