PSYCH

Flashcard #1
Term: Confirmation Bias
Definition: Tendency to look for information that supports what you already believe. For example, only reading news articles that agree with your political views.

Flashcard #2
Term: Hindsight Bias
Definition: Believing you knew the outcome all along after it happens. For example, saying 'I knew they were going to win!' after the game.

Flashcard #3
Term: Overconfidence
Definition: Thinking you know more or are more accurate than you really are. For example, being absolutely sure you're right even when you're not.

Flashcard #4
Term: Independent Variable
Definition: The factor that is changed in an experiment. For example, the amount of fertilizer given to plants.

Flashcard #5
Term: Dependent Variable
Definition: The factor that is measured in an experiment. For example, plant growth.

Flashcard #6
Term: Random Assignment
Definition: Randomly putting participants into experimental or control groups. For example, flipping a coin to decide which group a participant joins.

Flashcard #7
Term: Case Study
Definition: A detailed study of one person or a small group. For example, studying a person with a rare disease in depth.

Flashcard #8
Term: Correlation
Definition: A measure of how two variables are related. For example, the relationship between hours studied and test scores.

Flashcard #9
Term: Meta-Analysis
Definition: Combining results from many studies to find patterns. For example, combining multiple studies on the effectiveness of a drug.

Flashcard #10
Term: Naturalistic Observation
Definition: Watching behavior in its natural setting without changing anything. For example, observing children playing at a playground.

Flashcard #11
Term: Hypothesis
Definition: A testable prediction about a relationship between variables. For example, predicting that students who study more will get better grades.

Flashcard #12
Term: Falsifiable Hypothesis
Definition: A hypothesis that can be tested and proven wrong. For example, being able to design an experiment that could disprove your hypothesis.

Flashcard #13
Term: Operational Definitions
Definition: Clear explanations of how variables will be measured. For example, defining 'stress' as a score on a stress scale.

Flashcard #14
Term: Confounding Variables / Third Variable Problem
Definition: An extra factor that affects the results. For example, if testing a new drug, not accounting for the health differences in patients.

Flashcard #15
Term: Histogram
Definition: A bar graph showing data distribution. For example, a graph showing the number of students who scored in different grade ranges on a test.

Flashcard #16
Term: Scatterplot (Correlational Coefficient)
Definition: A graph showing the relationship between two variables. For example, plotting ice cream sales vs. temperature.

Flashcard #17
Term: Central Tendency
Definition: A single number representing the center of data. For example, average test score for a class.

Flashcard #18
Term: Variation
Definition: How spread out the scores are. For example, how much individual test scores vary from the average.

Flashcard #19
Term: Percentile Rank
Definition: The percentage of scores below a specific score. For example, your percentile rank on a test compared to other test takers.

Flashcard #20
Term: Range
Definition: The difference between the highest and lowest values. For example, the range of ages in a group of people.

Flashcard #21
Term: Standard Normal Curve
Definition: A bell-shaped curve where most values are near the average. Scores near the mean are more frequent than scores far from the mean. For example, distribution of peoples' heights.

Flashcard #22
Term: Regression Toward the Mean
Definition: Extreme scores move closer to average when tested again. For example, very high or low test scores tend to be followed by scores closer to the mean on subsequent tests.

Flashcard #23
Term: Population
Definition: The whole group being studied. For example, all students at a university.

Flashcard #24
Term: Representative Sample
Definition: A smaller group that reflects the larger population. For example, a group of students that proportionally represents all students at a university.

Flashcard #25
Term: Random Sample
Definition: Everyone in the population has an equal chance of being picked. Drawing names out of a hat.

Flashcard #26
Term: Convenience Sampling
Definition: Using people who are easy to reach. For example, surveying students in your own class.

Flashcard #27
Term: Sampling Bias
Definition: A sample that doesn’t fairly represent the population. For example, surveying only people at a luxury store, which would not accurately represent the spending habits of the city.

Flashcard #28
Term: Generalization
Definition: Applying study results to the whole population. Concluding that survey results from 100 students represents all students.

Flashcard #29
Term: Experimental Group
Definition: The group that gets the treatment in a study. the group of children that get the new medication.

Flashcard #30
Term: Control Group
Definition: The group that does not get the treatment. The group of children that get the placebo.

Flashcard #31
Term: Placebo
Definition: A fake treatment with no real effect. sugar pills.

Flashcard #32
Term: Single-Blind
Definition: Participants don’t know which group they’re in. The participants of a new anxiety drug do not know whether they are getting the real drug or a placebo.

Flashcard #33
Term: Double-Blind
Definition: Neither participants nor researchers know who got what. In a study for a new type of vaccine, both the patients and scientists administering the vaccine don't know who is getting the real one.

Flashcard #34
Term: Experimenter Bias
Definition: Researcher’s expectations affect the study results. A teacher who expects certain students to perform better may unconsciously give them more attention, affecting their grades.

Flashcard #35
Term: Social Desirability Bias
Definition: Giving answers that make you look good. Saying you exercise every day when you don't.

Flashcard #36
Term: Qualitative Research
Definition: Collecting non-numerical data like opinions or interviews. Interviewing patients about their experiences with a new therapy.

Flashcard #37
Term: Quantitative Measures (Likert Scales)
Definition: Collecting numerical data using rating scales. Having participants rate their agreement with statements on a scale of 1 to 5.

Flashcard #38
Term: Peer Review & Replication
Definition: Other experts check and repeat a study to confirm results. Verifying a study's findings by repeating the experiment and obtaining similar results.

Flashcard #39
Term: Statistical Significance
Definition: Results are unlikely to be due to chance. Achieving a p-value less than 0.05.

Flashcard #40
Term: Size of Sample and Statistical Significance
Definition: Bigger samples make results more reliable. Larger sample sizes in surveys or experiments.

Flashcard #41
Term: Correlation Does NOT Equal Causation
Definition: Two things happening together doesn’t mean one caused the other. The increase in ice cream sales is related to the increase in crime rates.

Flashcard #42
Term: Self-Report Bias
Definition: People may lie or misremember in surveys. Over reporting exercising habits.

Flashcard #43
Term: Institutional Review Board (IRB)
Definition: A group that checks if research is ethical. Reviewing proposals for studies involving human participants to ensure their rights and safety are protected.

Flashcard #44
Term: Animal Research Ethical Standards
Definition: Rules for treating animals humanely in studies. Providing proper housing, food, and veterinary care for lab animals.

Flashcard #45
Term: Human Ethical Research Standards
Definition: Informed Consent, Protection from Harm, Confidentiality, Deception, Debriefing. Providing study participants with information about risks and benefits before they agree to participate.

Flashcard #46
Term: Height (Example of Heredity vs. Environment)
Definition: Height is influenced by genes (nature) and nutrition (nurture). Some children are genetically predisposed to taller heights than others, but their height is also influenced by their nutrition intake.

Flashcard #47
Term: Evolutionary Perspective
Definition: Traits that help survival are passed to future generations. The development of antibiotic resistance in bacteria.

Flashcard #48
Term: Twin Studies
Definition: Comparing identical and fraternal twins to study heredity vs environment. Studying the similarities and differences in traits between identical twins raised together versus those raised apart.

Flashcard #49
Term: Family Studies
Definition: Studying relatives to see how traits run in families. Analyzing the occurrence of a particular trait or disorder among family members.

Flashcard #50
Term: Adoption Studies
Definition: Comparing adopted kids to biological and adoptive parents. Examining whether adopted children's traits are more similar to their biological or adoptive parents.

Flashcard #51
Term: Central Nervous System (CNS)
Definition: Brain and spinal cord control body functions. Enabling movement, sensation, and thought processes.

Flashcard #52
Term: Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)
Definition: Nerves outside the brain and spinal cord connecting to the body. Transmitting sensory information from the body to the brain and motor commands from the brain to the body.

Flashcard #53
Term: Autonomic Nervous System
Definition: Controls automatic body functions like heartbeat. Regulating heart rate, digestion, and breathing without conscious control.

Flashcard #54
Term: Somatic Nervous System
Definition: Controls voluntary movements of muscles. Enables walking, talking, and other conscious actions