AP PSYCH UNIT 1 : Research Methods and Experimentation

Behaviorism

The idea that all observed behaviors are acquired through learning- conditioning occurs through interaction with the environment

Humanistic Psychology

Psychological branch that emphasizes the role of motivation in thought and behavior-Believe that an individual's behavior is connected to his inner feelings and self-image, ALSO Self actualize-BETTER VERSION OF THEMSELVES-Hierarchy of Needs

Cognitive Psychology

Focuses on mental processes like memory, thinking, problem-solving, language, and decision-making

Behavioral Psychology

Study of observable behavior and how we obtain them through principals of learning (environment)

Biological Psychology

The scientific study of the links between biological (genetic, neural, hormonal) and psychological processes.

Evolutionary Psychology

The study of the evolution of behavior and the mind also uses principles of natural selection

Psychodynamic Psychology

A branch of psychology that studies how unconscious drives and early childhood experiences influence behavior, and uses that information to treat people with psychological disorders

Human Factors Psychology

A branch of psychology that focuses how people and machines interact with one another. and how machines and physical environments can be made safe and easy to use

Biopsychosocial Approach

Studies how biological, psychological, and social factors influence human development

Natural Selection

The idea that some inherited traits are better in helping an organism survive and reproduce in an environment and will most likely be passed on to succeeding generations.

Hindsight Bias

The tendency to believe that they knew the outcome of an event after the outcome has already been determined (I-knew-it-all-along phenomenon.)

Hypothesis

Testable prediction that expresses the relationship between 2 variables before any research is completed

Operational Definition

A carefully worded statement of the exact procedures/hypothesis used in a research study so that the experiment can be replicated many times and appear exactly the same

Replication

Repeating the essence/idea of a research study, usually with different participants in different situations, to see whether or not the finding extends to other participants and circumstances

Case Study

Research method in which one individual or a specific group is studied in depth (usually for a long period of time)

Naturalistic Observation

Research Method in which one observes and records behavior in naturally occurring situations without trying to manipulate and control the situation

Survey

Research Method that serves as a rating scale to measure survey's participants opinions, attitudes, motivations, and etc

Sampling Bias

Collection of samples that does not accurately represent the entire group

Population

Everyone who can participate in the experiment

Random sample

A sample that represents the population and each member has an equal chance of getting selected (sample: people who actually participate in the experiment)

Correlation

A measure that expresses the extent in which two variables relate to one another (direction)-->DOES NOT SHOW CAUSATION

Correlation Coefficient

A statistical measure that helps us figure out the extent to which two variables are related to one another (relationship)--> from -1 to 1

Scatterplot

A graph containing multiple dots to represent the values of 2 variables

Illusory Correlation

When one believes that there is a relationship between 2 variables when there is none

Experimental Group

People who are exposed to a treatment study, usually one version of the independent variable

Control Group

The group that does not receive the experimental treatment.

Random Assignment

Assigning participants to either the experimental or control group by chance --> RANDOM & EQUAL CHANCE

Double-Blind Procedure

Experimental strategy where the researcher and participants don't know if they receive treatment or placebo & who is in the control or experimental

Placebo Effect

Any effect on behavior caused by the administration of an inert substance or condition, triggered by a person's belief in the benefit or negative from the treatment--> Inert: not chemically reactive product

Independent Variable (IV)

The variable that is being manipulated or changed in an experiment

Confounding Variables (CV)

Variable that influences both the Independent and Dependent variables to make them seem causally related

Dependent Variable (DV)

The outcome/effect that is being measured in an experiment, variable changes and is dependent on the IV

Descriptive Statistics

Numerical data used to measure and describe characteristics of groups. Includes measures of central tendency and measures of variation 1) Summarizes Data 2) Does not allow for conclusions to be drawn

Mode

The most frequently occurring value in a data set

Mean

The arithmetic average of a distribution/set of numbers

Median

The number that falls exactly in the middle of the distribution

Skewed Distribution

A representation of scores that lack symmetry around their average value

Range

The difference between the highest and lowest scores in a distribution

Standard Deviation

Standard for measuring how much scores are dispersed from the mean (how much scores vary around the mean score)--> Measure of variability from data points

Normal Curve

Symmetrical bell-shaped curve that describes the distribution of physical and psychological attributes. Most scores fall near the average, and fewer and fewer scores lie near the extremes.

Inferential Statistics

Type of Qualitative Statistics which determines whether or not these findings can be applied to larger population from a sample that was selected

Statistical Significance

A statistical statement of how likely it is that an obtained result occurred by chance

Informal Consent

An ethical principle that research participants be told enough to enable them to choose whether they wish to participate

Debriefing

Post-experimental explanation of a study, including its purpose and any deceptions, to its participants

Falsifiability

A feature of a scientific theory, in which it is possible to collect data that will prove the theory wrong

Convenience Sample

Participants who were selected for inclusion in the experiment because it was the easiest for the researchers to access

Social Desirability Bias

Respondents lie or manipulate answers/response to make them viewed more favorably by others

Self Report Bias

Systematic errors that can occur in self-report data because participants are unable or unwilling to answer accurately--> measurement error bc of social desirability

Likert Scale

A numerical scale used to measure attitudes, opinions, motivations and etc by having a set of possible answers with ranging from one extreme to another extreme

Third Variable

Variables that the researcher failed to control, or eliminate that influence a study's result

Quantitative

Data in the form of numbers and data driven

Qualitative

Data in the form of words such as personal accounts or observable accounts that show how people think & act in society

Gambler's Fallacy

The belief that certain random events is less likely or more likely to happen based on the outcome of a previous event or series of events

Bimodal Distribution

A distribution that shows two responses being chosen about as frequently as each other.--> Two distinct peaks

Meta-Analysis

Examining the results of multiple published research to create a bigger picture/analysis of the topic

Practical Significance

The real world applicability/relevance of a finding of a study beyond its statistical significance

Directionality problem

When two variables correlate and might actually have a causal relationship, but it's impossible to conclude which variable causes changes in the other