slow-wave sleep

deep sleep that is characterized by increasing percentages of particular types of delta waves on the electroencephalogram, corresponding to Stages 3 and 4 of NREM sleep. See also sleep stages.

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Psychology term of the day

December 21st 2024

self-selection bias

a type of bias that can arise when study participants choose their own treatment conditions, rather than being randomly assigned. In such cases, it is impossible to state unambiguously that a study result is due to the treatment condition and not to the preexisting characteristics of those individuals who chose to be in this condition. Also called self-selection effect. See also sampling bias.