AP Psychology Unit 0

Critical Thinking

Analyzing information to make decisions

Theory

Well supported Explanation

Replication

Making an exact copy

Survey

Gathering information from people for data

Sampling Bias

Non-representative data due to higher or lower chance of being picked for a study

Correlation

relationship between 2 or more variables

Scatter plot

Data visualization that uses dots to represent the relationship between two different variables

Experiment

Procedure or test to discover something

Random Assignment

Random placing of people in groups for experiments

Placebo Effect

Taking the fake treatment improves health

Experimenter Bias

Researchers unconciously influencing their studies results

Quantitative Research

gathering and analyzing numerical data

Debriefing

Event to review what happened and learn from experience

Mode

Most Frequent appearing value in data set

Percentile Rank

percentage of scores in a dataset that fall at or below a specific score

Standard Deviation

Statistical measurement to show how spread out numbers are in a data set from the average

Meta-Analysis

combines quantitative results of multiple independent studies addressing a similar question

Hindsight bias

perceive past events as more predictable than actually were

Hypothesis

Testable explaination

Case Study

Detailed examination of specific subject within its real world context

Social Desireability Bias

Tendancy of survey respondents to answer questions in the favorability of others

Random Sample

Good representation— every individual has an equal and independent chance of being selected

Correlation Coefficient

Statistical measure that quantifies the strength and direction of the relationship between two variables

Illusory Correlation

Cognitive bias where someone receives relationship between 2 variables when no relationship exists

Experimental Group

Participants in research study that receive specific treatment or intervention

Single blind procedure

Participants don’t know if they’re receiving actual treatment or a placebo

Independant variable

Fact in experiment you manipulate to chance to observe effect

Dependant Variable

outcome being measured in experiment

Qualitative Research

“hows” and “whys” of human behavior, opinions, and experiences

Descriptive Statistics

Mathimatical and visual methods to summarize and organize main features of a data set

Mean

Average of data set

Skewed distribution

data points are not distributed symmetrically around the center

Normal Curve

most points around central average and taper off symmetrically toward both extremes (bell shape)

Statistical Significance

probability that result is real and didn’t happen by chance

Peer reviewers

Experts in specific field who evaluate research or academic work of others before publishing

Operation definition

Translates abstract, theoretical concept into clear, procedures

Naturalistic Observation

Method where scientists and psychologists study subjects in natural environments without interfering

Self report Bias

study participants answer survey questions or interviews inaccuratlely

Population

Total # of individuals in geographical area or sharing defined characteristic

Variable

Factor that can change or be measured

Regression Toward the Mean

Extreme initial measurements tend to be followed by scores closer to the average on testing

Control Group

Baseline group in study that doesn’t receive experimental treatment or intervention during test

Double blind procedure

Participants and researches don’t know who’s receiving treatment and placebo

Effect Size

measure of strength of relationship between variable

Inferential Statistics

Statistics used to make predictions large groups based on analyzing smaller subject

Range

Span between minimum and maximum value or area of variation

Median

Exact middle of a set of numbers from lowest to highest

Histogram

Graphical chart displaying distribution and frequency of numerical data

Informed Consent

Person fully understands situation before voluntarily agreeing to it

Validity

Being logically or factually sound and acceptable

Confounding Variable

Unmeasured third variable that influences both the independant and dependent variable