AP Psych Unit 0

Descriptive Research

Studies describe general or specific behaviors & attributes that are observed or measured.

• Doesn’t test specific relations

• Allows for further research

Naturalistic Observation

Observations of people/animals in their natural environment, no attempts at intervention from the researcher. 

Observer Effect

When people know they are being watched so they are less likely to act naturally.

Observer Bias

People who act as observers may rig, skew their observations for their results to match their hypothesis.

Surverys

Participants are needed to report their behavior or opinions on a wide range of topics.

Longitudinal Studies

Taking the same course over a couple of years.

Cross Sectional Studies

Subjects of different ages observed at the same point in life.

Social Desirability Bias

People answer what they believe will please the researcher.

Self-report Bias

People don't accurately report/remember their behaviors.

Wording/framing Effect

Possible effect on the participants caused by ways the questions worded or the choice of words.

Case Study

An observation technique in which one individual or a few individuals are carefully studded in depth. 

• Can include normal or complex people

Correlational Research

Non experimental methods used to describe relationships.

Correlation Coefficient

Relation between 2 variables.

• The closer to 0, the weaker the relationship is.

• The closer to 1, -1, the stronger the relationship is.

Positive Correlation

•  r=1.00

• As 1 variable increases, so does the other

Negative Correlation

• r=1.00 

• As 1 variable increases, the other decreases

Zero/Illusory Correlation

• r=0

• No relationship

Operational Definition

• How a variable is measured

• How you're measuring it, not what it correctly is.

Experimental Research

The only way to determine cause & effect relations.

Independent Variable

The variable the researcher is controlling/changing.

Dependent Variable

The variable which changes due to the independent variable 

• Must be numerical or measurable

Confounding Variable

The difference between the experimental group & the control group other than those resulting from the independent variable.

Sampling

The group selected to do an experiment on.

Experimental Group

The group was exposed to a particular level of the independent variable.

Control Group

The group which doesn’t get involved in a treatment or exposure to the independent variable.

Single Blind

Participants don’t know which treatment group they are, either experimental or control group.

Double Blind

Neither the researcher nor the participants know who is in the experimental group or the control group.

Placebo

To ensure an equal setting for both groups, the participants in the experimental group usually receive the drug with an active ingredient and the control group gets a non-affective drug.

Hindsight Bias

Roadblock to critical thinking

• Known as the “I knew it all along” phenomenon

• Tendency to recall events from the past as inevitable.

Overconfidence Bias

An inflated belief in ability or knowledge leads to an underestimation of risks.

• Leads to overly optimistic predictions.

Mean

Average of the scores

Median

When scores are in order, it's the number which falls in the middle of the set.

Mode

The number which occurs the most frequently.

Range

The difference between the greatest number and the lowest number.

Standard Deviation

Percent of scores falling between airs of standard deviation around the mean.

• SD around the mean: -1,1 (68%)

Normal Distribution

Presented as a symmetrical bell shaped curve where most scores fall in the middle & fewer scores in the extremes.

Skewed Distribution

Will be presented as an asymmetrical curve, with more scores falling to one end or the other due to an outlier disproportionately, affecting the mean.