AP PSYCHOLOGY 0.1-0.3 VOCAB (44 Terms)

Psychology

The scientific study of behavior and mental processes.

Curiosity

Ask about how it works (Asking Questions) (element of scientific attitude)

Skepticism

Sifting reality from fantasy and demanding evidence (element of scientific attitude)

Humility

Accepting incorrect predictions and willing to explore (element of scientific attitude)

Critical Thinking

Analyzing information carefully rather than accepting it blindly.

Hindsight Bias

Believing you "knew it all along" after an outcome happens.

Confirmation Bias

Searching for information that supports what you already believe.

Overconfidence

Thinking you know more than you actually do.

Peer Reviewers

Experts who evaluate research before it's published.

Theory

An explanation that organizes facts and predicts behaviors.

Hypothesis

A testable prediction based on a theory.

Operational Definition

A clear, specific definition of how a variable is measured.

Replication

Repeating a study to see if results stay consistent.

Case Study

Detailed study of one person or small group.

Meta-Analysis

Combines results from many studies to find patterns.

Naturalistic Observation

Observing behavior in natural settings without interference.

Survey

Non-experimental way of obtaining self-reported information on attitudes or behaviors of a particular group.

Social Desirability Bias

Giving answers that look good rather than truthful.

Self-report Bias

Responder enacts bias of not reporting behaviors accurately.

Experimenter Bias

When the researcher unintentionally influences results.

Population

The entire group being studied.

Sample

A smaller group taken from the population.

Sampling Bias

Bias that occurs when sampling produces an example that doesn't fully represent the ENTIRE group.

Random Sample

Everyone has an equal chance of being chosen.

Representative Sample

Subset (group) of a population that accurately represents the demographics and characteristics of the ENTIRE group being studied.

Experimental Methodology

Research that tests cause and effect.

Non-Experimental Methodology

Method used to observe and predict behavior without variable manipulation (measure variables naturally).

Correlation

A relationship between two variables.

Correlation Coefficient

A number showing how strong a correlation is.

Independent Variable

The factor the researcher manipulates.

Dependent Variable

The outcome that is measured.

Variable

Anything that can change.

Scatterplot

A graph showing relationships between variables.

Random Assignment

Placing participants into groups by chance.

Single-Blind Procedure

Participants don't know which group they're in.

Double-Blind Procedure

Participants and researchers don't know group assignments.

Illusory Correlation

Seeing a relationship that doesn't exist.

Placebo

A fake treatment with no active ingredient.

Directionality Problem

Not knowing which variable causes the other.

Regression Toward the Mean

Extreme scores move closer to average over time.

Confounding Variable

A factor that affects the results unintentionally.

Experiment

A study that shows cause and effect.

Experimental Group

Group that receives the treatment.

Control Group

Group that does not receive the treatment