Unit 0 Psych

Critical thinking

Analyzing and evaluating information to make reasoned judgments.

Hindsight bias

Belief that you 'knew it all along' after an event happens.

Peer reviewers

Experts who evaluate research before publication.

Theory

A broad explanation based on evidence and observations.

Hypothesis

A testable prediction about the outcome of research.

Falsifiable

Can be proven false through evidence.

Operational definition

How a concept is specifically measured in a study.

Replication

Repeating a study to confirm results.

Case study

In-depth study of one person or small group.

Naturalistic observation

Observing behavior in natural settings without interference.

Survey

A method of collecting self-reported data from people.

Social desirability bias

Tendency to answer in ways seen as favorable by others.

Self-report bias

Inaccuracies in reporting one's own behavior or feelings.

Sampling bias

A sample that does not accurately represent the population.

Random sample

Every person has an equal chance of being selected.

Population

The entire group a researcher wants to study.

Correlation

A relationship between two variables.

Correlation coefficient

A number (from -1 to +1) showing strength and direction of a correlation.

Variable

Any factor that can change or be changed.

Scatterplot

A graph showing the relationship between two variables.

Illusory correlation

Perceiving a relationship where none exists.

Regression toward the mean

Unusual scores tend to return to average on retesting.

Experiment

A research method to test cause and effect.

Experimental group

Group that receives the treatment.

Control group

Group that does not receive the treatment.

Random assignment

Placing participants into groups by chance.

Single-blind procedure

Participants don’t know if they are receiving the treatment.

Double-blind procedure

Neither participants nor researchers know who is receiving the treatment.

Placebo effect

Changes caused by expectations, not the treatment itself.

Independent variable

The variable that is manipulated.

Confounding variable

Extra variable that could affect the outcome.

Experimenter bias

When a researcher's expectations influence results.

Dependent variable

The outcome measured in a study.

Validity

The degree to which a test measures what it claims to measure.

Quantitative research

Focuses on numbers and statistical analysis.

Qualitative research

Focuses on descriptions and subjective data.

Informed consent

Participants agree to a study with full knowledge of risks.

Debriefing

Explaining the purpose and details of a study after participation.

Descriptive statistics

Numbers that summarize data (e.g., average, range).

Histogram

A bar graph showing frequency of data.

Mode

The most frequently occurring score.

Mean

The average score.

Median

The middle score when numbers are ordered.

Percentile rank

The percentage of scores below a particular score.

Skewed distribution

A distribution that is not symmetrical.

Range

The difference between the highest and lowest scores.

Standard deviation

Measure of how spread out scores are.

Normal curve

Bell-shaped curve showing normal distribution of data.

Inferential statistics

Analyzing data to make generalizations about a population.

Meta-analysis

Combining results of multiple studies.

Statistical significance

Likelihood that results are not due to chance.

Effect size

The strength of the relationship between variables.