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AP Psychology Unit 2 Flashcards

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5032504468hindsight biasThe tendency to believe, after learning an outcome, that one would have foreseen it- "I knew it all along"0
5032504469critical 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
5032504470theoryA hypothesis that has been tested with a significant amount of data2
5032504471hypothesisA testable prediction, often implied by a theory3
5032504472operational definitionA statement of the procedures used to define research variables4
5032504473replicationreplicate the original study5
5032504474case studyAn observation technique in which one person is studied in depth in the hope of revealing universal principles.6
5032504475surveyA study, generally in the form of an interview or questionnaire, that provides researchers with information about how people think and act.7
5032504476populationthe whole group that you want to study and describe8
5032504477random sampleA sample that fairly represents a population because each member has an equal chance of inclusion9
5032504478naturalistic observationObserving and recording behavior in naturally occurring situations without trying to manipulate and control the situation10
5032504479correlationA measure of the relationship between two variables11
5032504480correlation coefficientA statistical index of the relationship between two things (from -1 to +1)12
5032504481scatterplotA graphed cluster of dots, each of which represents the values of two variables.13
5032504482illusory correlationThe perception of a relationship where none exists14
5032504483experimentA research method in which an investigator manipulates one or more factors to observe the effect on some behavior or mental process15
5032504484random assignmentAssigning participants to experimental and control conditions by chance, thus minimizing preexisting differences between those assigned to the different groups16
5032504485double-blind studyAn experiment in which neither the participant nor the researcher knows whether the participant has received the treatment or the placebo17
5032504486placebo 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.18
5032504487experimental groupA subject or group of subjects in an experiment that is exposed to the factor or condition being tested.19
5032504488control 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
5032504489independent variable(statistics) a variable whose values are independent of changes in the values of other variables21
5032504490confounding variableA factor other than the independent variable that might produce an effect in an experiment.22
5032504491dependent varibalethe outcome factor the cariable that may change in response to manipulations of the independent variables --what you are measuring (ex. obesity rates)23
5032504492modeMeasure of central tendency that uses most frequently occurring score.24
5032504493meanAverage25
5032504494medianA 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.26
5032504495rangeDistance between highest and lowest scores in a set of data.27
5032504496standard deviationA computed measure of how much scores vary around the mean score.28
5032504497normal 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.29
5032504498statistical significanceA statistical statement of how likely it is that an obtained result occurred by chance30
5032504499cultureBeliefs, customs, and traditions of a specific group of people.31
5032504500informed consentA written agreement to participate in a study made by an adult who has been informed of all the risks that participation may entail.32
5032504501debriefingA verbal description of the true nature and purpose of a study33
5032504502sampleA part of the population you are studying.34

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