AP Psychology - Chapter 0 Vocab

Hindsight bias

thinking you knew it all along or would have foreseen it

Overconfidence

being more confident than correct

3. Critical thinking

thinking that does not blindly accept arguments and conclusions

4. *Survey

getting self-reported attitudes or behaviors of a group, usually by questioning

5. *Case study

observation technique in which one person is studied in depth

6. *Meta-Analysis

getting as much research data together as possible

Scientific method

Theory, Hyp, Op Def, Results, Summary

Theory

explanation that predicts behavior or events (1)

Hypothesis

testable prediction (2)

Operational definition

statement of procedures in experiment (or defining a term) (3)

11. *Results

the results / scores / numbers / graphed data (4)

Conclusion

a summary explanation of the results (5)

13. Replication

repeating a research study

14. Falsifiable

if a hypothesis can be logically contradicted (proven false) by an empirical test

15. Population

all the cases in a group being studied, from which samples may be drawn

16. Random sampling

sample that fairly represents a population (Representative sampling)

Random assignment

randomly dividing the sample into groups (e.g. A & B)

18. Convenience sampling

non-probability sampling drawn from population that is close at hand

Naturalistic observation

observing and recording behavior naturally; no manipulation

20. Likert scale

a survey scale on how much you like something (e.g. 1-10)

21. Correlation

measure of the extent to which two factors vary together; not cause

22. Correlation coefficient

statistical index of the relationship between two things (from -1 to +1).

23. Causation

when one thing makes something else happen

24. Variation

how far apart things are

25. Scatterplot

a graph (x & y axis)

26. Positive correlation

/ or Negative skew

27. Negative correlation

\ or Positive skew

28. Illusory correlation

perception of a relationship where none exists

Experiment

research method in which an investigator manipulates one or more factors (IV)

30. Independent variable

what is manipulated in an experiment (IV)

31. Dependent variable

what happens in an experiment (DV)

32. Single blind

only the experimenter knows the purpose of the experiment

33. Double blind

neither the experimenter or the subjects know the purpose of the experiment

34. Placebo effect

results caused by expectation alone (fake medicine)

35. Experimental group

the group being manipulated with the IV

36. Control group

the group that gets nothing or the placebo

37. Confounding variable

3 rd variable other than independent variable may produce an effect

(hot)

38. Central tendency

mean, median, & mode stats

39. *Mean

average

40. *Median

middle number (1,2,3,4,5 = 3, 1,1,1,1,2,3,4 = 1, 1,2,3,4 = 2.5)

41. *Mode

most occurring number

42. *Range

difference between the highest and lowest score

43. Bi-modal

two modes

44. *Standard deviation

computed measure of how much scores vary around the mean

45. Normal curve

symmetrical, bell-shaped curve

46. Percentile rank

the percent you scored better than (90 th percentile = better than 90%)

47. Experimenter bias

tendency of researchers to introduce bias into an experiment (cheat?)

48. Social desirability bias

to answer questions in a way you think will be viewed favorably

49. Confirmation bias

only search for information in a way that confirms prior beliefs or values.

50. Statistical significance

how likely it is that an obtained result occurred by chance

51. P-value

% showing Statistical significance

Regression towards the mean

for outlier scores to go back to being average (1 good game)

53. Generalization

reasoning that involves drawing very broad inferences (e.g. stereotypes)

54. Ethics

proper fair treatment of others in research (4 parts)

Informed consent

tell subjects enough for them to decide to be in experiment

Debriefing

post-experimental explanation

57. Quantitative research

relies on data / numbers (quantity)

58. Qualitative research

relies on opinions and interpretations (quality)

Peer reviews

evaluation of work by one or more people with similar expertise

60. Institutional reviews

a board applies research ethics by reviewing your methods

61. Effect size

strength (effect) or relation between 2 means