AP Psych Intro + Chapter 1

Empirical Approach

An evidence based method that draws on observation and experimentation

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

Structuralism

An early school of thought promoted by Wundt and Titchener; used introspection to revel the structure of the human mind

Functionalism

An early school of thought promoted by James and influenced by Darwin; explored how mental and behavioral processes function--how they enable the organism to adapt, survive, and flourish

Behaviorism

The view that psychology (1) should be an objective science that (2) studies behavior without reference to mental processes.

Humanistic Psychologists

A historically significant perspective that emphasized human growth potential

Cognitive Psychology

The study of mental processes, such as occur when we perceive, learn, remember, think, communicate, and solve problems

Cognitive Neuroscience

The interdisciplinary study of the brain activity linked with cognition

Psychology

The science of behavior and mental processes

Nature-Nurture Issue

The longstanding controversy over the relative contributions that genes and experience make to the development of psychological traits and behaviors

Natural Selection

The principle that inherited traits that better enable an organism to survive and reproduce in a particular environment will most likely be passed on to succeeding generations

Evolutionary Psychology

The study of the evolution of behavior and the mind, using the principles of natural selection

Behavior Genetics

The study of the relative power and limits of genetic and environmental influences on behavior

Culture

The enduring behaviors, ideas, attitudes, values, and traditions shared by a group of people and transmitted from one generation to the next

Positive Psychology

The scientific study of human flourishing, with the goals of discovering and promoting strengths and virtues that help individuals and communities to thrive

Biopsychological Approach

An integrated approach that incorporates biological, psychological, and social-cultural levels of analysis

Levels of Analysis

The differing complementary views, from biological to psychological to social-cultural, for analyzing any given phenomenon

Basic Research

Pure science that aims to increase the scientific knowledge base

Applied Research

A scientific study that aims to solve practical problems

Counseling Psychology

A branch of psychology that assists people with problems in living and in achieving greater well-being

Clinical Psychology

A branch of psychology that studies, assesses, and treats people with psychological disorders

Psychiatry

A branch of medicine dealing with psychological disorders; practiced by physicians who sometimes provide medical treatments as well as psychological therapy

Community Psychology

A branch of psychology that studies how people interact with their social environments and how social institutions affect individuals and groups

Testing Effect

Enhanced memory after retrieving, rather than simply rereading, information

SQ3R

Survey, Question, Read, Retrieve, Review

Hindsight Bias

The tendency to believe, after learning an outcome, that one would have foreseen it

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

Operational Definition

A carefully worded statement of 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 finding can be reproduced

Preregistration

Meta-Analysis

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

Case Study

In depth analysis of individuals or groups

Naturalistic Observation

Recording the natural behavior of many individuals

Survey

Asking people questions

Random Sample

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

Population

All those in a group being studied, from which random samples might be drawn

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 things

Variable

Anything that can vary and is feasible and ethical to measure

Scatterplot

A graphed cluster of dots, each of which represents the variables

Illusory Correlation

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

Regression Toward the Mean

The tendency for extreme or unusual scores or events to fall back

Experiment

A research method in which an investigator manipulates one or more factors to observe the effect on some behavior or mental process

Experimental Group

In an experiment, the group exposed to the treatment

Control Group

In an experiment, the group that contrasts with the experimental group. Serves as a comparison for evaluating the effect of the treatment

Random Assignment

Assigning participants to experimental and control groups by chance, thus minimizing preexisting differences between the different groups

Double-Blind Procedure

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

Placebo Effect

a psychological phenomenon where a person experiences a real improvement in symptoms or behavior after receiving an inactive, fake treatment (like a sugar pill or saline injection) simply because they expect it to work

Independent Variable

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

Confounding Variable

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

Dependent Variable

In an experiment, the outcome that is measured; the variable that may change when the independent variable is measured

Informed Consent

Giving potential participants enough information about a study 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