Ap Pysch unit 0 key terms

Psychology

The study of behavior and mental processes.

Nature vs. Nurture Debate

The relative impact of biology and experience on behavior and personality.

Psychodynamic Perspective

Focuses on the role of the unconscious mind and early childhood experiences in shaping behavior and personality.

Behavioral Perspective

Emphasizes observable behaviors and the ways in which they are learned through conditioning.

Humanistic Perspective

Highlights individual potential and the importance of growth and self-actualization.

Cognitive Perspective

Examines the impact of mental processes such as perception and memory on behavior.

Biological/Neuroscience Perspective

Studies the influence of physiology and genetics on behavior and mental processes.

Evolutionary Perspective

Explores how natural selection influences behavior and mental processes.

Social-Cultural Perspective

Investigates how culture, society, and social interactions shape behavior.

Critical Thinking

The process of evaluating arguments and evidence without blindly accepting conclusions.

Hindsight Bias

The tendency to believe, after learning an outcome, that one could have foreseen it.

Overconfidence

The tendency to overestimate one's knowledge or abilities.

Confirmation Bias

The tendency to search for information that supports preconceptions while ignoring contradictory evidence.

The Scientific Method

A self-correcting process for evaluating ideas through observation and analysis.

Peer Reviewers

Scientific experts who evaluate the theory, originality, and accuracy of a research article.

Theory

An explanation of behaviors or events that organizes observations.

Hypothesis

A testable prediction often stated as 'If…then…'.

Operational Definition

A precise statement of procedures and measurements used in research.

Replication

Repeating studies to check results and increase reliability.

Case Study

An in-depth examination of a single individual or group.

Naturalistic Observation

Observing behavior in a natural setting without manipulation.

Meta-Analysis

A statistical procedure that combines results from multiple studies.

Correlation

A measure of the extent to which two variables are related.

Scatterplot

A graphical representation showing the relationship between two variables.

Positive Correlation

When two variables rise or fall together.

Negative Correlation

When one variable rises while the other falls.

No Correlation

When there is no relationship between the variables.

Survey

A research tool for obtaining self-reported attitudes or behaviors.

Population

All individuals in a group being studied.

Random Sample

A sample that fairly represents a population.

Sampling Bias

A flawed sampling process producing an unrepresentative sample.

Experimental Research

Research that isolates the effects of variables by manipulating factors.

Independent Variable (IV)

The variable that is manipulated in an experiment.

Dependent Variable (DV)

The variable that is measured in an experiment.

Placebo Effect

Effects caused by expectations rather than the treatment.

Single-Blind Procedure

Participants are unaware of whether they receive the treatment or placebo.

Double-Blind Procedure

Both participants and researchers are unaware of group assignments.

Validity

Does the experiment test what it is supposed to test?

Quantitative Research

Uses numerical data to represent variables.

Qualitative Research

Relies on in-depth, narrative data.

Descriptive Statistics

Numerical data that describes characteristics of groups.

Normal Curve

A symmetrical bell-shaped graph of a data distribution.

Measures of Central Tendency

Mode, mean, and median; summarize data.

Standard Deviation

A measure of how much scores vary around the mean.

Inferential Statistics

Generalizes from sample data to a larger population.

P-value

The probability of obtaining observed results by random chance.

Effect Size

The strength or magnitude of a relationship or intervention.

Critical Thinking

The process of evaluating arguments and evidence without blindly accepting conclusions.

Hindsight Bias

The tendency to believe, after learning an outcome, that one could have foreseen it.

Peer Reviewers

Scientific experts who evaluate the theory, originality, and accuracy of a research article.

Theory

An explanation of behaviors or events that organizes observations.

Hypothesis

A testable prediction often stated as 'If…then…'.

Operational Definition

A precise statement of procedures and measurements used in research.

Replication

Repeating studies to check results and increase reliability.

Case Study

An in-depth examination of a single individual or group.

Naturalistic Observation

Observing behavior in a natural setting without manipulation.

Survey

A research tool for obtaining self-reported attitudes or behaviors.

Social Desirability Bias

The tendency of respondents to answer questions in a manner that will be viewed favorably by others.

Self-Report Bias

When participants may distort their responses due to desire for approval or self-perception.

Sampling Bias

A flawed sampling process producing an unrepresentative sample.

Random Sample

A sample that fairly represents a population.

Population

All individuals in a group being studied.

Correlation

A measure of the extent to which two variables are related.

Correlation Coefficient

A statistical measure that describes the strength and direction of a relationship between two variables.

Variable

Any factor, trait, or condition that can exist in differing amounts or types.

Scatterplot

A graphical representation showing the relationship between two variables.

Illusory Correlation

The perception of a relationship between two variables when no such relationship exists.