AP PSYCH
Flashcards: AP Psychology Unit 0
Q: What are heuristics?
A: Mental shortcuts the brain uses to process information quickly.
Q: What is cognitive bias?
A: Errors in thinking caused by heuristics.
Q: Example of hindsight bias?
A: Believing “I knew it all along” after an event occurs.
Q: What is overconfidence bias?
A: Thinking you’re more capable than you really are.
Q: What is an operational definition in research?
A: Exact procedures used to define and measure variables.
Q: What is a hypothesis?
A: A testable prediction made before research.
Q: What is a theory?
A: An explanation supported by research and data.
Q: What is a confounding variable?
A: An outside factor that can affect experiment results.
Q: What is the placebo effect?
A: When improvement occurs due to belief in treatment, not the treatment itself.
Q: What is a control group?
A: The group not exposed to the treatment.
Q: What is an experimental group?
A: The group that receives the treatment.
Q: What is a population in research?
A: The entire group being studied.
Q: What is a representative sample?
A: A smaller group that accurately reflects the population.
Q: What is random sampling?
A: Everyone in the population has an equal chance of being chosen.
Q: What is stratified sampling?
A: Population divided into subgroups, random sample taken from each.
Q: What is sampling bias?
A: When the sample doesn’t reflect the whole population.
Q: What do correlation studies measure?
A: The relationship between two variables (but not causation).
Q: Pros and cons of correlation studies?
A: Pros: show strength/direction. Cons: no cause-and-effect, confounding variables possible.
Q: What is a correlation coefficient (r)?
A: A statistic from -1.0 (perfect negative) to +1.0 (perfect positive). 0.0 = no relationship.
Q: What r-value is considered strong?
A: r = ±0.7 to ±1.0.
Q: What is an illusory correlation?
A: Perceiving a relationship when none exists.
Q: What is the Hawthorne Effect?
A: People change behavior when they know they’re being observed.
Q: What is a case study?
A: In-depth research on one person/group.
Q: Pros and cons of case studies?
A: Pros: study rare behaviors. Cons: Hawthorne effect, less generalizable.
Q: What is meta-analysis?
A: Combining results of many studies to form a conclusion.
Q: What are surveys?
A: Self-reported data through questions.
Q: Pros and cons of surveys?
A: Pros: cheap, lots of data. Cons: social desirability bias, wording effect.
Q: What is quantitative data?
A: Statistical, objective data.
Q: What is qualitative data?
A: Subjective, opinion-based data.
Q: What is a normal distribution (bell curve)?
A: Mean = 100, 85 = -1 z-score, 115 = +1 z-score.
Q: What is a null hypothesis?
A: Prediction that nothing will happen/no relationship.
Q: What is an alternative hypothesis?
A: Prediction that a relationship or effect exists.
Q: What is effect size?
A: The significance/impact of experimental results.
Q: What does the Institutional Review Board (IRB) do?
A: Ensures studies are ethical and safe.
Q: What is informed consent?
A: Participants understand and agree to the study.
Q: What is confidentiality in research?
A: Participants’ personal information must be kept private.
Q: What is debriefing?
A: Explaining study details to participants afterward, especially if deception was used.