AP Psychology Summer Assignment

Hypothesis

An empirically testable proposition about some fact, behavior, relationship, or the like, usually based on theory, that states and expected outcome resulting from specific conditions or assumptions.

Operational Definition

A description of something in terms of the operations (procedures, actions, or processes) by which it could be observed and measured. For example, the operational definition of anxiety could be in terms of a test score, withdrawal from a situation, or activation of the sympathetic nervous system.

Independent Variable

The variable in an experiment that is specifically manipulated or is observed to occur before the dependent, or outcome, variable, in order to assess its effect or influence.

Dependent Variable

The outcome that is observed to occur or change after the occurrence or variation of the independent variable in an experiment, or the effect that one wants to predict or explain in correlational research.

Control Group

A comparison group in a study whose members receive either no intervention at all or some established intervention. The responses of those in the control group are compared with the responses of participants in one or more experimental groups that are given the new treatment being evaluated.

Experimental Group

A group of participants in a research study who are exposed to a particular manipulation of the independent variable (i.e., a particular treatment or treatment level).

Research Method: Case Study

A descriptive technique in which one individual or group is studied in depth in the hope of revealing universal principles.

Research Method: Naturalistic Observation

Observing and recording behavior in naturally occurring situations without trying to manipulate and control the situation.

Research Method: Survey

A technique for ascertaining the self-reported attitudes or behaviors of a particular group.

Research Method: Experiment

A research method in which an investigator manipulates one or more factors to observe the effect on some behaviors and mental processes.

Research Method: Double Blind Procedure

An experimental procedure in which both the researcher and participants are ignorant about whether the research participants have received the treatment or placebo.

Research Method: Correlational Research

A type of study in which relationships between variables are simply observed without any control over the setting in which those relationships occur or any manipulation by the researcher.

Ethical Guidelines: Informed Consent

You must have permission from a subject to experiment on them and they should be informed of the purpose of the experiment. Consent is not needed if subjects are observed doing everyday things in a naturalistic observation.

Ethical Guidelines: Debriefing

All participants should be told the results of the study and what role they played in it.

Ethical Guidelines: Protection

All participants should be protected from mental and physical harm. No frightening, embarrassing, or offending participants should occur.

Ethical Guidelines: Deception

Subjects should not be deliberately misled. Sometimes deception is unavoidable but should be used as minimal as possible.

Ethical Guidelines: Confidentiality

Participants should remain anonymous. No names should be used in report.

Ethical Guidelines: Withdrawal

Subjects should be allowed to quit the experiment at any time.