AP Psychology Unit 0: Research Methods – Vocabulary Flashcards

55 vocabulary flashcards covering key perspectives, research methods, and statistical concepts in AP Psychology Unit 0.

Psychodynamic Perspective

Approach that explains behavior through unconscious drives, conflicts, and early childhood experiences.

Cognitive Perspective

Viewpoint that investigates internal mental processes such as thinking, memory, and problem-solving.

Behavioral Perspective

Focuses on observable behavior and learning through conditioning and reinforcement. What you see, no why or how.

Humanistic Perspective

Emphasizes free will, personal growth, and the drive toward self-actualization.

Biological Perspective

Examines how brain structures, genetics, and physiology influence behavior and mental processes.

Evolutionary Perspective

Explores how natural selection and adaptation shape behavior over generations.

Sociocultural Perspective

Studies how behavior and thinking vary across social situations and cultures.

Biopsychosocial Perspective

Integrative approach combining biological, psychological, and social factors to explain behavior.

Psychology

The scientific study of behavior and mental processes.

Nature

Genetic or biological influences on thoughts, feelings, and actions.

Nurture

Environmental and experiential influences on behavior and development.

Confirmation Bias

Tendency to seek out and favor information that supports existing beliefs.

Hindsight Bias

After learning an outcome, believing one could have foreseen it (the “I-knew-it-all-along” effect).

Overconfidence

Overestimating the accuracy of one’s judgments or abilities.

Empirical Evidence

Data obtained through systematic observation or experimentation.

Scientific Method

Orderly process of observing, predicting, testing, and interpreting phenomena.

Hypothesis

Testable prediction derived from a theory.

Falsifiable

Capable of being disproved by counter-evidence.

Peer Review

Evaluation of scientific work by other experts before publication.

Replication

Repeating a study to verify results and enhance reliability.

Validity

Extent to which a tool or study measures what it claims to measure.

Reliability

Consistency or repeatability of a measure or research finding.

American Psychological Association (APA)

Largest professional organization of psychologists; sets ethical and publication standards.

Quantitative Data

Numerical information that can be measured and analyzed statistically.

Qualitative Data

Descriptive information about qualities or characteristics, often non-numerical.

Likert Scales

Rating scales measuring attitudes along a continuum of agreement or frequency.

Structured Interviews

Interviews using standardized, pre-set questions administered in the same order.

Survey Technique

Method of gathering self-reported data from a sample through questionnaires or interviews.

Wording Effect

Impact of question phrasing on respondents’ answers.

Social Desirability Bias

Tendency for participants to respond in ways they believe are socially approved.

Naturalistic Observation

Systematic observation of behavior in its natural environment without intervention.

Case Study

In-depth analysis of an individual or small group to reveal universal principles.

Correlational Research

Method assessing the relationship between two variables without manipulating them.

Third Variable Problem

Possibility that an unmeasured factor causes the observed correlation between variables.

Scatterplot

Graph of dots representing the relationship between two quantitative variables.

Positive Correlation

Relationship where two variables move in the same direction.

Negative Correlation

Relationship where two variables move in opposite directions.

Experimental Method

Research strategy that manipulates an independent variable to determine causal effects.

Independent Variable

Factor deliberately manipulated by the experimenter.

Dependent Variable

Outcome that is measured; may change in response to the independent variable.

Confounding Variables

Uncontrolled factors that may influence the dependent variable and distort results.

Operational Definitions

Precise statements of how variables are measured or manipulated in a study.

Experimental Group

Participants who receive the treatment or independent variable condition.

Control Group

Participants who do not receive the treatment; serve as a baseline comparison.

Random Assignment

Process of placing participants into experimental or control groups by chance.

Placebo Effect

Change in participants’ behavior caused by expectations rather than the treatment itself.

Experimenter Bias

Researchers’ expectations inadvertently influence participants or data interpretation.

Single Blind Study

Participants are unaware of whether they are in the experimental or control group.

Double Blind Study

Both participants and researchers are unaware of group assignments, reducing bias.

Sample

Subset of a population selected for participation in a study.

Representative Sample

Sample that accurately reflects the characteristics of the larger population.

Random Sample

Sample in which every member of the population has an equal chance of selection.

Generalizability

Extent to which study findings apply to the larger population or different contexts.

Mean

Arithmetic average of a set of scores.

Median

Middle score in a distribution when scores are ordered from lowest to highest.