Psychology

Naturalistic Observation – Observing subjects in their natural environment without interference.
Hypothesis – A testable prediction or educated guess about the relationship between variables.
Representative Sample – A sample that accurately reflects the characteristics of the population being studied.
Sampling Bias – When a sample does not accurately represent the population.
Random Sampling – Every individual in the population has an equal chance of being selected.
Convenience Sampling – Using a sample that is easy to access rather than random.
Placebo Effect – When participants experience changes due to their expectations rather than the treatment.
Single Blind Study – Participants do not know whether they are in the experimental or control group.
Double Blind Study – Neither participants nor researchers know who is in the experimental or control group.
Experimenter Bias – When a researcher's expectations influence the outcome of a study.
Third Variable Problem – A situation where an outside variable influences both variables in a study, creating a false
correlation.
Self Reporting Bias – Participants may misrepresent themselves when answering surveys or interviews.

Psychoanalytic Approach – Focuses on unconscious drives, childhood experiences, and inner conflicts to explain
behavior.
Behavioral Approach – Studies observable behavior and emphasizes the role of learning and environment.
Cognitive Approach – Examines internal mental processes such as thinking, memory, and problem-solving.
Humanistic Approach – Emphasizes personal growth, self-actualization, and free will.
Sociocultural Approach – Focuses on how culture, social norms, and environment influence behavior and mental
processes.
Biological Approach – Explores how genetics, brain structures, and neurotransmitters influence behavior.
Evolutionary Approach – Explains behavior in terms of natural selection and survival advantages.
Biopsychosocial Approach – Integrates biological, psychological, and social factors to understand behavior.
Cultural Norms – Shared expectations and rules guiding behavior of people within social groups.
Cognitive Bias – Systematic patterns of deviation from rationality in judgment and decision-making.
Confirmation Bias – Tendency to search for or interpret information in a way that confirms one’s beliefs.
Hindsight Bias – Tendency to believe, after an outcome, that one would have predicted it (“I knew it all along”).
Overconfidence Bias – Tendency to overestimate one's knowledge, predictions, or abilities.
Qualitative Research – Non-numerical data collection methods like interviews and open-ended questions to
understand meaning.
Quantitative Research – Involves collecting numerical data and statistical analysis to understand pPsychoanalytic Approach – Focuses on unconscious drives, childhood experiences, and inner conflicts to explain
behavior.
Behavioral Approach – Studies observable behavior and emphasizes the role of learning and environment.
Cognitive Approach – Examines internal mental processes such as thinking, memory, and problem-solving.
Humanistic Approach – Emphasizes personal growth, self-actualization, and free will.
Sociocultural Approach – Focuses on how culture, social norms, and environment influence behavior and mental
processes.
Biological Approach – Explores how genetics, brain structures, and neurotransmitters influence behavior.
Evolutionary Approach – Explains behavior in terms of natural selection and survival advantages.
Biopsychosocial Approach – Integrates biological, psychological, and social factors to understand behavior.
Cultural Norms – Shared expectations and rules guiding behavior of people within social groups.
Cognitive Bias – Systematic patterns of deviation from rationality in judgment and decision-making.
Confirmation Bias – Tendency to search for or interpret information in a way that confirms one’s beliefs.
Hindsight Bias – Tendency to believe, after an outcome, that one would have predicted it (“I knew it all along”).
Overconfidence Bias – Tendency to overestimate one's knowledge, predictions, or abilities.
Qualitative Research – Non-numerical data collection methods like interviews and open-ended questions to
understand meaning.
Quantitative Research – Involves collecting numerical data and statistical analysis to understand phenomena.
Experimental Methodology – Research method involving controlled conditions to determine cause and effect.
Independent Variable – The factor that is manipulated or changed in an experiment.
Dependent Variable – The outcome or effect that is measured in an experiment.
Random Assignment – Assigning participants to experimental or control groups by chance to reduce bias.
Case Study – In-depth analysis of a single individual or group to explore uncommon phenomena.
Correlation Study – Measures the relationship between two variables without manipulating them.
Positive Correlation – A relationship where two variables increase or decrease together.
Negative Correlation – A relationship where one variable increases as the other decreases.
Meta-Analysis – Statistical technique combining results from multiple studies to identify patterns.

Experimental Methodology – Research method involving controlled conditions to determine cause and effect.
Independent Variable – The factor that is manipulated or changed in an experiment.
Dependent Variable – The outcome or effect that is measured in an experiment.
Random Assignment – Assigning participants to experimental or control groups by chance to reduce bias.
Case Study – In-depth analysis of a single individual or group to explore uncommon phenomena.
Correlation Study – Measures the relationship between two variables without manipulating them.
Positive Correlation – A relationship where two variables increase or decrease together.
Negative Correlation – A relationship where one variable increases as the other decreases.
Meta-Analysis – Statistical technique combining results from multiple studies to identify patterns.

Social Desirability Bias – Tendency of participants to respond in a way that will be viewed favorably by others.