AP Psych Unit 0 Terms

Hindsight bias

The tendency to believe after learning an outcome that one would have foreseen it.

Hypothesis

A testable prediction often implied by a theory.

Operational definitions

A statement of the procedures used to define research variables.

Control group

The group in an experiment that does not receive the treatment; serves as a comparison.

Case study

An in-depth analysis of an individual or group often used for rare or unusual cases.

Naturalistic observation

Observing and recording behavior in naturally occurring situations without manipulation.

Survey

A research method that involves asking people questions to gather information about attitudes or behaviors.

Social desirability bias

The tendency of survey respondents to answer questions in a manner that will be viewed favorably by others.

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.

Illusory correlation

The perception of a relationship where none exists or perceiving a stronger-than-actual relationship.

Random assignment

Assigning participants to experimental and control groups by chance minimizing preexisting differences.

Double blind procedure

An experimental procedure in which both the research participants and staff are ignorant about who received the treatment or placebo.

Placebo effect

Experimental results caused by expectations alone; any effect on behavior caused by administration of an inert substance.

Dependent variable

The outcome factor; the variable that may change in response to manipulations of the independent variable.

Independent variable

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

Confounding variable

A factor other than the independent variable that might influence the results of a study.

Experimenter bias

When a researcher's expectations or preferences about the outcome influence the results.

Informed consent

An ethical principle requiring that research participants be told enough 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 participants.

Mode

The most frequently occurring score in a distribution.

Median

The middle score in a distribution; half the scores are above it and half are below.

Mean

The arithmetic average of a distribution obtained by adding the scores and dividing by the number of scores.

Correlation coefficient

A statistical index of the relationship between two things (from -1 to +1).