AP PSYCH

Heuristics

Mental shortcuts that the brain uses to quickly process information.

Cognitive Bias

Illogical thoughts or errors in thinking which result in heuristics.

Hindsight Bias

The tendency to believe that one would have predicted an event after it has occurred, often phrased as 'I knew it all along'.

Overconfidence

The condition of having an inflated sense of one's abilities, often believing one is better than they truly are.

Authority Bias

The tendency to believe someone is correct simply because they are an authority figure.

Critical Thinking

The process of evaluating evidence and reasoning logically.

Algorithms

Step-by-step procedures that guarantee a solution.

Operational Definition

A statement describing the exact procedures used to identify research variables.

Hypothesis

An assumption made prior to conducting research.

Theory

A statement backed by data from completed research that explains a phenomenon.

Falsifiable

A property of a hypothesis or theory that can be proven wrong through testing.

Replication

The process of repeating a study to see if the same results occur.

Confounding variable

A factor that may change the results of an experiment.

Placebo Effect

A phenomenon where a treatment produces results due to the subject's belief that it will work.

Control Group

The group in an experiment that does not receive the experimental treatment or variable.

Experimental Group

The group in an experiment that receives the treatment or variable being tested.

Independent Variable

The variable that is manipulated by the researcher in an experiment.

Dependent Variable

The factor that is measured to observe the effect of the independent variable.

Experimental Bias

When a researcher's expectations influence the outcome of an experiment.

Population

The entire group that is being studied or observed.

Representative Sample

A smaller sample that accurately reflects the characteristics of the larger population.

Random Sampling

A sampling method where each individual has an equal chance of being selected.

Stratified Sampling

A sampling method where the population is divided into subcategories and individuals are randomly selected from each subcategory.

Sampling Bias

When participants chosen in a sample do not accurately reflect the population.

Correlation Studies

Research methods that predict the relationship between two variables.

Correlation Coefficient (r value)

A statistical measurement of the relationship between two variables, ranging from -1.00 to +1.00.

Illusory Correlation

The perception of a relationship between two variables where none actually exists.

Regression Toward The Mean

The phenomenon where extreme scores tend to move closer to the average in subsequent measurements.

Hawthorne Effect

A type of research bias where behavior changes due to the awareness of being observed.

Case Study

An in-depth analysis of an individual or group, requiring extensive data.

Naturalistic Observation

The practice of observing subjects in their natural environment without interference.

Meta-analysis

Combining results from multiple studies to draw wider conclusions.

Surveys

Data collection methods through self-reported questionnaires.

Quantitative Data

Statistical data that can be measured and analyzed numerically.

Qualitative Data

Subjective data that is based on opinions and experiences.

Single-Blind Procedure

An experimental procedure where participants do not know if they are in the experimental or control group.

Double-Blind Procedure

An experimental setup in which neither the participants nor the researchers know who is in the control or experimental group.

Mean, Median, Mode

Measures of central tendency used to summarize data.

Standard Deviation

A statistical measure that indicates the spread of scores around the mean.

Percentile Rank

The percentage of scores that fall below a specific score in a distribution.

Skewed Distribution

A distribution that is not symmetrical, affecting the interpretation of central tendency.

Null Hypothesis

The hypothesis stating there is no effect or influence in an experiment.

Alternative Hypothesis

The hypothesis suggesting there is a significant relationship between variables.

Effect Size

A measure of the strength or significance of an experimental effect.

Institutional Review Board (IRB)

A committee that evaluates the ethical considerations of research studies.

Informed Consent

An agreement by participants to take part in research, understanding its purpose and methods.

Confidentiality

The principle that personal information must be kept private in research.

Protection From Harm

Ensuring participants are safeguarded from physical or psychological damage during research.

Debriefing

The process of explaining the study's purpose and results to participants after it concludes.

Z Score

The number of standard deviations a data point is away from the mean.

Cause & Effect

The relationship determined through experiments by manipulating the independent variable and measuring the dependent variable.

Critical Thinking

The evaluation of evidence logically, considering alternatives.