AP Psychology Unit 0 Research Methods

Cultural Norms

Shared/unwritten rules, values, and expectations that guide the behavior of people with a specific group or society

Confirmation Bias

Tendency to look for info that confirms our expectations and ignores info that violates our opinion

Hindsight Bias

The tendency to believe, after learning an outcome, that one would have foreseen it. (I knew it all along phenomenon)

Overconfidence

A bias where a person’s confidence in themselves is higher than their accuracy

Experimental Method

Research used to find cause and effect relationships

Non-experimental methods

Research where the scientist measures variables and observes natural behavior without changing or manipulating any independent variable

Case Study

A non-experimental technique in which one individual or group is studied in depth in the hope of revealing universal principles

Correlational Study

Looking for a relationship between two variables, the strength, and if it’s positive or negative

Meta Analysis

A statistical procedure for analyzing the results of multiple studies to reach an overall conclusion

Naturalistic Observation

Non-experimental technique of observing and recording behavior in naturally occurring situations without trying to manipulate and control the situation

Hypothesis

A testable prediction, often implied by a theory

Falsifiable

The possibility that an idea, hypothesis, or theory can be disproven by observation or experiment

Operational Definitions

A carefully worded statement of the exact procedures used in a research study

Replication

Repeating the essence of a research study, usually with different participants in different situations, to see whether the basic findings can be reproduced

Independent Variable

In a experiment, the factor that is manipulated the variable whose effect is being studied

Dependent Variable

In a experiment, the outcome that is measured, the variable that may changed when the independent variable is manipulated

Confounding variable (Third variable)

In a experiment, a factor other than the factor being studied that might influence a study’s results

Participants

Individuals who take part in research studies and provide data through surveys, observations, experiments, etc.

Sample

A smaller group of participants chosen from a larger target population to be in a study

Population

All those in a group who are being studied, from which random samples may be drawn

Representative Sample

Smaller group of participants chosen from a larger population on characteristics like age, gender, and background

Random Sampling

A sample that fairly represents a population because each member has an equal chance of inclusion

Convenience Sampling

Researchers choose participants because they are easy to reach, or close by

Sampling Bias

Flawed sampling process that produces an unrepresentative sample

generalizability

How well the results of a study apply to others, settings, or times

Experimental Group

In a experiment, the group not exposed to the treatment this, to one version of the independent variable

Control Group

In a experiment, the group not exposed to the treatment contrasts with the experimental group and serves as a comparison for evaluating the effect of the treatment

Placebo

Experimental results caused by expectations alone any effect on behavior caused by the administration of an inert substance or condition which the recipient assumes is an active again

Single Blind

An experimental procedure in which the research participants are ignorant about whether they have received treatment or a placebo

Double Blind

An experimental procedure in which both the research participants and research staff are ignorant about whether the research participants have received treatment or a placebo. Commonly used in drug evaluation studies

Triple Blind

Same as Double Blind, but the researcher analyzing the data is only presented with A and B not information on which received the treatment

Experimenter Bias

Bias caused where researchers may unintentionally influence results to confirm their own beliefs

Social Desirability Bias

Bias from people’s responding in ways they presume a researcher expects or wishes

Qualitative vs. Quantitative Measurements

Qualitative measurements describe qualities or traits. Quantitative measurements use numbers to show amounts

Structured Interviews

A evaluation method where every participant or job candidate is asked the same predetermined questions in the same order

Likert Scales

Scale used in surveys to measure people’s attitudes, opinions and feeling

Peer Review

Scientific experts who evaluate research article’s theory, originality, and accuracy