Psych Test: Statistics and Research

X Axis

horizontal number line

Y Axis

vertical number line

Outlier

a data point that differs significantly from other observations

Measures of Central Tendency

as the number used to represent the center or middle of a set of data values

-mean, median, mode

Mean

Average, adding all numbers in the data set and then dividing by the number of values in the set

Median

middle value when a data set is ordered from least to greatest

Mode

the number that occurs most often in a data set

Range

the distance between the lowest and the highest value

Skewed Data

data that creates an uneven curve distribution on a graph

Negative skew

points left toward the negative side of the histogram

Positive skew

points right toward the positive side of the histogram

Histogram

a chart that plots the distribution of a numeric variable's values as a series of bars

Normal distribution

a probability distribution that appears as a "bell curve" when graphed

P-Value (Probability Value)

a number describing how likely it is that your data would have occurred under the null hypothesis of your statistical test

Probability Testing

The likeliness of an outcome or research result given the hypothesis

Null hypothesis

the claim that the effect being studied does not exist

Measures of Variability

how spread scores are in a distribution out

-range, variance, standard deviation, interquartile range, ect

Variance

how far a set of numbers is spread out from their average value, calculated by taking the average of squared deviations from the mean

Standard Deviation

the average amount of variability in your dataset- how far data points range from the mean

Statistical Significance

a result from data generated by testing or experimentation is likely to be attributable to a specific cause

ex: changing the color of a button from red to green will result in more people clicking on it

Inferential Statistics

The process of using data analysis to infer properties of an underlying distribution of probability

ex: birth weights of twins are generally lower than the weights of babies born alone

Empirical Rule

68-95-99.7 rule, tells you where most of the values lie in a normal distribution

Descriptive Statistics

Quantitatively describes or summarizes features from a collection of information, used to summarize and describe the main features of a dataset

Case Study

An in-depth, detailed analysis of a specific real-world situation

Observing people and their behaviors/ reactions in specific situations.

Confidentiality

the state of keeping or being kept secret or private.

Confounding Variable

a variable that influences both the dependent variable and independent variable and impacts research results

Control Group

a group that is not exposed to the manipulated factor being researched and used as a reference for “normal/expected” behaviors

Critical Thinking

the analysis of available facts, evidence, observations, and arguments in order to form a judgement, digging deeper

Correlational research

a type of research design that looks at the relationships between two or more variables

How well does A predict B?

Correlational Coefficient

A statistical relationship between two variables- ex; scatterplots

Cross-sectional

observational studies that analyze data from a population at a single point in time

Debrief

learning through discussion and reflection of events

Dependent Variable

the outcome that is being studied in response to the independent variable

Independent Variable

the variable that is altered during a scientific experiment

Descriptive research

Aims to accurately and systematically describe a population, situation, or phenomenon

Double-Blind Procedure

A type of clinical trial in which neither the participants nor the researcher knows which treatment or intervention participants are receiving until the clinical trial is over.

Ethics

moral principles that govern a person's behavior or the conducting of an activity.

Experimental Group

group exposed to changed and observed for outcome of the manipulated factor

Experimental research

to study and observe a group under a certain condition, to put a theory into action

False Consensus Effect

individuals' tendency to overvalue the shared prevalence of their own beliefs, values, and behaviors

Hindsight Bias

The knew-it-all-along phenomenon, is the common tendency for people to perceive past events as having been more predictable than they were.

Hypothesis

A proposed claim constructed before any applicable research has been done

Theory

An idea that has been extensively tested, evaluated by the scientific community, and is strongly supported.

Illusory Correlation

Perceiving a relationship between variables even when no such relationship exists.

Icecream and drowning

Informed consent

A process of communication between the scientist and the subject- agreement or permission for care, treatment, or services.

Institutional Review Board (IRB)

protecting the welfare, rights, and privacy of human subjects. Has authority to approve, exempt, disapprove, monitor, and require modifications in all research activities that fall within its jurisdiction

Longitudinal

Researchers repeatedly examine the same individuals to detect any changes that might occur over a period of time

Meta analysis

The statistical combination of the results of multiple studies addressing similar research questions

Naturalistic Observation

Recording the natural behaviors of individuals in real-world settings- “people watching”

Negative Correlation

Two variables move opposite one another

ex; time spent studying vs time spent sleeping

Positive Correlation

Two variables operate in unison

ex; AP classes vs hours spent studying

No coercion

Not using threats or force to achieve compliance

Operational Definition

Describes behavior so that it is observable and measurable- what is happiness, good music, a smile?

Overconfidence

The tendency to overestimate our knowledge and abilities in a certain area

Philip Zimbardo

American professor and psychologist who became known for his 1971 Stanford prison experiment

Stanford Prison Experiment

A group of Stanford College student where put into prison for 14 days, to experiment if the power of the guards would would change their behavior.

Placebo

the effect when somebody knows the expected outcome of something, so they inadvertently think its coming to fruition.

ex; telling someone their sprite was champagne and them acting tipsy.

Population

all individuals who share particular characteristics and can be considered as part of a larger group

Random Assignment

an experimental technique for assigning subjects to different groups with no pattern

Random Sample

A subset of individuals chosen randomly for a survey that don’t have any particular relationship that could influence data

Replication

reproducing a study to see if you get the same results

Safety

the belief that you won't be punished or humiliated for speaking up with ideas, questions, concerns, or mistakes

Scatterplot

shows the relationship between two variables

Single-Blind Procedure

a clinical trial design in which in which one party, either the investigator or the participant, does not know which medication or placebo is administered to the subject.

Social Desirability Bias

Answering a question in the way that isn’t necessarily true, but in a manner that will be viewed favorably by others.

ex; when the doctors ask you what your average screen time is

Stanley Milgram

Social psychologist best-remembered for his now infamous obedience experiments. His research demonstrated how far people will go to obey authority

Participants were told by an experimenter to administer increasingly powerful electric shocks to another individual

Survey

A series of questions asked to the respondents in order to understand their thought processes and mental state