AP PSYCH FULL REVIEW

Hypothesis

A prediction about the relationship between variables that can be tested through research and experimentation.

operational definition

A clear definition of your variables that specifies how they will be measured in a study which allows replication of the study

qualitative data

Descriptive data describing qualities or characteristics (eye color)

quantitative data

numerical data

population

everyone the research could be applied too

sample

the people specifically chosen for your study

Correlation

i identify relationship between two variables

directional problem

Uncertainty about which variables influences the other when a relationship is identified

3rd variable problem

Occurs when a 3rd variable influences both of the variables being studied

positive correlation

variables increase and decrease together

negative correlation

occurs when one variable increases while the other decreases.

experiments

Research method where you find cause and effect by changing one thing and seeing what happens

independent variable

The factor in an experiment that is manipulated to observe its effect on a dependent variable.

experimental group

A group in an experiment that gets the treatment

control group

a group in an experiment that receives a placebo

dependent variable

The factor in an experiment that is measured and is affected by the independent variable.

double blind

Experiment where neither the experimenter or the participant are aware of which condition people are assigned to

single blind

An experiment where the participants do not know which group they are in, but the experimenters do.

confound

A error in a study that is accidentally introduced

random assignment

Randomly Assigns participants to either the control or experimental group

Naturalistic observation

observing people in their natural settings

Case study

Studies ONE person in great detail

Meta-analysis

combines multiple studies done by other researchers to increase sample size and examine effect sizes

Descriptive stats

show shape of the data

Mean

average

how to find the mean

add all the numbers together and then divide by the total number of numbers in the set

median

middle number

how to find the median

arrange the numbers from least to highest then find the middle number

mode

occurs more often

how to find mode

count the number that appears more often

skews

created by outlers

negative skew

mean is to the left mode is to the right

positive skew

mean is to the right

range

distance between the smallest and biggest number

standard deviation

average amount the score are spread from the mean

statistical significance

Results are not due to chance

social desirability

people lie to look good

wording effects

how you frame the question can impact your answers

random selection

method for choosing participants for your study

representative sample

a group that accurately represents the population

convenience sample

A group of participants who are available for a study

sampling bias

Some members of a population are more likely to be selected in a sample than others

cultural norms

Behaviors of a certain group or culture than can impact research results

experimenter/participant bias

How one's expectation can influence the outcome of a study

cognitive bias

Bias in the way one thinks

hindsight bias

believing that you knew something all along after an event occurs even if you didnt

overconfidence

thinking you know more than you actually do

hawthorne effect

people change their behavior when their being watched

evolutionary pyscs

the study how natural selection influences behavior

nature

how genetics influence behavior

nurture

how outside factors influence behavior

central nervous system

contains the brain and the spinal cord

peripheral nervous system

carries messages to and from the central nervous system

Somatic nervous system

controls voluntary movements and sends sensory information to the central nervous system

autonomic nervous system

controls involuntary body functions such as breathing, heartbeat and blinking

sympathetic

Activates the body's fight or flight system after sensing a threat

parasympathetic nervous system

Calms the body down to conserve and maintain energy

Neuron

a cell in the nervous system that sends information to other nerve cells, it makes sure that the information is sent to the right body part

dentrites

receives information

axon

a thin long fiber that transmits signals away from the soma to other neuron cells

myelin sheath

A substance wrapped around the axon in order to help speed up the trasmission of signals and prevents axons from sprouting into new directions

synapse

the gap between neurons

sensory neurons

collect information from our 5 senses and send them to the brain

motor neurons

Carry information from the brain to the body to trigger action

interneurons

exists only In the brain in spinal cords which are responsible for sending messages between the sensory and motor neurons

reflex arc

an action that activates sensory and motor neurons without sending a signal to the brain

Glia

cells that support and protect the neurons, they are essential to maintain an environment for neurons to function

Action potential

electrical charge from the soma that travels down the axon into the terminal branches

resting potential

The neuron is prepared to send another message when stimulated

Depolarization

when a neuron becomes less negative inside ready to send an electrical signal

threshold of depolarization

the level of charge a neuron must reach to fire an action potential

all or nothing principle

a neuron either fire or doesn't there's no in between

refractory period

a period of inactivity after a neuron has fired another action potential cannot be sent until this period of recovery is over

Neurotransmitters

chemicals released by neurons that transmit signals across the synapse to other neurons

excitatory message

neurotransmitters that increase the likelihood that the receiving neuron will fire an action potential

inhibitory message

neurotransmitters that decrease the likelihood that the receiving neuron will fire and action potential

GABA

slows down brain activity

glutamate

A neurotransmitter that helps with learning and long term memory

dopamine

activates feelings of pleasure and motivation

seratonin

regulates mood, appetite and sleep

Acetylcholine

A neurotransmitter that helps with learning and and attention

Norepinephrine

Plays a role in the body's fight or flight response

Endorphines

Neurotransmitters that reduce pain

substance P

A neurotransmitter involves sending pain messages to the brain

Hormones

a chemical messenger that travels through the blood to affect the body and behavior

oxytocin

The love hormone

adrenaline

prepares the body for a fight or flight response by increasing heart rate and blood pressure

Leptin

The hormone that tells your body to stop eating

Ghrelin

The hormone that tells your body its hungry

melatonin

The hormone that helps us fall asleep

Agonist

A drug that mimics the affects of neurotransmitters

antagonist

a substance that stops or reduces the effect of neurotransmitters

reuptake

when a neuron takes back the neurotransmitters it sent out

depressants

slow down the central nervous system activity

examples of depressants

alcohol

stimulants

increase brain activity, resulting elevated levels of alertness and energy

example of stimulants

caffeine and nicotine

hallucinogens

impact the nervous system alerting perceptions, moods and thoughts

example of hallucinogens

marijuana

opiods

reduce pain and produce feelings of euphoria