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AP Psychology - Research Methods Flashcards

Advanced Placement Psychology
Enterprise High School, Redding, CA
All terms from Myers Psychology for AP (BFW Worth, 2011)

Terms : Hide Images
9569601345Hindsight BiasThe tendency to believe, after learning an outcome, that one would have foreseen it. (Also known as the I-knew-it-all-along phenomenon.)0
9569601346Critical ThinkingThinking that does not blindly accept arguments and conclusions. Rather, it examines assumptions, discerns hidden values, evaluates evidence, and assesses conclusions.1
9569601347TheoryAn explanation using an integrated set of principles that organizes observations and predicts behaviors or events.2
9569601348HypothesisA testable prediction, often implied by a theory.3
9569601349Operational DefinitionA statement of the procedures (operations) used to define research variables.4
9569601350ReplicationRepeating the essence of a research study, usually with different participants in different situations, to see whether the basic finding extends to other participants and circumstances.5
9569601351Case StudyAn observation technique in which one person is studied in depth in the hope of revealing universal principles.6
9569601352SurveyA technique for ascertaining the self-reported attitudes or behaviors of a particular group, usually by questioning a representative, random sample of the group.7
9569601353PopulationAll the cases in a group being studied, from which samples may be drawn.8
9569601354Random SampleA sample that fairly represents a population because each member has an equal chance of inclusion.9
9569601355Naturalistic ObservationObserving and recording behavior in naturally occurring situations without trying to manipulate and control the situation.10
9569601356CorrelationA measure of the extent to which two factors vary together, and thus of how well either factor predicts the other.11
9569601357Correlation CoefficientA statistical index of the relationship between two things (from -1 to +1).12
9569601358ScatterplotA graphed cluster of dots, each of which represents the values of two variables. The slope of the points suggests the direction of the relationship between the two variables.13
9569601359Illusory CorrelationThe perception of a relationship where none exists.14
9569601360ExperimentA research method in which an investigator manipulates one or more factors (independent variables) to observe the effect on some behavior or mental process (the dependent variable). By random assignment of participants, the investigator aims to control other relevant factors.15
9569601361Random AssignmentAssigning participants to experimental and control groups by chance, thus minimizing preexisting differences between those assigned to the different groups.16
9569601362Double-Blind ProcedureAn experimental procedure in which both the research participants and the research staff are ignorant (blind) about whether the research participants have received the treatment or a placebo. Commonly used in drug-evaluation studies.17
9569601363Placebo EffectExperimental results caused by expectations alone; any effect on behavior caused by the administration of an inert substance or condition, which the recipient assumes is an active agent.18
9569601364Experimental GroupIn an experiment, the group that is exposed to the treatment, that is, to one version of the independent variable.19
9569601365Control GroupIn an experiment, the group that is not exposed to the treatment; contrasts with the experimental group and serves as a comparison for evaluating the effect of the treatment.20
9569601366Independent VariableThe experimental factor that is manipulated; the variable whose effect is being studied.21
9569601367Confounding VariableA factor other than the independent variable that might produce an effect in an experiment.22
9569601368Dependent VariableThe outcome factor; the variable that may change in response to manipulations of the independent variable.23
9569601369ModeThe most frequently occurring score(s) in a distribution.24
9569601370MeanThe arithmetic average of a distribution, obtained by adding the scores and then dividing by the number of scores.25
9569601371MedianThe middle score in a distribution; half the scores are above it and half are below it.26
9569601372RangeThe difference between the highest and lowest scores in a distribution.27
9569601373Standard DeviationA computed measure of how much scores vary around the mean score.28
9569601374Normal CurveA symmetrical, bell-shape that describes the distribution of many types of data; most scores fall near the mean (68 percent fall within one standard deviation of it) and fewer and fewer near the extremes.29
9569601375Statistical SignificanceA statistical statement of how likely it is that an obtained result occurred by chance.30
9569601376CultureThe enduring behaviors, ideas, attitudes, values and traditions shared by a group of people and transmitted from one generation to the next.31
9569601377Informed ConsentAn ethical principle that research participants be told enough to enable them to choose whether they wish to participate.32
9569601378DebriefingThe post-experimental explanation of a study, including its purpose and any deceptions, to its participants.33

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