Ap psychology unit 0

Critical Thinking

Thinking carefully and evaluating information before accepting it as true.

Control Group

The group that does not receive the treatment and is used for comparison.

Case Study

An in-depth study of one person or a small group.

Correlation

A relationship between two variables.

Correlation Coefficient

A number from -1 to +1 showing the strength and direction of a correlation.

Culture

Shared behaviors, ideas, attitudes, values, and traditions of a group.

Confounding Variable

An outside factor that could affect the results of an experiment.

Double-Blind Procedure

Neither the participants nor researchers know who receives the treatment or placebo.

Debriefing

Explaining the study to participants after it is finished.

Dependent Variable

The variable that is measured in an experiment.

Experiment

A research method used to determine cause and effect.

Experimental Group

The group that receives the treatment being tested.

Falsifiable

Able to be tested and potentially proven wrong.

Hypothesis

A testable prediction about what will happen.

Hindsight Bias

Believing after something happens that you knew it would happen.

Illusory Correlation

Seeing a relationship between two things when none actually exists.

Independent Variable

The variable the researcher changes or manipulates.

Null Hypothesis

The prediction that there is no real effect or relationship.

Protection from Harm

Researchers must protect participants from unnecessary physical or psychological harm.

Descriptive Statistics

Numbers used to organize and summarize data.

Inferential Statistics

Statistics used to determine whether results can apply to a larger population.

Informed Consent

Participants are told important information and agree to participate.

Meta-analysis

Combining results from many studies to reach an overall conclusion.

Mode

The value that occurs most often.

Mean

The average of a set of numbers.

Naturalistic Observation

Observing behavior in its natural environment without interfering.

Normal Bell-Shaped Curve

A symmetrical distribution where most scores are near the average.

Operational Definition

A precise explanation of how a variable is measured or manipulated.

Population

The entire group a researcher wants to study.

Placebo Effect

A change caused by a person's expectations rather than the actual treatment.

Percentile Rank

The percentage of scores that are at or below a particular score.

Peer Reviewer

An expert who evaluates another researcher's study before publication.

Range

The highest score minus the lowest score.

Quantitative Research

Research that collects numerical data.

Qualitative Research

Research that collects descriptions, experiences, or other non-numerical data.

Random Assignment

Assigning participants to groups by chance.

Regression Toward the Mean

Extreme scores tend to become closer to average when measured again.

Confirmation Bias

Looking for information that supports what you already believe.

Deception

Intentionally withholding or giving misleading information to participants during a study.

Variance

A measure of how much scores differ from the mean.

Reliability

The ability of a test or study to produce consistent results.

Replication

Repeating a study to see if similar results occur.

Random Sample

A sample where everyone in the population has an equal chance of being selected.

Sampling Bias

When a sample does not accurately represent the population.

Self-Report Bias

Inaccurate results caused by people incorrectly reporting about themselves.

Social Desirability Bias

Giving answers that make you look better or more socially acceptable.

Skewed Distribution

A distribution where scores are not evenly balanced and one side has a longer tail.

Scatterplot

A graph of dots showing the relationship between two variables.

Survey

A method of collecting information by asking people questions.

Statistical Significance

Indicates that results are unlikely to have happened by chance.

Standard Deviation

Measures how much scores typically vary from the mean.

Theory

An explanation that organizes observations and predicts behavior or events.

Validity

How well a test or study measures what it is supposed to measure.

Likert Scale

A rating scale showing how strongly someone agrees or disagrees.

Non-experimental Design

Research where variables are observed but not manipulated.

Median

The middle score when numbers are arranged in order.

Longitudinal Study

Research that follows the same participants over a long period of time.

Confidentiality

Keeping participants' personal information private.

Framing

How information is presented or worded, which can influence decisions.