AP Psych Vocab 0.3-0.5

Experiment

a research method in which an one manipulates one or more factors to observe the effect on some behavior or mental process

Independent Variable (IV)

the variable that a researcher actively manipulates; the variable whose effect is being studied

Dependent Variable (DV)

the outcome that is measured by the researcher; the variable that may change when the independent variable is manipulated

Experimental Group

the group in an experiment that receives the treatment or variable being tested (IV)

Control Group

the group that does not receive the experimental treatment.

Placebo Group

a control group of participants who believe they are receiving treatment, but who are only receiving a placebo.

Placebo Effect

the phenomenon in which the expectations of the participants in a study can influence their behavior

Single-blind Procedure

an experimental procedure in which participants do not know if they are in the experimental or control group

Double-blind Procedure

an experimental procedure in which both the research participants and the research staff are ignorant (blind) about whether the research participants have received the treatment or a placebo

Experimenter Bias

a phenomenon that occurs when a researcher's expectations or preferences about the outcome of a study influence the results obtained

Social Desirability Bias

a tendency to give socially approved answers to questions about oneself.

Peer Review

a process by which the procedures and results of an experiment are evaluated by other scientists who are in the same field or who are conducting similar research

Central Tendency

a measure that represents the typical response or the behavior of a group as a whole

Mean

the arithmetic average of a distribution

Mode

the most frequently occurring score(s) in a distribution

Range

the difference between the highest and lowest scores in a distribution

Standard Deviation

a measure of how much scores vary around the mean

Normal Curve

a symmetrical, bell-shape that describes the distribution of many types of data; most scores fall near the mean and fewer and fewer near the extremes

Percentile Rank

percentage of scores falling at or below a particular value

Skewness

a distribution where frequency data is not spread evenly or normally distributed; the data is clustered at one end

Bimodal Distribution

a frequency distribution having two different values that are heavily populated

Inferential Statistics

numerical data that allow one to generalize- to infer from sample data the probability of something being true of a population

Statistical Significance

a statistical statement of how likely it is that an obtained result occurred by chance

Likert Scale

a rating scale used to measure opinions, attitudes, or behaviors

Institutional Review Board (IRB)

a committee at each institution where research is conducted to review every experiment for ethics and methodology

Informed Consent

an ethical principle requiring that research participants be told enough to enable them to choose whether they wish to participate.

Informed Assent

participant's agreement to participate in the absence of full understanding; this commonly applies to minors

Confidentiality

the act of holding information in confidence, not to be released to unauthorized individuals

Anonymity

the condition of being anonymous

Deception (in research)

research in which the participants are misled about the purpose of the research or the meaning of something that is done to them

Debriefing

the post experimental explanation of a study, including its purpose and any deceptions, to its participants

Confederate (in research)

undercover agents of the researcher

Median

the middle score in a distribution; half the scores are above it and half are below it