AP Psychology Vocab Quiz 1

Psychodynamic Perspective

Psychodynamic Perspective

Explores how unconscious drives, conflicts, and childhood experiences shape behavior.

Behavioral Perspective

Focuses on observable behaviors and the ways they're learned through interaction with the environment.

Humanistic Perspective

Emphasizes personal growth, free will, and the concept of self-actualization.

Cognitive Perspective

Examines internal mental processes such as thinking, memory, and problem-solving.

Biological Perspective

Studies the physiological bases of behavior in humans and animals.

Evolutionary Perspective

Considers how behaviors and mental processes serve as adaptations for survival and reproduction.

Sociocultural Perspective

Analyzes how culture, social norms, and social environments influence behavior.

Biopsychosocial Perspective

Combines biological, psychological, and social factors to provide a comprehensive understanding of human behavior.

Psychology

The scientific study of mental processes and behavior.

Mental processes

The "thinking parts" of our brain. They are everything happening in our heads that we cannot see from the outside.

Behavior

What we do and how we act. It is all the things we can see people do on the outside.

Cognitive biases

Can distort our thinking and lead to incorrect conclusions.

Confirmation bias

People tend to look for, interpret, or remember information in a way that confirms what they already believe.

Hindsight bias

People believing that they knew something was going to happen after it already occurred, even if they didn't already predict it beforehand. "I knew-it-all-along" phenomenon.

Overconfidence

When people have too much faith in their own judgements or abilities, thinking they know more than they actually do.

Empirical evidence

Refers to information that is obtained through observation, experimentation, or measurement. _______ helps prevent cognitive bias by providing objective data that can counteract our natural tendencies to make biased judgements or decisions.

Scientific method

A systematic approach used to study human behavior and mental processes. The method involves making observations, forming hypotheses, conducting experiments or studies, analyzing data, and drawing conclusions based on evidence.

Hypothesis

A specific, testable prediction or educated guess about the relationship between variables or the outcome of a research study. It is based on existing theories, observations, or previous research findings.

falsifiable

A _______ hypothesis in psychology is a statement that can be tested and potentially proven false through observation or experimentation. These hypotheses are formulated in a way that allows for the possibility of evidence to contradict or refute them.

Peer review

A process where research articles and studies are evaluated by experts in the field before they are published in academic journals. These experts critically assess the quality, validity, and significance of the research, providing feedback and recommendations to the authors.

Replication

The process of repeating or reproducing a research study to determine if its findings can be consistently observed. This involves conducting the same experiment or study with new participants, under similar conditions, and using the same or similar procedures as the original study.

Reliability

A scale of whether or not a measure or test produces consistent results when administered under similar conditions.

Validity

The extent to which a research study or measurement tool accurately measures what it intends to measure.

American Psychological Association (APA)

A leading professional organization dedicated to advancing the field of psychology and promoting the application of psychological knowledge to improve human welfare.

Research design

The overall plan or strategy that outlines how a research study will be conducted to address specific research questions or objectives

Methodology

The systematic procedures and techniques used to conduct research within a specific research design

Quantitative Data

Numbers-based information gathered from surveys, tests, or experiments.

Likert Scales

A measurement tool used in surveys and questionnaires to assess people’s attitudes, opinions, or perceptions (Strongly Agree →Strongly Disagree)

Qualitative Data

Is not about numbers but gives deeper insights into complex ideas (Interviews & observations)

Structured interviews

Researched method in which predetermined questions are asked in the same order. Allows consistent data collection and facilitates comparison.

Survey technique

Research method in psychology used to collect data from a sample of individuals through self report measures (Qualitative and Quantitative data)

Wording effect

Subtle changes in the phrasing or wording of survey questions that can influence respondents’ interpretations and responses → Biased / inaccurate data

Social Desirability Bias

The tendency of individuals to respond in a manner that is viewed favorable by others or conforms to social norms → inaccurate data

Naturalistic observation

Research method in psychology where researchers observe and record behavior in real-world settings without intervention or manipulation.

Case study

Research method in psychology that involves an in-depth examination of a single individual, group, or phenomenon.

Correlational Research

Scientific method used in psychology to examine the naturally occurring relationship between 2 or more variables.

Third Variable Problem

The possibility that a third, unmeasured variable may be influencing the relationship between the two variables of interest.

Scatterplot

A visual representation in correlational research to display the relationship between two variables.

Correlation Coefficient

Statistical measure used in correlation research to quantify the strength and direction between 2 variables.

Positive Correlation

A correlation coefficient of +1 indicates a perfect positive relationship. One variable tends to increase as the other increases (same direction).

Negative Correlation

A correlation coefficient of -1 indicates a perfect negative relationship, meaning that as one variable increases, the other decreases.

Experimental Method

A research technique used to investigate cause-and-effect relationships between variables. The researcher manipulates one variable and its effects on another variable.

Independent variable

The variable deliberately manipulated to see its effects

Dependent variable

The variable observed and measured for change

Confounding variable

Variable that wasn’t accounted for or controlled in the study but still affects the results. It can distort the true effect of the independent variable.

Operational definitions

Specifies how a researcher will measure and manipulate variables in a study. It outlines the exact procedures or operations to ensure clarity in research for others to replicate a study and verify its findings.

Experimental Group

The participants exposed to the independent variable in an experiment

Control group

A group of participants not exposed to the independent variable, providing a baseline for comparison.