Test 1 AP Psychology

Curiosity, Skepticism, and Humility

The desire to learn new things, question assumptions, and the openness to being wrong

Critical Thinking

carefully evaluating information and evidence to make a logical and well supported conclusion

experiment

a research method that tests cause and effect by manipulating an independent variable and measuring its effects on the dependent variable

case study

an in depth study of one person, group, or situation to gain detailed information

meta analysis

a research method that combines the results of many studies to find an overall conclusion

Naturalistic Observation

observing and recording behavior in its natural setting without interference

Correlation Research

Research that examines the relationship between two variables to see if they are related without determining the cause and effect

Independent Variable

The variable that is manipulated

Dependent Variable

The variable that is measured

Experimental Group

The group that receives the treatment or independent variable being tested

Control Group

The group that does not receive the treatment and is used for comparison

Long Term Potentiation

A strengthening of neural connections through repeated activation.

Central Executive

The part of working memory that directs attention and coordinates information.

Shallow processing

Encoding information based on surface level features, such as how something looks or sounds, rather than its meaning.

Deep Processing

Encoding information by focusing on its meaning and connecting it to existing knowledge, improves memory.

Effortful Processing

Learning that requires conscious effort and attention, ex. studying vocab words

Encoding-storing-retrieval

Getting info into memory, keeping info in memory, and getting info out of memory.

Semantic Processing

Encoding information based on its meaning

Chunking

Grouping information into smaller, meaningful units to make it easier to remember

Categories

Groups of similar information or objects that help organize knowledge and make it easier to remember

Hierarchies

Organizing ideas/info from general to specific levels

The Spacing Effect

The tendency to remember info better when studying is spread out over time rather than crammed all at once.

Distributed Practice

Studying info over multiple shorter sessions spaced out over time.

Massed Practice

Studying info all at once in one long session like cramming

Retrieval

Getting stored information out of memory

Recall

Retrieving information from memory without cues or choices ex. short answer questions

Recognition

Identifying familiar information you have previously learned, usually without cues or choices

Testing Effect

The idea that actively retrieving information through testing improves long term memory better than rewriting notes or rereading notes.

Metacognition

Thinking about and being aware of your own thinking and learning