AP PSYCH VOCAB 1

Behaviorism

Focuses on how people learn through their interactions with the environment

Humanistic Psychology

A historically significant perspective that emphasized human growth potential

Cognitive Psychology

The study of mental processes, such as occur when we perceive, learn, remember, think, communicate, and solve problems

Natural Selection

The principle that inherited traits that better enable an organism to survive and reproduce in a particular environment will most likely passed on to succeeding generations

Biopsychosocial Approach

An integrated approach that incorporates biological, psychological, and social-cultural viewpoints

Behavioral Psychology

The scientific study of observable behavior, and explained by principles of learning

Biological Psychology

The scientific study of the links between biological and psychological processes

Evolutionary Psychology

The study of evolution of behavior and the mind, using principles of natural selection

Psychodynamic Psychology

A branch of psychology that studies how unconscious drives and conflicts influence behavior

Human Factors Psychology

Focuses on how people and machines interact, used to create/improve products

Hindsight Bias

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

Hypothesis

A testable prediction, often implied by a theory

Operational Definition

A carefully worded statement of the exact procedures used in a research study

Replication

Repeating the essence of a research study, usually with different participants to different situations, to see whether the basic finding can be reproduced

Case Study

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

Naturalistic Observation

A descriptive technique of observing and recording behavior in naturally occurring situation without trying to manipulate or control the situation

Survey

A descriptive technique for obtaining the self-reported attitudes or behaviors of a particular group

Sampling Bias

A flawed sampling process that produces an unrepresentative sample

Population

All those 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

Correlation

A measure of the extent to which two factors vary together, and thus of how well either factor predicts the other

Correlation Coefficient

A statistical index of the relationship between two things

Scatterplot

a graphed cluster of dots, each represents the values of two variables

Illusory Correlation

perceiving a relationship where none exists, or perceiving a stronger-than-actual relationship

Experimental Group

In an experiment, the group exposed to the treatment

Control Group

In an experiment, the group not exposed to the treatment

Random Assignment

Assigning participants to experimental and control groups by chance, thus minimizing preexisting differences between the different groups

Double-Blind Procedure

An experimental procedure in which both the research participants and the research staff are ignorant (blind) about whether the research participants have received the treatment or a placebo

Placebo effect

Experiemental results caused by expectations alone; any effect on behavior caused by the administration of an inert substance or condition

Independent Variable

In an experiment, the factor that is manipulated; the variable whose effect is being studied

Confounding Variable

A factor other than the factor being studied that might influence a study’s results

Dependent Variable

In an experiment, the outcome that is measured; the variable that may change when the independent variable is manipulated

Descriptive Statistics

The use of numerical data to measure and describe the characteristics of group

Mode

The most frequently occurring score in a distribution

Mean

The arithmetic average of a distribution, obtained by adding the scores and then dividing by the number of scores.

Median

The middle score in a distribution; half the scores are above it and half are below it

Skewed Distribution

A representation of scores that lack symmetry around their average value

Range

The difference between the highest and lowest scores in a distribution

Standard Deviation

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

Normal Curve

the shape of an important class of statistical probablities

Inferential Statistics

Numerical data that allow one to generalize to infer from sample data the probability of something being true of a population

Statistical Significance

A statistical statement of how likely it is that an obtained result occurred by chance

Informal Consent

Giving potential participants enough information about a study to enable them to choose whether they wish to participate

Debriefing

The post experimental explanation of a study, including its purpose and any deceptions, to its participants

Falsifiability

the ability for a statement/theory to be shown to be false

Convenience Sample

a non-probability sampling method where units are selected for inclusion in the sample because they are the easiest for the researcher to access

Social Desirability Bias

a type of response bias that occurs when survey respondents provide answers according to society’s expectations, rather than their own beliefs or experiences

Likert Scale

a measurement method used in research to evaluate attitudes, opinions, and perceptions

Self Report Bias

people tendency to attribute positive events to their own character but attributes negative events to external factors

Third Variable / Directionality Problem

A type of confounding in which a third variable leads to a mistaken causal relationship between two others

Quantitative

Measure variables numerically in order to conduct statistics on the results

Qualitative

Collect and evaluate non-numerical data in order to understand concepts and subjective opinions

Gambler’s Fallacy

The belief that the chances of something happening with a fixed probability become higher or lower as the process is repeated

Bimodal Distribution

A continous probablity distribution with two different modes

Meta-Analysis

An objective examination of published data from many studies of the same research topic identified through a literature search

Practical Significance

Whether the result is useful in the real world