Glossary D
Glossary D
Discrepancy of sexual desire refers to a sexual disorder in which the partners have considerably different levels of sexual desire.
Discrepancy principle refers to the idea that infants are most attentive to slightly novel stimuli.
Discrete variable is defined as a variable whose attributes are separate from one another, or discontinuous, as in the case of gender or religious affiliation. Contrast this with Continuous variable s, in which one attribute shades off into the next. Thus, in age (a continuous variable), the attributes progress steadily from 21 to 22 to 23, and so forth, whereas there is no progression from male to female in the case of gender.
Discrete-trials design refers to a single-subject design in which two (2) or more treatment conditions are randomly alternated from one observation to the next.
Discrete-trials design is also known as Alternating-treatments design.
Discretionary task refers to a relatively unstructured task that can be completed by using a variety of social-combination procedures, thus leaving the methods used in its completion to the discretion of the group or group leader.