AP Psychology - AAQ Terms

Experiment

A scientific procedure undertaken to make a discovery, test a hypothesis, or demostrate a known fact

Naturalistic Observation

Observing people or animals in their natural environment without interfering

Case Study

An in-depth study of an individual group

Correlation

A statistical measure that describes the extent to which two variables change together, indicating the strength and direction of their relationship.

Meta-analysis

A technique that combines the results of multiple independent studies to draw an overall conclusion about a particular research question; provides a “big picture” view of a topic.

Operational Definition

A clear and precise statement that describes how a concept or variable is measured or defined in a particular study.

Informed Consent

Before the study, participants must voluntarily agree to participate.

Confidentiality

The privacy of participants is protected.

Debriefing

After the study, researcher fully explain the details of the research & inform participants if deception was used.

Right To Withdraw

Participants can leave a study at any time without penalty.

Protection From Harm

Participants cannot be exposed to severe physical or emotional harm.

Generalizability

The degree to which results from a study can be applied to a larger population than the one studied.

Independent Variable

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

Confounding Variable

In an experiment, a factor other than the independent variable that might produce an effect.

Dependent Variable

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