Research methods AP psych

Hindsight bias

I knew it all along

Overconfidence

When a person has too much confidence in themselves and their abilities

Confirmation bias

Searching for information that only matches your beliefs during a study

Critical thinking

Assessing facts, ideas, and claims to make a smart choice

Skepticism

Doubting or questioning claims that do not have strong proof

Theory

A well tested idea

Hypothesis

A testable explanation for an event or observation

Falsifiability

A statement / hypothesis / theory that can be proven wrong by and observation or a physical test.

Variable

Any characteristic, number, or quantity that can change or be measured

Operational

Math tools so solve complex problems

Replication

repeating study using new subjects, but the exact same methods and concept

Peer review

Independent experts evaluate a research papers before published

Experimental research

A scientific method to find cause and effect by changing one variable to see how it changes the other

Non - experimental

Measure variables as they naturally occur without manipulating any independent variables, and randomly assigning participants

Qualitative measurement

Collecting and analyzing non numerical data (words, images, feelings, thoughts, acts)

Quantitative measurement

Gathering numerical data (usually precise)

Case study

Investigate real life subject within its natural setting

Naturalistic observation

Watching a subject in its natural habitat with its natural routine for research