AP Psych Unit 0 Textbook Vocab

independent variable

the thing being manipulated by the experimenter

dependent variable

the thing being measured in an experiment

random assignment

A way to ensure that each participant has an equal chance of being assigned to any group

case study

An in depth examination of one person, group, event, etc. to find facts about them

correlation

A measure used to examine the relationship between two variables and how well they predict each other

meta-analysis

Research method to analyze multiple studies on one topic

naturalistic observation

A research method to study behavior as it naturally occurs without intervention. Its goal is to gain insights on naturally occurring behaviors in their natural habitat.

hypothesis

A specific and testable description of the expected outcome of a study

falsifiable hypothesis

Must be able to be proven wrong. This allows for better explanation and understanding of the study.

operational definitions

Clear and detailed statements about how the researcher will measure the data collected on the variables

confounding variable

a hidden factor that can create a misleading association between the independent and dependent variables

histogram

A graph of vertical bars that represents the frequency distributions of a set

scatterplot

A graph of clustered dots that represents the two variables.

correlation coefficient

Statistics used to describe the strength and direction of the relationship between 2 variables

normal curve

A graphical representation of symmetry around the mean that describes many standard statistics. Percentages of distributions - 68, 95, 99.7

skewness

a graph that is not equally centered around the mean

bimodal distribution

A data set with 2 peaks/modes that can indicate 2 different populations or a combination of 2 distributions

standard deviation

Statistical measure that quantifies the amount of variation/dispersion in a data set (the bigger the value, the more spread out the data is)

population

All the individuals that are being studied and could potentially participate

representative sample

Selections from the population that have similar characteristics to the population as a whole

random sample

Each member of the population has an equal chance of selection

convenience sampling

Picking the sample from an easily accessible group

sampling bias

An error that makes population members more or less likely to be picked

generalization

The extent to which the research can be applied to other settings outside of the original study

experimental group

The group that is given a treatment and observed

control group

The group that is not given a treatment

placebo

Substance/treatment with no therapeutic effects. Can cause people to feel results based only on expectations

single blind

Participants don't know which treatment they are receiving

double blind

Experimenter and participants don't which which group the participants belong to

experimenter bias

Error caused by the experimenters unconscious expectations of results

social desirability bias

Participants give answers that they believe will make others view them favorably

qualitiative

non-numerical observations

quantitative

numerical data

Likert scales

a data tool to measure attitudes/behaviors on a linear scale and to make it easy to statistically analyze

effect size

Numerical measure of the strength of a relationship between variables or the size of the difference between groups in a study (the degree of difference between groups)

peer review

Used to ensure quality and credibility of published work by being evaluated by experts in the field of study

replication

Re-creating a study to verify the original findings

statistical significance

A measure to show that the results of a study are not just the results of chance and that they actually reflect a relationship between variables

self-report bias

Errors that occur when people provide subjective accounts of their own behaviors

Institutional Review Board

A committee that is put together by anyone conducting a study with human subjects that ensures the safety of study participants by determining the ethical standards.

informed consent

Signed statment by the participant saying they understand the risks and agree to the study

confidentiality

Protects participant’s private information in a study

deception

misleading/withholding information about the true nature of a study. Is permitted if the experimenter believes that withholding information is essential to the study

confederates

Accomplices to the people conducting the study who have to deceive participants. 

debriefing

Once the study is completed, the participants must be given more information about the nature of a study (especially if deception was used)