Unit 0 - Psychology (copy)

Unit 0 - basis of scientific process, methods of research, basic psychology

Hindsight Bias

The tendency to believe, after learning an outcome, that one would have foreseen it; for example, thinking you knew the outcome of a sports game after it has ended.

Overconfidence

The tendency to overestimate one's abilities or knowledge; for example, believing you will ace a test without studying because you feel confident in your knowledge.

Theory

A well-substantiated explanation of an aspect of the natural world that can incorporate laws, hypotheses, and facts.

Hypothesis

A testable prediction about the relationship between two or more variables.

Sampling Bias

A systematic error that occurs when the sample is not representative of the population being studied.

Random Sample

A sample that fairly represents a population because each member has an equal chance of inclusion.

Operational Definition

A clear and precise definition of a variable that allows it to be measured or quantified in a study, in order to be able to replicate.

Replication

The process of repeating a study to see if the original findings can be reproduced.

Independent Variable (IV)

The variable that is manipulated in an experiment to observe its effect on the dependent variable.

Dependent Variable (DV)

The variable that is measured/not manipulated in an experiment; it is affected by the independent variable.

Experimental Group (EG)

The group in an experiment that receives the treatment or intervention.

Control Group (CG)

The group in an experiment that does not receive the treatment and is used for comparison.

Positive Correlation

A relationship between two variables where both increase or decrease together; for example, height and weight.

Negative Correlation

A relationship between two variables where one increases as the other decreases; for example, exercise and body fat percentage.

Placebo

A term used to deceive test subjects to create a single-blind experiment.

Single-Blind Procedure

An experimental design where participants do not know whether they are in the experimental or control group.

Double-Blind Procedure

An experimental design where neither the participants nor the researchers know who is in the experimental or control group.

Random Sampling

The process of selecting a sample from a population in such a way that every individual has an equal chance of being chosen.

Random Assignment

The process of assigning participants to different groups in an experiment randomly to ensure each group is similar.

Ethical Principles

Guidelines established by the APA to ensure the welfare and rights of research participants, including protection from harm, informed consent, confidentiality, and debrief.

Institutional Review Board (IRB)

A local/institutional committee that reviews research proposals to ensure ethical standards are met, protecting the rights and welfare of participants.

Confounding Variable

A secondary factor in a study that influences both independent and dependent variables, potentially causing incorrect conclusions about their relationship and creating a false impression of correlation or causation if not controlled.

Correlational Study

A type of research method that examines the relationship between two or more variables. It does not manipulate variables but instead observes them in their natural settings to identify patterns or associations.

Naturalistic Observation

Method of research where behavior is observed in its natural environment without manipulation or control.

Case Study

An in-depth analysis of an individual, group, or event used to explore complex real-life issues. It collects detailed qualitative and quantitative data from various sources, like interviews and observations, for comprehensive insights. However, findings may lack generalizability to larger populations.