unit 1 psych - scientific foundations

Here is the comprehensive list of terminology from the "Unit 1: Scientific Foundations" material, categorized by the sections provided in your document.

Section 1: Cognition

These terms focus on how we process information, learn, and make judgments.

Term	Definition
Selective attention	The ability to focus on specific stimuli while ignoring others.
Executive functioning	High-level cognitive processes (planning, focus, inhibition).
Spacing & testing effects	Better memory retention when study is spaced out or when actively tested.
Massed v. distributed practice	"Cramming" (massed) vs. studying over time (distributed).
Maintenance & elaborative rehearsal	Repeating info (maintenance) vs. linking info to prior knowledge (elaborative).
Confirmation bias	Seeking information that confirms what we already believe.
Hindsight bias	Believing an event was predictable after it has already occurred.
Overconfidence	Thinking our judgments/predictions are more accurate than they are.

Differentiation Note: Maintenance vs. Elaborative Rehearsal

Maintenance is like repeating a phone number until you dial it. Elaborative is attaching meaning to the number (e.g., remembering it ends in your birth year). Elaborative is much better for long-term memory.

Section 2: Data Interpretation

These terms relate to how psychologists analyze and visualize statistical data.

Term	Definition
Measures of central tendency	Statistics representing the "center" of data: mean (average), median (middle), mode (most frequent).
Normal curve	A bell-shaped distribution where most scores fall near the average.
Positive + negative skews	A distribution where the "tail" is on the right (positive) or left (negative).
Bimodal distribution	A dataset with two distinct peaks (modes).
Range	The distance between the highest and lowest scores.
Standard deviation	A measure of how spread out the numbers are from the mean.
Percentile rank	A score's percentage rank relative to a norm group.
Scatterplot	A graph using points to show the relationship between two variables.
Correlation coefficient	A number (-1 to +1) indicating the strength and direction of a relationship.
Regression toward the mean	The tendency for extreme scores to move toward the average over time.
Statistical significance	Determining if a result likely happened by chance or is a true effect.
Effect sizes	The magnitude of a difference or relationship.

Differentiation Note: Positive vs. Negative Skew

Think of where the tail of the graph is pointing. If the tail points to the right (higher numbers), it is a positive skew. If it points to the left (lower numbers), it is a negative skew.

Section 3: Research Methods

These represent the frameworks used to collect data.

Term	Definition
Meta-analysis	A statistical synthesis of multiple studies.
Case studies	In-depth analysis of one individual or group.
Correlations	Observing a relationship between variables without manipulating them.
Naturalistic observation	Observing behavior in naturally occurring environments.
Experiments	Research where one variable is manipulated to see its effect.
Independent variable	The variable being changed/manipulated.
Dependent variable	The variable being measured (the outcome).
Experimental/Control group	The group getting the treatment vs. the group not getting the treatment.

Section 4: Research Design & Issues

These define how studies are structured and potential pitfalls to avoid.

Term	Definition
Population/Sample	The entire group being studied vs. the subset actually participating.
Random/Representative/Convenience	Types of samples: randomly selected vs. matches population vs. easily accessible.
Hypothesis	A testable prediction.
Operational definition	Specific, measurable definitions of research variables.
Quantitative/Qualitative	Numerical data vs. descriptive/subjective data.
Replication/Peer review	Repeating a study to confirm results vs. evaluation by other experts.
Confounding variables	Outside factors that might accidentally influence results.
Bias/Problems	(Survey/Correlation/Experiment issues like Placebo, Experimenter bias, etc.).

Differentiation Note: Random Sampling vs. Representative Sample

Random sampling is the method used (everyone has an equal chance). A Representative sample is the goal (the sample reflects the actual diversity of the population).

Section 5: Ethics in Research

These are the standards governing human and animal safety in studies.

Term	Definition
Informed consent & assent	Participants agree to take part after being told risks/benefits (assent is for minors).
Protection from harm	Ensuring the physical and mental well-being of participants.
Confidentiality	Keeping participant identities and data private.
Deception	Misleading participants about the study's purpose (must be justified).
Debriefing	Explaining the true purpose of the study after it ends.
Institutional Review Board	The committee that approves research ethics.
Animal participants	Guidelines for the ethical treatment of non-human subjects.