AP Psychology

• critical thinking

  Examines assumptions, appraise sources, discerns hidden biases, evaluates evidence, and assesses conclusions
• hindsight bias


  I knew it all along phenomenon
• peer reviewers


  Scientific experts who evaluate a research article's theory, originality, and accuracy
• Theory


  Explains behaviors or events by offering ideas that organize observations.
• Hypothesis


  A testable prediction.
• Falsifiable


  The possibility that an idea, hypothesis, or theory can be disproven by an observation or experiment.
• Operational definition


  a carefully worded statement of the exact procedures used in a research study.
• Replication


  Repeating the original observations with different participants, materials, and circumstances to see if they get similar results.
• Case study


  A non experimental in depth analyses of individuals or groups in hopes of revealing things true.
• Naturalistic observation


  observing and recording behavior naturally without trying to manipulate and control the situation.
• Survey


  Self reported attitudes or behaviors of a particular group, usually by questioning a representative. Less in depth.
• Social desirability bias


  The tendency to respond to questions that people think will please the researcher.
• Self-report bias


  Bias when people report their behavior inaccurately.
• Sampling bias


  A flawed sampling process that produces an unrepresentative sample.
• Random sample


  A sample that fairly represents a population because each member has an equal chance of inclusion.
• Population


  Those in a group being studied, where random samples may be drawn.
• Correlation


  A measure of the extent to which two factors vary together, and thus of how well either factor predicts the other.
• Correlation coefficient


  A statistical index of the relationship between two variables (from -1.00 to +1.00)
• Variable


  anything that can vary and is feasible and ethical to measure.
• Scaterplot


  A graphed cluster of dots, each which represents the values of two variables.
• Illusory correlation


  perception of a relationship where none exists, or perception of a stronger relationship than actually exists.
• Regression towards the mean


  the tendency for extreme or unusual scores to fall back (regress) toward their average.
• Experiment


  A research method in which an investigator manipulates one or more factors to observe the effect on some behavior or mental process.
• Experimental group


  In an experiment, the group exposed to the treatment.
• Control group


  In experiment, the group not exposed to the treatment.
• Random assignment


  Assigning participants to experimental and control groups by chance; minimizing preexisting differences between the different groups.
• Single-blind procedure


  Participants are unaware of (blind) to the type of treatment or placebo they are receiving but the researchers are aware.
• Double-blind procedure


  Participants and researchers are both unaware (blind) to the type of treatment received or placebo.
• Placebo effect


  Experimental results caused by expectations alone
• Independent variable


  The experimental factor that is manipulated; the variable whose effect is being studied.
• Dependent variable


  The measurable effect, outcome, or response in which the research is interested.
• Confounding variable


  Other factors which potentially affect the results of the experiment (distractions, age, learning disabilities)
• Experimenter bias


  Bias that occurs when researchers may influence results to confirm their own beliefs.
• Validity


  The extent to which a test measures or predicts what it is supposed to.
• Quantitive research


  A research method that relies on quantifiable, numerical data.
• Qualitative research


  A research method that relies on in depth, narrative data that are not translated into numbers.
• Informed consent


  Giving potential participants enough information about a study to enable them to choose whether they wish to participate.
• Debriefing


  The post-experimental explanation of a study, including its purpose and any deceptions to its participants.
• Descriptive statistics


  Numerical data used to measure and describe characteristics of groups.
• Histogram


  A bar graph depicting frequency distribution.