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AP Psych Unit 0 Review Guide

Page 1: Scientific Foundations of Psychology

Subfields of Psychology

  • Two branches of professional psychology:

    • Basic Psychology: Focuses on research and theory.

    • Applied Psychology: Applies research to real-world problems.

Educational Prerequisites

  • Psychiatrist: Medical degree, specialized training in psychiatry.

  • Psychologist: Doctorate in psychology (Ph.D. or Psy.D.).

  • Counselor: Master’s degree in counseling or related field.

Psychology as the Study of Behavior and Mental Processes

  • Psychology focuses on the behavior (observable actions) and mental processes (thoughts, feelings, perceptions).

Psychology as a Science

  • The Scientific Attitude: Involves curiosity, skepticism, and humility.

  • "The rat is always right": Emphasizes the importance of objective observation.

Common Cognitive Biases

  • Hindsight Bias: Belief that past events were predictable after learning the outcome.

  • Overconfidence: Overestimation of knowledge and abilities.

  • Perceiving Order in Random Events: Seeing patterns in random sequences.

The Scientific Method and Research Methods

  • Theory: Explanation based on observations.

  • Hypothesis: Testable predictions derived from theories.

  • Operational Definition: Specific procedures used to measure variables.

  • “Replication is confirmation”: Repeating studies to validate findings.

Methods of Research

  • Descriptive Methods

    • Case Study: In-depth analysis of a single individual or group.

    • Naturalistic Observation: Observing subjects in natural settings without manipulation.

    • Survey: Gathering self-reported data from a group through questionnaires.

  • Correlational Methods

    • Correlational Coefficient: Measures strength and direction of relationships (-1 to 1).

    • Positive Correlation: Both variables move in the same direction.

    • Negative Correlation: One variable increases as the other decreases.

Page 2: Research Methods Continued

Illusory Correlation

  • Perception of a relationship that doesn’t exist or is exaggerated.

Regression Toward the Mean

  • Tendency for extreme scores to move back toward average levels.

Experimental Research

  • Experimental vs. Control Group

    • Experimental Group: Receives treatment.

    • Control Group: Does not receive treatment.

  • Key Variations

    • Independent Variable: The manipulated factor.

    • Dependent Variable: The measured effect of manipulation.

    • Confounding Variable: External factors that could influence results.

Blind Studies

  • Double Blind: Neither participants nor researchers know who gets treatment.

  • Single Blind: Participants do not know if they are receiving treatment.

Validity and Reliability

  • Validity: Accuracy of a test or experiment in measuring what it claims.

  • Reliability: Consistency of test results.

Sampling Terms

  • Population: Entire group being studied.

  • Random Sample: Each member has an equal chance of inclusion.

  • Representative Sample: Reflects demographics of the population.

  • Random Assignment: Randomly assigning subjects to groups.

Research Design and Ethics

  • APA Code of Ethics

    • Informed Consent: Participants must understand the risks.

    • Protection from Harm.

    • Protection of Confidentiality.

    • Debriefing: Participants informed post-study if deception was involved.

Page 3: Statistics in Psychology

Statistics Overview

  • Descriptive Statistics: Summarize and describe data.

  • Inferential Statistics: Draw conclusions about populations based on sample data.

Measures of Central Tendency

  • Mode: The most frequent score.

  • Mean: The average of scores.

  • Median: The middle score in a distribution.

Measures of Variation

  • Range: Difference between highest and lowest scores.

  • Standard Deviation: Indicates how much scores vary from the mean.

Distribution Patterns

  • Normal Curve: Symmetrical distribution of data.

  • Skewed Distribution: Imbalance in data with few scores on one side (positive or negative).

Statistical Significance

  • P-value: Indicates likelihood that results occurred by chance.

    • A p-value of .05 or less suggests a 95% likelihood that results are not due to chance.