AP Psychology Module 0.1-0.4

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Psychology

The science of behavior and mental processes

Critical thinking

Examines assumptions, evaluates the source, to recognize hidden biases, evaluate evidence, and addresses conclusion

Hindsight Bias

Thinking you knew the outcome after it’s happened

Overconfidence

Thinking you know more than you think you do

Peer review

When other scientists who are experts, evaluate a study

Theory

Explains behaviors or events by offering ideas that organize observations

Hypothesis

Predictions

Falsifiability

The results of an experiment that would disprove a hypothesis

Operational definitions

Defining the variable in the present study

Replicate

To repeat a study or experiment

Case study

Examines one individual or one group in depth

Naturalistic Observations

When you watch an individual or group “in the wild”

Survey

Asks people to report on their behavior or opinions

Social desirability bias

When people answer in a way that changes the results of a study because some answers were more socially acceptable

Self report bias

When people don’t accurately report or remember their behaviors

Sampling Bias

Conducting a study with a group of participants who don’t accurately represent the population

Random sample

A method of selecting study participants where every individual has an equal chance of being chosen

Correlate

A measure of the extent of which two factors vary together, and how well either factor predicts the other

Correlation coefficient

Helps us figure out how closely two things vary together, and how well either one predicts the other (from -1.00 to +1.00)

Variable

A placeholder; anything that can vary

Scatterplot

A graphed cluster of dots, each of which represents the values of two variables

Illusory correlation

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

Regression towards the mean

The tendency for extreme or unusual scores or events to fall back toward the average

Experiments

These enable researchers to isolate the effects of one or more factors by manipulation the factors of interest and holding other factors

Experimental group

The group that has something done to them

Control group

The group that has nothing done to them

Single blind procedure

If the participants are uninformed

Double Blind procedure

Both the participants and research staff are uninformed

Placebo Effect

Thinking you’re receiving treatment can boost your spirits, relax your body, and relieve your symptoms

Independent variable

Factor that is manipulated

Confounding variable

A factor studied that might influence a study’s results

Experimenter bias

When researchers (mostly unintentionally) influence results to confirm their own beliefs