Myers' AP Psych Unit 2

Amos Tversky

A key figure in the discovery of systematic human cognitive bias

Case Study

An observation technique in which one person is studied in depth in the hope of revealing universal principles

case study

examining one individual in great depth. It can be unrepresentative information

Confounding Variable

a factor other than the independent variable that might produce an effect in an experiment.

Control Group

in an experiment, the group that is not exposed to the treatment; contrasts with the experimental group and serves as a comparison for evaluating the effect of the treatment.

Correlation

when two traits or attributes are related to each other. The correlation coefficient is the mathematical expression of the relationship, ranging from -1 to +1.

Correlation Coefficient

a statistical index of the relationship between two things (from -1 to +1)

critical thinking

thinking that does not blindly accept arguments and conclusions. rather, it examines assumptions, appraises the source, discerns hidden values, evaluates evidence, and assesses conclusions. a more careful style of forming and evaluating knowledge than simply using intuition. help us develop more effective and accurate ways figure out what makes people do, think, and feel the things they do.

Culture

the enduring behaviors, ideas, attitudes, and traditions shared by a large group of people and transmitted from one generation to the next

Daniel Kahneman

an Israeli psychologist and Nobel laureate, who is notable for his work on the psychology of judgment and decision-making, behavioral economics and hedonistic psychology.

Debriefing

the post-experimental explanation of a study, including its purpose and any deceptions, to its participants

Dependent Variables

The outcome factor -- the variable that may change in response to manipulations of the independent variable

descriptive research

systematic, objective observation of people. The goal is to provide a clear, accurate picture of people's behaviors, thoughts, and attributes.

Double Blind Procedure

An experimental procedure in which both the research participants and the research staff are ignorant about whether the research participants have received the treatment or a placebo. Commonly used in drug-evaluation studies

Experiment

A research method in which an investigator manipulates one or more factors (independent variables) to observe the effects on some behavior or mental process (the dependent variable). By random assignment of participants, the experimenter aims to control other relevant variable

Experimental Group

in an experiment, the group that is exposed to the treatment, that is, to one version of the independent variable.

Hindsight Bias

The tendency to believe, after learning an outcome, that one would have foreseen it.

Hypothesis

a testable prediction, often implied by a theory

Illusory Correlation

The perception of a relationship where none exists

Independent Variable

The experimental factor that is manipulated--the variable whose effect is being studied

Inferential Statistics

numerical methods used to determine whether research data support a hypothesis or whether results were due to chance

Informed Consent

an ethical principle requiring that research participants be told enough to enable them to choose whether they wish to participate

intuition

an effortless, immediate, automatic feeling or thought, as contrasted with explicit, conscious reasoning

James Randi

magician exemplifies skepticism. He has tested and debunked a variety of psychic phenomena

Kenneth and Mamie Clark

Used dolls to study children's attitude towards race. Their findings were used in the Brown vs. Board trial.

Mean

The arithmetic average of a distribution, obtaining by adding the scores and then dividing by the number of scores

measure of variation

range and standard deviation

Measures of central tendency

mode, mean and median

Median

The middle score in a distribution--half the scores are above it and half are below it

Mode

The most frequently occurring score(s) in a distribution

naturalistic observation

Observing "natural" behavior means just watching and not trying to change anything

Naturalistic Observation

Observing and recording behavior in naturally occurring situations without trying to manipulate and control the situation

negative correlation

when one variable goes up, the other goes down

Normal Curve/distribution

a symmetrical, bell-shaped curve that describes the distribution of many types of data; most scores fall near the mean (68% fall within one standard deviation of it) and fewer near the extremes

Operational Definition

A statement of the procedures used to define research variables. Ex human intelligence -- what an intelligence test measures. how research variables are defined.

overconfidence error

We are much too certain in our judgments. We overestimate our performance, our rate of work, our skills, and our degree of self-control. We overestimate the accuracy of our knowledge. People are much more certain than they are accurate. Overconfidence is a problem in eyewitness testimony. Overconfidence is also a problem on tests.

Perceiving order in random events

thinking you can make a prediction from a random series. The coin tosses that "look wrong" if there are five heads in a row. This happens because we have the wrong idea about what randomness looks like

Placebo

experimental results caused by expectations alone; any effect on behavior caused by the administration of an inert substance or condition, which the recipient assumes is an active agent.

Placebo Effect

any effect that seems to be a consequence of administering a placebo

Population

all the cases in a group, from which samples may be drawn for a study

positive correlation

the two variables vary together in the same direction

Random Assignment

Assigning participants to experimental and control conditions by chance ,thus minimizing preexisting differences between those assigned to the different groups

Random Sampling

technique for making sure that every individual in a population has an equal chance of being in your sample.Driven only by chance, not by any characteristic

Range

the difference between the highest and lowest scores in a distribution

regression toward the mean

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

Replication

Repeating the essence of a research study, usually with different participants in different situations, to see whether the basic finding extends to other participants and circumstances. trying it again using the same operational definitions of the concepts and procedures.

Sample

items selected at random from a population and used to test hypotheses about the population

Scatter plot

A graphed cluster of dots, each of which represents the values of two variables. The slope of the points suggests the direction of the relationship between the two variables. The amount of scatter suggests the strength of the correlation

scientific method

Setting up situations that test our ideas. Making careful, organized observations. Analyzing whether the data fits with out ideas

Standard Deviations

A computed measure of how much scores vary around the mean score

Statistical Significance

A statistical statement of how likely it is that an obtained result occurred by chance

Survey

A technique for ascertaining the self-reported attitudes or behaviors of people, usually by questioning a representative, random sample of them

survey

Gathering information through self-report. Many cases; less depth. Try to get a representative sample

Theory

set of principles that explains some phenomenon and predicts its future behavior.