AP Psych Unit 1 Vocab

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case study

detailed examination of a real-world subject

correlational study

non experimental method that measures two or more variables to see if a statistical relationship exists

scatterplot

type of graph that uses dots to show the relationship between two different numeric variables

illusionary correlation

cognitive bias where a person accidentally perceives a relationship between two separate things

naturalistic observation

research method where people or animals are watched in their real world settings

range

descriptive statistics that measures variability

Mean

arithmetic average of a dataset

Median

the middle score in a dataset when all the numbers are arranged in numerical order

Mode

the most frequently occurring value in a dataset

standard deviation

statistic that measures variability including average distance/difference of scores from the mean

independent variable

experimental factor that the researcher manipulates to see its effect on another factor

dependent variable

the measurable outcome that is evaluated to see the effect of the independent variable

operational definition

exact statement of the procedures and measurement to define research variables in a study

random sample

subset of a population chosen entirely by chance, every individual has an equal chance

random assignment

using chance to place participants into control groups, giving each person an equal chance of being in any condition

placebo effect

when physical/mental condition improves after receiving an inactive, fake treatment, b/c they believe they are getting real treatment

double blind procedure

when neither the participant nor the researcher knows who receives the actual treatment or placebo

statistical significance

when research results or a difference between groups is unlikely to be random

replication

repeating a research study

cofounding variable

an outside factor other than the independent variable that changes the dependent variable, ruins validity, and causes false conclusions