decline effect

in parapsychology experiments using Zener cards or similar targets, the situation in which the accuracy of the participant’s “calls,” or guesses, begins at above-chance levels but progressively drops to chance levels as further trials are carried out. See regression toward the mean. See also differential effect; focusing effect; preferential effect; sheep–goat effect.

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Psychology term of the day

May 8th 2024

linear correlation

linear correlation

a measure of the degree of association between two variables that are assumed to have a linear relationship, that is, to be related in such a manner that their values form a straight line when plotted on a graph. It provides an index of the degree of constant change in the value of one variable (y) for each unit change in the value of another variable (x).