Unit 0 - AP Psychology Vocab (midterm)

Psychodynamic/Psychoanalytic

A historical perspective used by Freud to explain the unconscious influence on behavior.

Behaviorism

The view that psychology should be an objective science studying behavior without reference to mental processes.

Humanistic psychology

A historically significant perspective emphasizing the growth potential of healthy individuals and personal growth.

Cognitive

The perspective focusing on brain functioning, including perception, thinking, memory, and language.

Biological (Neuroscience)

A perspective focusing on how brain chemistry, genes, and hormones impact behavior.

Social-cultural

A perspective focusing on the impacts of culture, family, friends, and society.

Evolutionary

A perspective focusing on the impacts of our ancestors on behavior.

Confidentiality

The principle stating that personal information about subjects must never be shared.

Informed Consent

The requirement that subjects must give written consent to participate in an experiment.

Case study

An observation technique wherein one person is studied in depth to reveal universal principles.

Survey

A technique for ascertaining self-reported attitudes or behaviors by questioning a representative sample.

Population

All the cases in a group being studied from which samples may be drawn.

Random sample

A sample that fairly represents a population because each member has an equal chance of inclusion.

Representative sample

A subset of the population chosen to represent its diversity proportionately.

Naturalistic observation

Observing and recording behavior in naturally occurring situations without manipulation.

Experiment

A research method where an investigator manipulates factors to observe their effect on behavior or mental processes.

Operational definition

Names the operations the experimenter uses to control or measure the variables.

Random assignment

Assigning participants to groups by chance to minimize preexisting differences.

Double-blind procedure

An experimental design where both participants and staff are unaware of who has received treatment or placebo.

Placebo

A pseudo treatment, commonly a pill with no drug in it, used in drug studies.

Placebo effect

Experimental results caused solely by expectations, not by an active treatment.

Experimental group

The group in an experiment exposed to the treatment or one version of the independent variable.

Control group

The group in an experiment not exposed to the treatment, serving as a comparison.

Independent variable (IV)

The experimental factor that is manipulated and tested.

Dependent variable (DV)

The experimental factor being measured in an experiment.

Confounding variable

A factor other than the IV that might produce an effect in an experiment.

Median

The middle score in a distribution, representing the 50th percentile.

Standard deviation

A measure of how much scores vary around the mean score.

Normal curve (normal distribution)

A symmetrical, bell-shaped curve describing data distribution, where most scores fall near the mean.

Statistical significance

A statistical statement indicating how likely an obtained result occurred by chance.

Correlation

A measure of the extent to which two factors vary together, not showing causation.

Correlation coefficient

A statistical index ranging from -1 to +1 indicating the relationship between two things.

Scatterplot

A graph where clusters of dots represent the values of two variables; indicates the direction and strength of the correlation.