AP Psych. History, Perspectives, & Science

Notes on Various Psychological Concepts

• Central Tendency: Refers to the typical or central value in a dataset, often measured using the mean, median, or mode.

• Confounding Variable: A variable that influences both the independent and dependent variables, leading to a false association.

• Functionalism: A psychological perspective that focuses on the function of mental processes in adapting to the environment.

• Mode: The most frequently occurring value in a dataset.

• Mean: The average value of a dataset, calculated by summing all values and dividing by the number of values.

• Median: The middle value in a dataset when arranged in ascending order.

• Standard Deviation: A measure of the dispersion of values in a dataset around the mean.

• Validity: The extent to which a test or study measures what it intends to measure.

• Z-Score: A standardized score that indicates how many standard deviations a data point is from the mean.

• Empirical: Based on observation or experience rather than theory or logic.

• Psychodynamic: A psychological perspective that emphasizes the role of unconscious processes and childhood experiences in shaping behavior.

• Statistical Significance: The likelihood that a result is not due to chance, often determined through hypothesis testing.

• Descriptive Statistics: Statistical methods used to summarize and describe the characteristics of a dataset.