AP Psych: Unit 0 Vocab

Critical thinking

Thinking that does not automatically accept arguments and conclusions. Rather, it examines assumptions, appraises the source, discerns hidden biases, evaluates evidence, and assesses conclusions.

Hindsight bias

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

Peer reviewers

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

Theory

An explanation using an integrated set of principles that organizes observations and predicts behaviors or events.

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 definition

A carefully worded statement of the exact procedures (operations) used in a research study. For example, human intelligence may be operationally defined as what an intelligence test measures. (Also known as operationalization).

Replication

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

Case study

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

Naturalistic observation

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

Survey

A non-experimental technique for obtaining the self-reported attitudes or behaviors of a particular group, usually by questioning a representative, random sample.

Social desirability bias

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

Self-report bias

Bias when people report their behavior inaccurately.

Sampling bias

A flawed sampling process that produces an unrepresentative sample.

Random sample

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

Population

All those in a group being studied, from which random samples may be drawn. (Note: Except for national studies, this does not refer to a country’s whole population.)

Correlation

A measure of the extent to which two factors vary together, and thus how well either factor predicts the other.

Correlation coefficient

A statistical index of the relationship between two variables (from -1.00 to +1.00).

Variable

Anything that can vary and is feasible and ethical to measure.

Scatterplot

A graphed cluster of dots, each of which represents the values of two variables. The slope of the points suggests the direction of the relationship between the two variables. The amount of scatter suggests the strength of the correlation (little scatter indicates high correlation).

Illusory correlation

Perceiving a relationship where none exists, or perceiving a stronger-than-actual relationship.

Experiment

A research method in which an investigator manipulates one or more factors (independent variables) to observe the effect on some behavior or mental process (dependent variables). By random assignment of participants, the experimenter aims to control other relevant factors.

Experimental group

In an experiment, the group exposed to the treatment—that is, to one version of the independent variable.

Control group

In an 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.