AP Psychology: Science Practices - Set E

Population

the entire group a researcher wants to draw conclusions about through a study

Sample

a selected subset of a population that will be part of a research study

Representative sample

a selected subset of a population that accurately reflects the characteristics of the population as a whole

Random sampling

when members from a population are chosen in a such way that each individual in the population has an equal chance of being selected to be in the sample

Convenience sampling

when a researcher chooses a sample based on people who are readily available to participate

Representation of participants

an indication of how well a sample of participants in a study represents the larger population researchers are interested in

Experimental group

the group in an experiment that receives the variable being tested

Control group

the group in an experiment that does not receive the variable being tested

Single-blind study

a study in which the participants are unaware of whether they are in the control group or the experimental group, but the researcher knows the members in each group

Double-blind study

study in which neither the experimenter nor the subjects know which subjects are in the experimental and control groups