ap psych final

Double-Blind

Neither participant nor experimenter knows conditions.

Single-Blind

Only participant is unaware of conditions.

p-value < .05

Indicates statistical significance in results.

Effect Size

Measures practical significance of data.

Hypothesis

Tentative explanation, must be falsifiable.

Operational Definition

Precise definition for variables in study.

Confound

Error or flaw accidentally introduced in study.

Random Assignment

Participants assigned randomly to groups.

Informed Consent

Participants must agree to take part.

Debriefing

Participants informed post-study about true nature.

Naturalistic Observation

Observing subjects in their natural environment.

Correlation

Identifies relationship between two variables.

Case Study

In-depth study of a single individual.

Surveys

Data collection method subject to bias.

Random Sample

Everyone has equal chance of selection.

Representative Sample

Sample reflects characteristics of the population.

Convenience Sample

Participants selected based on availability.

Sampling Bias

Sample not representative of the population.

Positive Correlation

Both variables increase together.

Negative Correlation

One variable increases while the other decreases.

Measures of Central Tendency

Mean, median, and mode summarize data.

Meta-Analysis

Combines multiple studies to analyze effect sizes.

Experiment

Manipulating variables to determine cause and effect.

Independent Variable

Manipulated variable to observe effects.

Dependent Variable

Measured outcome influenced by independent variable.

Experimental Group

Group receiving treatment in an experiment.

Control Group

Baseline group receiving no treatment.

Placebo Effect

Behavior change due to belief in treatment.

Experimenter Bias

Researcher expectations influence study outcomes.

Participant Bias

Participants' expectations affect their responses.

Cognitive Bias

Systematic errors in thinking or judgment.

Skewness

Asymmetry in data distribution due to outliers.

Negative Skew

Mean is less than median; tail on left.

Positive Skew

Mean is greater than median; tail on right.

Range

Difference between highest and lowest values.

Standard Deviation

Average distance of scores from the mean.

Inferential Statistics

Determines significance of results from data.

Statistical Significance

Results unlikely due to chance; meaningful.

Hawthorne Effect

Behavior changes when individuals are observed.

Confirmation Bias

Favoring information that supports existing beliefs.

Hindsight Bias

Believing outcomes were predictable after they occur.

Overconfidence

Overestimating one's knowledge or abilities.

Action Potential

Electrical charge that travels down a neuron.

Resting Potential

Neurons maintain -70mV charge when inactive.

Depolarization

Neuronal charge shifts from negative to positive.

Threshold of Depolarization

Minimum stimulus strength to trigger action potential.

All or Nothing Principle

Neuron fires completely or not at all.

Evolutionary Psychology

Study of behavior influenced by natural selection.

Heredity vs Environment

Nature vs nurture debate on behavior influence.

Psychoactive Drugs

Substances affecting brain function and behavior.

Depressants

Drugs that decrease nervous system activity.

Stimulants

Drugs that increase nervous system activity.

Hallucinogens

Substances causing hallucinations and altered perceptions.

Opioids

Drugs that relieve pain by mimicking endorphins.

Tolerance

Needing more of a drug for the same effect.

Addiction

Compulsion to use a drug to avoid withdrawal.

Withdrawal

Symptoms occurring after stopping a drug suddenly.

Cerebellum

Brain region for movement and balance coordination.

Brainstem

Controls vital functions like heart rate and breathing.

Reticular Activating System

Regulates alertness and sleep cycles.

Cerebral Cortex

Outer brain layer for higher-order thought processes.

Central Nervous System

Includes the brain and spinal cord.

Peripheral Nervous System

Connects the central nervous system to the body.

Somatic Nervous System

Controls voluntary movements of skeletal muscles.

Autonomic Nervous System

Regulates involuntary bodily functions.

Sympathetic Nervous System

Prepares body for fight or flight response.

Parasympathetic Nervous System

Promotes rest and digestion functions.

Neurotransmitters

Chemicals transmitting signals across synapses.

GABA

Major inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain.

Glutamate

Major excitatory neurotransmitter in the brain.

Dopamine

Neurotransmitter linked to reward and addiction.

Serotonin

Regulates mood, sleep, and emotional balance.

Acetylcholine

Neurotransmitter important for memory and movement.

Norepinephrine

Involved in arousal and alertness responses.

Neuron

Basic functional unit of the nervous system.

Refractory Period

Time neuron must rest before firing again.

Endorphins

Natural pain relievers produced by the body.

Substance P

Neuropeptide involved in pain regulation.

Dendrites

Receive incoming neurotransmitters from other neurons.

Axon

Transmits action potentials away from the neuron.

Myelin Sheath

Insulates axon, speeding up action potentials.

Synapse

Gap between two communicating neurons.

Sensory Neurons

Transmit sensory signals to the brain.

Motor Neurons

Send signals from brain to muscles.

Interneurons

Connect sensory and motor neurons in the CNS.

Occipital Lobe

Brain region responsible for vision processing.

Frontal Lobe

Involved in decision making and personality.

Prefrontal Cortex

Front part of frontal lobe, handles executive functions.

Motor Cortex

Controls voluntary movements, located in frontal lobe.

Parietal Lobe

Processes sensations like touch and pain.

Somatosensory Cortex

Maps sensory input from the body.

Oxytocin

Hormone associated with love and bonding.

Adrenaline

Hormone that triggers fight or flight response.

Leptin

Hormone that signals fullness to reduce hunger.

Ghrelin

Hormone that stimulates appetite and hunger.

Melatonin

Regulates sleep-wake cycles in the body.

Agonist

Drug that mimics neurotransmitter effects.

Antagonist

Drug that blocks neurotransmitter effects.

Reuptake

Process of neurotransmitter reabsorption by neurons.

Reflex Arc

Pathway for quick reflex actions bypassing the brain.