Psychology Unit 0 Quiz

Critical thinking

 Analyzing and evaluating information objectively to form judgments.

Hindsight bias

The tendency to believe, after an event, that one could have predicted it.

Peer reviewers

Experts who evaluate research for publication in scientific journals.

Theory

A comprehensive explanation of observed phenomena based on scientific evidence

Hypothesis

A testable prediction about the relationship between variables.

Falsifiable

Capable of being proven false through empirical observation.

Operational definition

A clear, precise description of how a concept is measured in a study.

Replication

Repeating a study to verify its results.

Case study

In-depth analysis of an individual or small group.

Naturalistic observation

Studying behavior in its natural environment without intervention.

Survey

A method of collecting data by asking people questions.

Social desirability bias

Tendency to respond in a way viewed favorably by others.

Self-report bias

Inaccuracies in responses due to personal perceptions or motivations.

Sampling bias

Systematic error resulting from non-representative sample selection.

Random sample

A subset of a population where each member has an equal chance of selection.

Population

The entire group being studied or represented.

Correlation

A statistical relationship between two variables.

Correlation coefficient

A measure of the strength and direction of a correlation.

Variable

Any factor that can change or be changed in an experiment.

Scatterplot

A graph showing the relationship between two variables.

Illusory correlation

Perceiving a relationship between variables that doesn't actually exist.

 Regression toward the mean

The tendency for extreme scores to move closer to the average on subsequent measurements.

Experiment

A controlled study testing the effect of manipulated variables.

Experimental group

 Participants exposed to the treatment in an experiment.

Control group

Participants not exposed to the treatment in an experiment.

Random assignment

Randomly allocating participants to different experimental conditions.

Single-blind procedure

When participants don't know their experimental condition.

Double-blind procedure

When neither participants nor researchers know the experimental conditions.

Placebo effect

Improvement resulting from the belief in a treatment.

IV

Factor manipulated by the experimenter

Confounding variable

 An uncontrolled factor that may affect the dependent variable.

Experimenter bias

Unintentional influence of the researcher on the study results.

DV

The outcome measured in an experiment.

Validity

The extent to which a test measures what it claims to measure.

Quantitative research

Research that collects and analyzes numerical data.

Qualitative research

Research that collects and analyzes non-numerical data.

Informed consent

Agreement to participate in research after being fully informed about it.

Debriefing

Explaining the full nature of a study to participants after its completion.

Descriptive statistics

Methods used to summarize and describe data.

Histogram

A graph showing the frequency distribution of a set of data.

Mode

The most frequent value in a dataset.

Mean

 The average of a set of numbers.

Median

 The middle value in a sorted list of numbers.

Percentile rank

The percentage of scores falling at or below a given score.

Skewed distribution

A distribution that is not symmetrical.

Range

The difference between the highest and lowest values in a dataset.

Standard deviation

A measure of variability in a dataset.

Normal curve

A symmetrical, bell-shaped frequency distribution.

Inferential statistics

Methods used to draw conclusions about a population based on sample data.

Meta-analysis

A statistical technique for combining results from multiple studies.

Statistical significance

The likelihood that a result is due to chance rather than a real effect.

Effect size

A measure of the strength of a phenomenon or relationship between variables.

Behavioral Approach

Focuses on observable behavior and how it is learned through conditioning, reinforcement, and punishment.

Humanistic Approach

Emphasizes personal growth, free will, and the drive toward self-actualization.

Meta-Analysis

A research method that combines and analyzes the results of multiple studies to reach a broader conclusion.

Qualitative Data

Non-numerical data that describes qualities, characteristics, or themes (e.g., interview responses).

Correlation

A measure of the relationship between two variables; does not imply causation.

Illusory Correlation

The mistaken belief that two unrelated variables are related (e.g., lucky socks and test scores).

Mean

The arithmetic average of a data set (sum of all values ÷ number of values).

Median

The middle value in a data set when values are ordered from lowest to highest.

Mode

The value that appears most frequently in a data set.

Range

The difference between the highest and lowest values in a data set.

Ethics in Research

Guidelines that protect participants from harm, require informed consent, allow withdrawal, and require debriefing after deception.

Hypothesis

A testable prediction about the relationship between variables.

Self-Report Bias

Errors that occur when participants give inaccurate answers about themselves, often to look good or avoid judgment.

Social-Desirability Bias

A type of self-report bias where participants give answers they think will be viewed favorably by others.