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AP Psychology RESEARCH METHODS Flashcards

Unit 2 of Myers Psychology for AP

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11227152823Hindsight BiasThe tendency to believe, after learning an outcome, that one would have foreseen it0
11227152824Double Blind ProcedureAn experimental procedure in which both the research participants and the research staff are ignorant about whether the research participants have received the treatment or a placebo. Commonly used in drug-evaluation studies1
11227152825Independent VariableThe experimental factor that is manipulated--the variable whose effect is being studied2
11227152826Dependent VariablesThe outcome factor -- the variable that may change in response to manipulations of the independent variable3
11227152827ModeThe most frequently occurring score(s) in a distribution4
11227152828MeanThe arithmetic average of a distribution, obtaining by adding the scores and then dividing by the number of scores5
11227152829MedianThe middle score in a distribution--half the scores are above it and half are below it6
11227152830Standard DeviationsA computed measure of how much scores vary around the mean score7
11227152831Random AssignmentAssigning participants to experimental and control conditions by chance ,thus minimizing preexisting differences between those assigned to the different groups8
11227152832Random SamplingA sample that fairly represents a population because each member has an equal chance of inclusion9
11227152833Scatter plotA 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. The amount of scatter suggests the strength of the correlation10
11227152834Illusory CorrelationThe perception of a relationship where none exists11
11227152835Case StudyAn observation technique in which one person is studied in depth in the hope of revealing universal principles12
11227152836SurveyA technique for ascertaining the self-reported attitudes or behaviors of people, usually by questioning a representative, random sample of them13
11227152837Naturalistic ObservationObserving and recording behavior in naturally occurring situations without trying to manipulate and control the situation14
11227152838CorrelationA measure of the extent to which two factors vary together, and thus of how well either factor predicts the other. The correlation coefficient is the mathematical expression of the relationship, ranging from -1 to +115
11227152839ExperimentA research method in which an investigator manipulates one or more factors (independent variables) to observe the effects on some behavior or mental process (the dependent variable). By random assignment of participants, the experimenter aims to control other relevant variable16
11227152840ReplicationRepeating the essence of a research study, usually with different participants in different situations, to see whether the basic finding extends to other participants and circumstances17
11227152841Statistical SignificanceA statistical statement of how likely it is that an obtained result occurred by chance18
11227152842Operational DefinitionA statement of the procedures used to define research variables. Ex human intelligence -- what an intelligence test measures.19
11227152843Critical Thinkingthinking that does not blindly accept arguments and conclusions. Rather, it examines assumptions, discerns hidden values, evaluates evidence, and assesses conclusions.20
11227152844Theoryan explanation using an integrated set of principles that organizes and predicts observations21
11227152845Hypothesisa testable prediction, often implied by a theory22
11227152846Populationall the cases in a group, from which samples may be drawn for a study23
11227152847Sampleitems selected at random from a population and used to test hypotheses about the population24
11227152848Correlation Coefficienta statistical index of the relationship between two things (from -1 to +1)25
11227152849Placeboexperimental 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.26
11227152850Placebo Effectany effect that seems to be a consequence of administering a placebo27
11227152851Experimental Groupin an experiment, the group that is exposed to the treatment, that is, to one version of the independent variable.28
11227152852Control 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.29
11227152853Confounding Variablea factor other than the independent variable that might produce an effect in an experiment.30
11227152854Rangethe difference between the highest and lowest scores in a distribution31
11227152855Normal Curve/distributiona symmetrical, bell-shaped curve that describes the distribution of many types of data; most scores fall near the mean (68% fall within one standard deviation of it) and fewer near the extremes32
11227152856Inferential Statisticsnumerical methods used to determine whether research data support a hypothesis or whether results were due to chance33
11227152857Culturethe enduring behaviors, ideas, attitudes, and traditions shared by a large group of people and transmitted from one generation to the next34
11227152858Informed Consentan ethical principle requiring that research participants be told enough to enable them to choose whether they wish to participate35
11227152859Debriefingthe post-experimental explanation of a study, including its purpose and any deceptions, to its participants36
11227152860Kenneth and Mamie ClarkUsed dolls to study children's attitude towards race. Their findings were used in the Brown vs. Board trial.37
11227152861Daniel Kahnemanan Israeli psychologist and Nobel laureate, who is notable for his work on the psychology of judgment and decision-making, behavioral economics and hedonistic psychology.38
11227152862longitudinal studyresearchers follow the same subjects over an extended period of time.39
11227152863Amos TverskyA key figure in the discovery of systematic human cognitive bias40
11227152865confirmation biasexperimenter might consciously or unconsciously look to confirm what they already believe about their hypothesis41
11227152866Null hypothesisResearchers work to reject, nullify or disprove the null hypothesis. Researchers come up with an alternate hypothesis, one that they think explains a phenomenon, and then work to reject the null hypothesis.42
11227152867confidentialityresearchers may not release or publish the names of anyone participating in the experiment.43
11227152868protection of participantsAll participants are protected from physical mental and emotional harm.44
11227152869Right to discontinueParticipants have the right to end their participation during any phase of an experiment.45
11227152870minimum of deceptionResearchers have an obligation to avoid deceiving participants whenever possible.46
11227152871framingthe way questions are worded can dramatically impact the results of your survey.47
11227152872Descriptive Statisticsdescribe the basic features of the data in a study. They provide simple summaries about the sample and the measures.48
11227152880Skewed distribution to the left49
11227152881Skewed distribution to the right50
11227152873variancemeasures how far a data set is spread out. The technical definition is "The average of the squared differences from the mean."51
11227152874Mary Whiton CalkinsDenied a PhD by Harvard though she met the doctoral requirements, but later became first female president of the APA.52
11227152875Margaret Floy WashburnFirst woman to receive a PhD in psychology. Later became the 2nd female president of the APA.53
11227152876Francis SumnerFirst African American man to receive a PhD in psychology in 1920.54
11227152877Inez ProsserFirst African American woman to receive a PhD in psychology in 1933.55
11227152878Edward TitchenerStudied with Wilhelm Wundt prior to becoming a psychology professor. His ideas created the basis for a school of thought called structuralism.56

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