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AP Psychology Unit 2 Flashcards

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8050077079hindsight biasThe tendency to believe, after learning an outcome, that one would have foreseen it- "I knew it all along"0
8050077080critical thinkingIs rationally deciding what to believe or what to do. When one rationally decides something, he or she evaluates information to see if it makes sense, whether it's coherent, and whether the argument is well founded on evidence.1
8050077081validitythe extent to which a test or experiment measures or predicts what it is supposed to do2
8050077082theoryA hypothesis that has been tested with a significant amount of data3
8050077083hypothesisA testable prediction, often implied by a theory4
8050077084operational definitionA statement of the procedures used to define research variables5
8050077085replicationreplicate the original study6
8050077086case studyAn observation technique in which one person is studied in depth in the hope of revealing universal principles.7
8050077087surveyA study, generally in the form of an interview or questionnaire, that provides researchers with information about how people think and act.8
8050077088populationthe whole group that you want to study and describe9
8050077089random sampleA sample that fairly represents a population because each member has an equal chance of inclusion10
8050077090sampling biasflawed sampling process that produces an unrepresentative sample11
8050077091naturalistic observationObserving and recording behavior in naturally occurring situations without trying to manipulate and control the situation12
8050077092correlationA measure of the relationship between two variables13
8050077093correlation coefficientA statistical index of the relationship between two things (from -1 to +1)14
8050077094scatterplotA graphed cluster of dots, each of which represents the values of two variables.15
8050077095illusory correlationThe perception of a relationship where none exists16
8050077096experimentA research method in which an investigator manipulates one or more factors to observe the effect on some behavior or mental process17
8050077097random assignmentAssigning participants to experimental and control conditions by chance, thus minimizing preexisting differences between those assigned to the different groups18
8050077098double-blind studyAn experiment in which neither the participant nor the researcher knows whether the participant has received the treatment or the placebo19
8050077099placebo effectExperimental results caused by expectations alone; any effect on behavior caused by the administration of an inert substance or condition, which is assumed to be an active agent.20
8050077100experimental groupA subject or group of subjects in an experiment that is exposed to the factor or condition being tested.21
8050077101control 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.22
8050077102independent variable(statistics) a variable whose values are independent of changes in the values of other variables23
8050077103confounding variableA factor other than the independent variable that might produce an effect in an experiment.24
8050077104dependent varibalethe outcome factor the cariable that may change in response to manipulations of the independent variables --what you are measuring (ex. obesity rates)25
8050077105modeMeasure of central tendency that uses most frequently occurring score.26
8050077106meanAverage27
8050077107medianA measure of center in a set of numerical data. The median of a list of values is the value appearing at the center of a sorted version of the list - or the mean of the two central values if the list contains an even number of values.28
8050077108rangeDistance between highest and lowest scores in a set of data.29
8050077109standard deviationA computed measure of how much scores vary around the mean score.30
8050077110normal curvethe symmetrical bell-shaped curve that describes the distribution of many physical and psychological attributes. Most scores fall near the average, and fewer and fewer scores lie near the extremes.31
8050077111statistical significanceA statistical statement of how likely it is that an obtained result occurred by chance32
8050077112cultureBeliefs, customs, and traditions of a specific group of people.33
8050077113informed consentA written agreement to participate in a study made by an adult who has been informed of all the risks that participation may entail.34
8050077114debriefingA verbal description of the true nature and purpose of a study35
8050077115sampleA part of the population you are studying.36
8050077116how does overconfidence relate to everyday thinking?we tend to be more confident than correct and believe we know more than we actually do37
8050077117how do hindsight bias and overconfidence relate to intuition?leads us to overestimate our intuition38
80500771183 main components of scientific attitudecuriosity skepticism humility39
8050077119how do operational definitions keep biases in check?make sure that everyone is going by the same standards and is not changing how they see the data being studied40
8050077120a theory is useful if :- it effectively organizes a range of self-reports / observations and leads to a clear hypothesis that anyone can use to check a theory - it stimulates research to lead to a revised theory that better organizes and predicts what we know41
8050077121wording effect of a surveythe way a question or situation is presented affects how people feel about the matter (ex. better wording = more desired results)42
8050077122case studies, surveys, and naturalistic observations do not explain behavior, but rather ________ behaviordescribes43
8050077123positive correlationtwo variable rise and fall together, such as height and weight44
8050077124negative correlationvariables are related inversely, one goes up and the other goes down, such as inner speech and psychological distress45
80500771251 standard deviation68%46
80500771262 standard deviations95%47
80500771273 standard deviations99%48
8050077128z-score-3,-2,-1,1,2,3 standard deviaitons49
8050077129p-value0.0550
8050077130descriptive statisticsnumerical data used to measure and describe characteristics of groups, including measures of central tendency and variation51
8050077131measures of central tendencyrefers to how the data measures the center of a set of data52
8050077132skewed graphmode, median, and mean are different53
8050077133normal graphmode, median, and mean are same54
8050077134positive skewhigh outlier55
8050077135negative skewlow outlier56
8050077136measures of variabilitydepict diversity of the distribution (range, standard deviation)57
8050077137higher standard deviation =scores are less similar58
8050077138normal curve59
8050077139inferential statisticsnumerical data that allows one to generalize (T-tests, chi square, ANOVAS)60
8050077140descriptive stats vs. inferential statsd : allows us to summarize info about the sample studied i : determine whether or not findings can be applied to a larger population from which the sample was selected61
8050077141statistically significanthow likely it is that an obtained result occurred by chance (p-value) averages are reliable differences between averages is relatively large implies importance of results62
8050077142culture (behavior)enduring behaviors ideas, attitudes, and how people perceive different situations, such as body shape, early sex, etc.63
8050077143collectivist culturegroup goals64
8050077144individualist culturesindividual goals65
8050077145ethics in researchinformed consent protection from harm/discomfort maintain confidentiality debriefing66
8050077146IRB (Institutional Review Board)any academic research needs to be proposed to their IRB, review for ethical violations and/or procedural errors67

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