Unit 0 - psychology

hypothesis

A proposed explanation for a prediction about the relationship between variables, which can be tested through research and experimentation.

operational definition

A statement that describes how a concept or variable is measured or defined in a specific context, allowing it to be tested.

qualitative data

Information that describes qualities or characteristics, often collected through interviews, observations, or open-ended surveys. (like features: eye color)

quantitative data

Information that can be measured and expressed numerically, typically collected through tools like surveys with closed-ended questions or experiments.

population

everyone the research can apply to

sample

A group of the population selected for research, representing a portion of the a group to draw conclusions.

placebo effect

The phenomenon where individuals experience perceived improvements in their condition after receiving a treatment that has no therapeutic effect, often because they believe they are receiving real treatment.

double blind

A study design in which neither the participants nor the researchers know who is receiving the treatment or placebo, reducing bias in the results. (drug studies)

single blind

A study design in which only the participants do not know whether they are receiving the treatment or placebo, while the researchers do. (gender, age etc.)

confound

error / flaw in study that is accidentally introduced that can distort the true relationship between the variables, leading to inaccurate conclusions.

random assignment

A method used in experimental design to allocate participants to different groups randomly, ensuring that each participant has an equal chance of being assigned to any group.

correlation

identify relationship between two variables

experiments

research methods that manipulate one or more variables to observe effects on another variable, often involving controlled conditions to determine cause & effect

independent variable

a variable that is manipulated or altered in an experiment to observe its effects on the dependent variable. (experimental group , control group)

experimental group

the group in an experiment that receives the treatment or intervention being tested; can have multiple groups

control group

the group in an experiment that does not receive the treatment and is used as a benchmark to compare results against the experimental group.

dependent variable

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

naturalistic observation

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

case study

studies usually one person in great details

meta analysis

a statistical technique that combines the results of multiple studies to identify patterns or overall effects.

mean

a measure of central tendency calculated by adding a set of values and dividing by the number of values.

median

the middle value in a sorted data set, separating the higher half from the lower half.

mode

the value that appears most frequently in a data set.

range

the difference between the highest and lowest values in a data set.

standard deviation

average amount the scores are spread from the mean (bigger # = more spread)

statistical significance

the likelihood that a result or relationship is caused by something other than mere random chance.

effect size

a measure of the strength of the relationship between two variables, typically indicating how large an effect is in a given context.

surveys

a method of gathering information from individuals, typically using questionnaires or interviews to assess opinions, behaviors, or characteristics.

social desirability

the tendency of respondents to answer questions in a manner that will be viewed favorably by others, often leading to biased results in surveys. (lying)

wording effects

biases in survey responses caused by the phrasing of questions, which can influence how respondents interpret and answer them.

random sample (selection)

method for choosing participants for your study; everyone has a chance to take part, increases generalizability

representative sample

sample mimics the general populations

convenience sample

a non-probability sampling method where participants are selected based on their easy availability

sampling bias

sample isn’t representative due to convenience sampling

cultural norms

the shared standards and patterns that guide behavior and expectations within a specific group or society.

experimenter bias / participant bias

the tendency for researchers or participants to influence the results of an experiment based on expectations or preconceptions.

cognitive bias

bias in thinking/judgment

confirmation bias

the tendency to search for, interpret, and remember information in a way that confirms one's preexisting beliefs.

hindsight bias

“i knew it”

overconfidence

an individual's excessive confidence in their own answers, predictions, or abilities.

Hawthorne effect

people change their behavior when watched