AP Psychology Unit 0 - TERMINOLOGY

empirical approach

an evidence-based method that draws on observation and

experimentation.

critical thinking

thinking that does not automatically accept arguments and conclusions, rather examining assumptions, appraising the source, discerning hidden biases, evaluating evidence, and assessing conclusions.

hindsight bias

the tendency to believe, after learning an outcome, that one would have foreseen it. (Also known as the I-knew-it-all-along phenomenon.)

peer reviewers

scientific experts who evaluate a research article’s theory, originality, and accuracy.

theory

an explanation using an integrated set of principles that organizes observations and predicts behaviors or events.

hypothesis

a testable prediction, often implied by a theory.

operational definition

a carefully worded statement of the exact procedures (operations)

used in a research study.

replication

repeating the essence of a research study, usually with different participants in different situations, to see whether the basic finding can be reproduced.

naturalistic observation

a descriptive technique of observing and recording behavior in naturally occurring situations without trying to manipulate and control the situation.

survey

a descriptive technique for obtaining the self-reported attitudes or behaviors of a particular group, usually by questioning a representative, random sample of the group.

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 (Also known as random selection).

population

all those in a group being studied, from which 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.

scatterplot

a graphed cluster of dots, each of which represents the values of two variables. The slope at the point suggests the direction of the relationship between the two variables. The amount of scatter suggests the strength of the correlation (little = high, lot = low).

illusory correlation

perceiving a relationship where none exists, or perceiving a stronger-than-actual relationship.

regression toward the mean

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