meyers ap psychology unit 0 vocabulary

Critical Thinking

The objective analysis and evaluation of an issue in order to form a judgment.

Hindsight Bias

The tendency to see events as having been predictable after they have already occurred.

Peer Reviewers

Experts who evaluate the quality and validity of research before it is published.

Theory

A well-substantiated explanation of an aspect of the natural world that can incorporate facts, laws, and tested hypotheses.

Hypothesis

A testable prediction about the relationship between two or more variables.

Falsifiable

The ability of a theory or hypothesis to be proven wrong through evidence.

Operational Definition

A clear and precise definition of a variable that allows it to be measured.

Replication

The process of repeating a study to see if the same results can be obtained.

Case Study

An in-depth analysis of an individual, group, or event to explore complex issues.

Naturalistic Observation

A research method involving observing subjects in their natural environment without interference.

Survey

A research method that involves collecting data from a group of people through questionnaires or interviews.

Social Desirability Bias

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

Self-Report Bias

The tendency for individuals to provide inaccurate or misleading responses to questions about themselves.

Sampling Bias

A bias that occurs when the sample is not representative of the population being studied.

Random Sample

A sample that is selected randomly from a population, ensuring that every individual has an equal chance of being chosen.

Population

The entire group of individuals that a researcher is interested in studying.

Correlation

A statistical measure that indicates the extent to which two variables fluctuate together.

Correlation Coefficient

A numerical value that represents the strength and direction of a correlation between two variables.

Variable

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

Scatterplot

A graphical representation of the relationship between two quantitative variables.

Regression Toward the Mean

The phenomenon where extreme values on one measurement tend to be closer to the average on subsequent measurements.

Experiment

A research method that involves manipulating one variable to determine its effect on another variable.

Experimental Group

The group in an experiment that receives the treatment or intervention.

Control Group

The group in an experiment that does not receive the treatment and is used for comparison.

Random Assignment

The process of assigning participants to different groups in an experiment randomly to minimize bias.

Single-Blind Procedure

An experimental design in which the participants do not know whether they are in the experimental or control group.

Double-Blind

An experimental design in which both the participants and the experimenters do not know who is in the experimental or control group.

Placebo Effect

The phenomenon where participants experience a perceived improvement in condition due to their expectations rather than the treatment itself.

Independent Variable

The variable that is manipulated in an experiment to observe its effect on the dependent variable.

Confounding Variable

An outside influence that changes the effect of a dependent and independent variable.

Experimenter Bias

The influence of the experimenter's expectations on the outcome of the research.

Dependent Variable

The variable that is measured in an experiment to assess the effect of the independent variable.

Validity

The extent to which a test or experiment measures what it claims to measure.

Quantitative Research

Research that focuses on quantifying relationships, behaviors, or phenomena through statistical analysis.

Qualitative Research

Research that seeks to understand human behavior and the reasons that govern such behavior through non-numerical data.

Informed Consent

The process of obtaining permission from participants after informing them of the nature of the study and any potential risks.

Debriefing

The process of informing participants about the study's purpose and any deceptions used after the study is completed.

Descriptive Statistics

Statistical methods that summarize and describe the characteristics of a dataset.

Histogram

A graphical representation of the distribution of numerical data using bars.

Mode

The value that appears most frequently in a data set.

Mean

The average value of a dataset, calculated by summing all values and dividing by the number of values.

Median

The middle value in a dataset when the values are arranged in order.

Percentile Rank

A measure that indicates the relative standing of a value within a dataset.

Skewed Distribution

A distribution that is not symmetrical and has a tail on one side.

Range

The difference between the highest and lowest values in a dataset.

Standard Deviation

A measure of the amount of variation or dispersion in a set of values.

Normal Curve

A symmetrical, bell

Inferential Statistics

A branch of statistics that makes predictions or generalizations about a population based on a sample of data.

Meta-Analysis

the statistical combination of results from two or more separate studies.

Statistical Significance

whether or not the difference between groups can be attributed to chance or if the difference is likely the result of experimental influences.

Effect Size

how meaningful the relationship between variables or the difference between groups is.