AP Psych Unit 0- Science Practices

KEY Vocabulary (NOT an exhaustive list, but will be quizzed on)

  • Perspectives

    • Biological

    • Humanistic 

    • Psychodynamic 

    • Socio-Cultural 

    • Evolutionary 

    • Behavioral 

    • Cognitive 

  • Experimental Study 

  • Non Experimental Studies 

    • Case study 

    • Correlation study

    • Meta-Analysis

    • Naturalistic Observation 

  • Independent Variable 

  • Dependent Variable 

  • Random Assignment

  • Hypothesis 

  • Falsifiable 

  • Operational Definition

  • Replication 

  • Confounding Variables/Third Variables

  • Sample 

  • population 

  • Random Sampling 

  • Convenience Sampling 

  • Sampling Bias 

  • Scatterplot 

  • Generalization of Studies 

  • Experimental Groups 

  • Control Groups 

  • Placebo 

  • Single Blind 

  • Double Blind 

  • Experimenter Bias 

  • Social Desirability Bias 

  • Qualitative Study

  • Quantitative Study 

  • Likert Scale 

  • Peer Review 

  • Directionality Problem

  • Self Report Bias 

  • Informed Consent 

  • Confidentiality 

  • Institutional Review Board 

  • Confederates 

  • Deception 

  • Debriefing 

  • Measures of Central Tendency 

  • Variation 

  • Percentile rank 

  • Mean 

  • Median 

  • Mode

  • Range 

  • Standard Deviation 

  • Normal Curve 

  • Distributions of a Normal Curve 

  • Skews

    • Positive 

    • Negative 

  • Bimodal Distribution 

  • Regression towards the mean 

  • Correlation Coefficient 

  • Effect Size 

  • Statistical significance 

  • Cognitive bias (
    Terms below) 

    • Confirmation Bias 

    • Hindsight Bias 

    • Overconfidence 

  • Positive vs Negative Correlation 

  • Demand characteristics 

  • Validity 

  • Random selection 

  • Longitudinal study 

  • Cross sectional study 

  • Histogram  







APPSY Practice 1: Concept Application

Apply psychological perspectives, theories, concepts, and research findings

1.A  Apply psychological perspectives, theories, concepts, and research findings to a scenario.

Science Practice

APPLICATION and SPECIFIC EXAMPLES

Explain how psychological perspectives, theories, concepts, or research findings apply to a scenario.



Compare and contrast how perspectives or theories explain behavior and mental processes.


Draw logical and objective conclusions about behavior and mental processes.


1.B  Explain how cultural norms, expectations, and circumstances, as well as cognitive biases apply to behavior and mental processes.

Science Practice

APPLICATION and SPECIFIC EXAMPLES





Explain how cultural norms, expectations, and circumstances apply to a scenario.








Explain how cognitive biases such as confirmation bias, hindsight bias, and overconfidence apply to a scenario.









Explain implications of applying psychological concepts or theories in inappropriate or discriminatory ways.








APPSY Practice 2: Research Methods and Design

Evaluate qualitative and quantitative research methods and study designs.

2.A  Determine the type of research design(s) used in a given study.

Science Practice

APPLICATION and SPECIFIC EXAMPLES

Determine whether a study is using experimental or non-experimental methodologies. 



◆ Experimental methodology involves the use of independent variable(s) and random assignment to groups.




Determine whether a study is using experimental or non-experimental methodologies. 



◆ Non-experimental methodologies include case study, correlation, meta-analysis, and naturalistic observation. 




2.B  Evaluate the appropriate use of research design elements in experimental methodology

Science Practice

APPLICATION and SPECIFIC EXAMPLES




State the hypothesis of a research scenario, including whether the hypothesis is falsifiable.






Identify operational definitions of variables in research scenarios to determine how well the definitions allow for the study to be replicated.






Identify the independent variable(s), dependent variable(s), and/or confounding variable(s) in a research scenario.







In a research scenario, identify the participants of a study who make up the sample that is drawn from a population.






Determine whether the sample used is representative of the population and is selected by either random sampling or convenience sampling.






Evaluate whether the sampling procedure involves sampling bias. 







Determine to what extent the sampling method allows for results of the study to be generalized.






Identify the experimental and control groups, including the process and purpose for assigning people to groups, whether a placebo was used with the control group, and the effect of the placebo on the results.





Determine whether the study used single-blind or doubleblind procedures to control for confounding variables like experimenter bias or the social desirability bias.





Determine whether the measurement instrument for experimental research used qualitative (such as structured interviews) or quantitative measures (such as Likert scales).





Describe the impact of appropriate representation of participants in conducting research and on the outcomes of research.





Explain how conclusions from experimental research evolve via scientific processes such as peer review and replication.



2.C  Evaluate the appropriate use of research design elements in non-experimental methodologies.

Science Practice

APPLICATION and SPECIFIC EXAMPLES



State the hypothesis of a research scenario, including whether the hypothesis is falsifiable.





Identify operational definitions of variables in research scenarios to determine how well the definitions allow for the study to be replicated.





Identify the variables of interest in a research scenario.





Evaluate whether the results of a correlational study have a directionality problem or third variable problem that demonstrates that correlation does not equal causation.





Determine whether the measurement instrument for non-experimental research was qualitative (such as structured interviews) or quantitative measures (such as Likert scales).





Determine whether the research used a survey technique and whether the wording of the survey could lead respondents to demonstrate self-report bias or social desirability bias.





Describe the impact of appropriate representation of participants in conducting research and on the outcomes of research.





Explain how conclusions from non-experimental research evolve via scientific processes such as peer review and replication.



2.D  Evaluate whether a psychological research scenario followed appropriate ethical procedures. 

Science Practice

APPLICATION and SPECIFIC EXAMPLES



Explain the importance of institutional review for research involving human and nonhuman animals.





Determine whether proper informed consent and/or informed assent was used in a research scenario.





Determine whether researchers took steps to protect participants from harm.





Determine whether researchers kept participant information confidential and/or anonymous.





Determine whether deception was used in the research (possibly with the help of research confederates).





Determine whether researchers used proper debriefing techniques with participants at the conclusion of the research.





APPSY Practice 3: Data Interpretation

Evaluate representations of psychological concepts in quantitative and qualitative research, including tables, graphs, charts, figures, and diagrams.

3.A  Identify psychology related concepts in descriptions or representations of data.

Science Practice

APPLICATION and SPECIFIC EXAMPLES

Identify variables in descriptions or representations of data.


Identify statistical and psychological concept(s) depicted in a table, graph, chart, or figure.


3.B  Calculate and interpret measures of central tendency, variation, and percentile rank in a given data set.

Science Practice

APPLICATION and SPECIFIC EXAMPLES





Calculate mean, median, mode, and range from a set of data.








Explain the elements of the normal curve including percentages of distributions of scores across the curve, how to interpret skewness in a graph, and how to interpret a bimodal distribution. 







Interpret mean, median, mode, range, standard deviation, and percentile rank from a set of data.








Explain how regression toward the mean occurs as more data are collected.





3.B  Calculate and interpret measures of central tendency, variation, and percentile rank in a given data set.

Science Practice

APPLICATION and SPECIFIC EXAMPLES




Describe trends in and relationships between the variables as depicted in the data presented, such as interpreting correlational data from a scatterplot, including the correlation coefficient.








Interpret results from research that could be expressed as effect sizes or statistical significance








APPSY Practice 4: Argumentation

Develop and justify psychological arguments using evidence.

4.A  Propose a defensible claim.

Science Practice

APPLICATION and SPECIFIC EXAMPLES

Propose a defensible claim.




4.B  Provide reasoning that is grounded in scientifically derived evidence to support, refute, or modify an established or provided claim, policy, or norm.

Science Practice

APPLICATION and SPECIFIC EXAMPLES





Identify reasoning that supports, refutes, or modifies an established or provided claim, policy, or norm.









Use scientifically derived evidence to explain nuances of claims, policies, or norms.









Using scientifically derived evidence, explain how or why a claim, policy, or norm is or is not effective.