Unit 0 AP Psychology

Critical Thinking

Thinking that does not automatically accept arguments and conclusions. Rather, it examines assumptions, appraises the source, discerns hidden biases, evaluates evidence, and assesses conclusions(curiosity+skepticism+humility).

The Scientific Attitude: Curiosity

Experimenting with an idea.

The Scientific Attitude: Skepticism

Not believing everything that is told to you directly.

The Scientific Attitude: Humility

Being able to accept that your claim was wrong and working with the results you get.

Hindsight Bias/ I Knew It All Along Phenomenon.

Thinking you knew the outcome all along after it happens.

Why Is Common Sense Flawed?

Hindsight bias, overconfidence, and tendency to find patterns in random sequences.

Why Is Psychology Considered a Science?

It relies on observation and experiments when testing claims/Scientific method.

Overconfidence

The tendency to exaggerate the correctness/accuracy of ourselves, our answers, our predictions, and our beliefs.

Confirmation Bias

Ignoring all sources that disprove your perspective.

Peer Reviewers

Science experts who double checks academic articles.

Theory

An explanation of why things happen based on data from past experiments.

Hypothesis

A testable prediction.

Falsifiable

The possibility that a hypothesis can be disproven.

Operational Definition

A way of wording a general phrase to make it more specific(Ex: Mass murder kill count).

Replication

Repeating the experiment with different subjects to prove the results are true.

How Do We Know If A Theory Is Useful?

1.Organizes observation, 2. Implies applicable predictions, 3. Leads to further research.

What Are Theories Used For?

To summarize observations + effects.

How Do You Prove A Theory?

Test it.

Case Study

A non-experimental study where a single subject is studied in depth to try to understand the bigger picture.

Naturalistic Observation

A non-experimental study observing behavior in situations without interference.

Survey

A non-experimental study questioning a random sample and having them self report behaviors.

Social Desirability Bias

The bias of people changing their ways to appeal to another person.

Self-Report Bias

People inaccurately reporting their behavior.

Sampling Bias

Flawed sampling that produces an inaccurate pool of data. (Ex:Women’s clothing sizes)

Random Sample

A fair sample representation/data pool.

Population

All the people in a study being studied.

Correlation

How much two factors are related to one another.

Correlation Coefficient/Value

The statistical measure of how strongly two variables are related/how strong the line of best fit is on a graph from -1 to 1.

Variable

Something that can vary in an experiment.

Scatterplot

A graph with the results of an experiment plotted

Illusory Correlation

Thinking there is a relationship when there is none(“Correlation is not Causation”).

Regression Towards Mean

When extreme results fall back to the average(Evened out by more average scores).

Experiment

A test where only one variable is changed at a time to observe results.

Experimental Group

The group being tested.

Control Group

The test done without any changes.

Random Assignment

Choosing groups at random to eliminate discrimination.

Single-Blind Procedure

Not telling participants if they got the placebo or the real treatment.

Double-Blind Procedure

Both the staff and participants don’t know if they have the placebo or real treatment.

Placebo Effect

Thinking something is happening because you’ve been told to expect it.

Independent Variable

What is being manipulated.

Confounding Variable

Something that might effect the results of an experiment outside of the Independent Variable.

Experimenter Bias

Bias when the researcher unintentionally influences an experiment in their favor.

Dependable Variable

What is being measured in an experiment-affected by ID.

Validity

How much a test measures what it’s supposed to.

Quantitative Research

Data that relies on facts and numbers.

Qualitative Research

Data that relies on narratives and observations.

Informed Consent

Telling participants about a study before they agree to it.

Debriefing

A post-experiment report going over everything.

Descriptive Statistics

Data that is used to describe the characteristics of a group.

Histogram

A bar graph that shows frequency distribution.

Mean

The average score.

Median

The middle score.

Mode

The most frequent score.

Percentile Rank

The percentage of scores lower than the given.

Skewed Distribution

When the distribution of scores lacks symetry.

Central Tendency

A single score that represents the entire set.

How to measure central tendency?

Mean, Median, and Mode.

Range

The lowest to highest score.

Standard Deviation

How much the scores vary around the average.

Normal Curve

When the scores are symmetrical around the middle.

Inferential Statistics

Using a study to generalize for the larger population,

Meta-Analysis

Using many different tests to create a conclusion.

Statistical Significance

How likely it is that the IV is the reason for the DV.

Effect Size

How much IV affects DV.

What are the 8 Psychological Perspectives?

Psychodynamic, Behavioral, Humanistic, Cognitive, Biological, Evolutionary, Sociocultural, Biopsychosocial. (Please Buy Him Canned Bacon Every Single Birthday) .

Psychodynamic Perspective

Our behaviors are because of our subconscious-Sigmund Freud.

Behavioral Perspective

Our behaviors are because of rewards and punishments-John B. Watson+ Ivan Pavlov.

Humanistic Perspective

All humans are good and are trying to achieve their full potential.-Abraham Maslow.

Cognitive Perspective

Behaviors are influenced by our thoughts, perspectives, and memories.-Jean Piaget.

Biological Perspective

Our behaviors are influenced by our biology.

Evolutionary Perspective

Our behaviors are influenced by the traits we’ve evolved with.-Charles Darwin

Sociocultural Perspective

Our behaviors are influenced by our society.

Biopsychosocial Perspective

Behaviors are influenced by our Biology, Society, and Psychology.

Correlational Variable

How much X affects Y.

Belief Perseverance

Still believing in something even after it’s been disproven.