IB Psych Concepts Vocab

For new syllabus tested in 2027

Bias

Limitation in objective thinking

Researcher Bias

Occurs when a researcher’s personal beliefs effect the design or results of an experiment

Participant Bias

The shift in participant behavior by the known fact that they are being watched

Confirmation Bias

The tendency to search for, interpret, and remember information that confirms one's preexisting beliefs or hypotheses.

Publication Bias

The intentional inclusion or exclusion of research from publishers to earn higher commission

Sampling Bias

When the sample used in the study is not representative of the population from which the sample was drawn from

Convenience Sampling

A sampling technique where participants are selected based on their easy availability and proximity to the researcher

Cultural Bias

The tendency to interpret behavior based on one’s own cultural norms and values

Cognitive Bias

A systematic pattern of deviation from norm or rationality in judgement

Determinism

The idea that all behavior has a cause and is thus predictable

Biological Determinism

All human behavior is pre-determined by one’s genetic makeup

Environmental Determinism

All human behavior is influenced by environmental factors such as culture, geography, and social conditions.

Credibility

refers to the trustworthiness and reliability of a source or research findings in psychology.

Reflexivity

The researcher’s awareness of their own perspectives, biases, and values, and how they affect the experiments and data

Epistemological Reflexivity

reflecting the process and methodology used to try and gain understanding

Personal Reflexivity

reflecting on personal bias and values that may affect the findings and conclusions drawn

Positivism

Empirical evidence and scientific methods are the only ways to gain knowledge about the world.

Empirical evidence

information acquired through observation and experimentation that can be measured and verified.

Reductionism

the practice of analyzing complex phenomena by breaking them down into simpler components to understand the whole.

Holism

an approach that emphasizes the importance of the whole system rather than just its parts

Correlation

method of measuring the relationship between two variables

Causation

the relationship between cause and effect where one event directly influences another.

Bidirectional ambiguity

a situation in which it is difficult to determine which variable influences the other in a relationship.

Internal Validity

the degree to which an experiment accurately establishes a causal relationship between variables, free from confounding factors.

External Validity

the extent to which findings from a study can be generalized to other contexts, populations, or settings.

Mundane Realism

the degree to which a research study closely resembles everyday activities and real life situations

Extraneous Variable

any outside variable that cannot be controlled in an experiment yet may still affect its results

Placebo

a null substance that has no therapeutic effect but can produce results due to the subject's belief in its efficacy.

Double-blind design

a research method in which neither the participants nor the experimenters know who is receiving a particular treatment, reducing bias.

Wait-listing

a method in which participants are placed on a waiting list before receiving treatment, often used in clinical trials to control for treatment effects.

Statistical Significance

a measure that indicates whether the results of a study are likely due to chance or represent a true effect, often determined by a p-value less than 0.05.

Hypothesis

a testable and falsifiable prediction about the relationship between variables in a study, guiding research design and analysis.

Null Hypothesis

a statement asserting that there is no significant effect or relationship between the variables being studied, serving as the default position against which alternative hypotheses are tested.

Alternate Hypothesis

the hypothesis that proposes there is a significant effect or relationship between the variables, contrasting with the null hypothesis.

Inferential Statistics

a branch of statistics that allows researchers to make inferences about a population based on a sample, often using hypothesis testing and confidence intervals.

Independent Measures

a research design in which different participants are assigned to each group in an experiment

Repeated Measures

a research design where the same participants are used in all conditions of an experiment.

P-Value

a measure that helps determine the statistical significance of results in hypothesis testing, indicating the probability of observing the data if the null hypothesis is true.

Longitudinal Design

a research design that involves observing the same participants repeatedly over a period of time to assess changes and developments.

Maturation

the process of natural developmental changes that occur in participants over time, which can affect the outcomes of longitudinal studies.

Agency

the capacity of individuals to act independently and make their own choices, particularly in the context of psychological development and social influences.

Intentionality

purposeful, goal-oriented actions

Self-regulation

monitoring thoughts, emotions, & actions

Self-efficacy

confidence to complete a certain task

Research Method

systematic strategies to collect and analyze data in psychology.

Case Study

an in-depth analysis of an individual, group, or phenomenon, often used to explore complex issues.

Controlled Observation

a research method where variables are manipulated in a natural setting while others are controlled to observe behavior.

Correlational Research

a type of research method that examines the relationship between two or more variables to determine if they are associated without inferring causation.

Covert Observation

a research method where subjects are observed in a natural setting without their awareness, minimizing the potential for bias.

Focus Group

a qualitative research method where a small group of people discuss a specific topic or product, guided by a facilitator, to gather insights and opinions.

Naturalistic Observation

a research method that involves observing subjects in their natural environment without intervention .

Non-participant Observation

the observer does not interact with or become involved in the subjects' activities, ensuring an unbiased view of behaviors.

Quasi-Experiment

a research design that compares groups that are similar but not randomly assigned, allowing for some control over variables while maintaining natural conditions.

Semi-structured Interview

a qualitative research method that combines fixed questions with the flexibility to explore topics in more depth based on participants' responses.

Unstructured Interview

a qualitative research approach that relies on open-ended questions to allow participants to express their thoughts freely, providing rich, detailed insights.

Survey/Questionaire

a research tool used to collect data from a range of respondents through standardized questions, often to quantify attitudes, opinions, or behaviors.

True Experiment

A research design where the researcher manipulates an independent variable and controls other variables to determine the effect on a dependent variable, establishing cause-and-effect relationships. Must have random assignment

Construct

an abstract concept used to measure variables in research.

Variable

a measurable trait or factor that can change and influence the outcome of research findings.

Independent Variable

the variable the researcher manipulates

Dependent Variable

the variable the researcher measures

Operationalization

the process of defining measurement criteria for variables in research.

Self-Reported Data

Data collected through surveys or questionnaires where participants provide their own responses.

Anecdotal Data

Data derived from personal accounts or testimonies that are subjective and not systematically collected.

Empirical Data

Data obtained through observation or experimentation that can be verified through objective evidence.

Type 1 Error

A false positive error in hypothesis testing, where the null hypothesis is incorrectly rejected.

Type 2 Error

The incorrect acceptance of the null hypothesis, indicating that a false negative has occurred.

Artefact

A variable that can distort research findings or mislead interpretations, often arising from the research design or measurement.

Content Analysis

A research method used to systematically analyze qualitative data by categorizing and interpreting the content of texts, media, or communication.

Prospective Research

A research strategy that involves identifying and following participants forward in time to observe outcomes.

Cross-Sectional Research Design

A research method that collects data from a population, or a representative subset, at a specific point in time to analyze differences among various groups.

Theory

A broad explanation of phenomena based on a set of principles and hypotheses

Model

A simplified representation of complex phenomena used to explain or predict behaviors and outcomes.

Deductive Research Methodology

A research approach that begins with a theory or hypothesis and tests it through observations and data collection to validate or refute the initial premise.

Inductive Research Methodology

A research approach that starts with observations and specific instances to formulate general conclusions and theories.

Emic Approach

A research method that seeks to understand cultural phenomena from the perspective of the subject population, focusing on their meanings and interpretations.

Etic Approach

A research method that analyzes cultural phenomena from an outsider's perspective, emphasizing comparisons and cross-cultural generalizations.