AP Notes, Outlines, Study Guides, Vocabulary, Practice Exams and more!

AP Psychology Unit 2 Flashcards

Terms : Hide Images
5054487678hindsight biasThe tendency to believe, after learning an outcome, that one would have foreseen it- "I knew it all along"0
5054487679critical 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
5054487680theoryA hypothesis that has been tested with a significant amount of data2
5054487681hypothesisA testable prediction, often implied by a theory3
5054487682operational definitionA statement of the procedures used to define research variables4
5054487683replicationreplicate the original study5
5054487684case studyAn observation technique in which one person is studied in depth in the hope of revealing universal principles.6
5054487685surveyA study, generally in the form of an interview or questionnaire, that provides researchers with information about how people think and act.7
5054487686populationthe whole group that you want to study and describe8
5054487687random sampleA sample that fairly represents a population because each member has an equal chance of inclusion9
5054487688naturalistic observationObserving and recording behavior in naturally occurring situations without trying to manipulate and control the situation10
5054487689correlationA measure of the relationship between two variables11
5054487690correlation coefficientA statistical index of the relationship between two things (from -1 to +1)12
5054487691scatterplotA graphed cluster of dots, each of which represents the values of two variables.13
5054487692illusory correlationThe perception of a relationship where none exists14
5054487693experimentA research method in which an investigator manipulates one or more factors to observe the effect on some behavior or mental process15
5054487694random assignmentAssigning participants to experimental and control conditions by chance, thus minimizing preexisting differences between those assigned to the different groups16
5054487695double-blind studyAn experiment in which neither the participant nor the researcher knows whether the participant has received the treatment or the placebo17
5054487696placebo 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
5054487697experimental groupA subject or group of subjects in an experiment that is exposed to the factor or condition being tested.19
5054487698control 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
5054487699independent variable(statistics) a variable whose values are independent of changes in the values of other variables21
5054487700confounding variableA factor other than the independent variable that might produce an effect in an experiment.22
5054487701dependent varibalethe outcome factor the cariable that may change in response to manipulations of the independent variables --what you are measuring (ex. obesity rates)23
5054487702modeMeasure of central tendency that uses most frequently occurring score.24
5054487703meanAverage25
5054487704medianA 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
5054487705rangeDistance between highest and lowest scores in a set of data.27
5054487706standard deviationA computed measure of how much scores vary around the mean score.28
5054487707normal 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
5054487708statistical significanceA statistical statement of how likely it is that an obtained result occurred by chance30
5054487709cultureBeliefs, customs, and traditions of a specific group of people.31
5054487710informed 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
5054487711debriefingA verbal description of the true nature and purpose of a study33
5054487712sampleA part of the population you are studying.34

Need Help?

We hope your visit has been a productive one. If you're having any problems, or would like to give some feedback, we'd love to hear from you.

For general help, questions, and suggestions, try our dedicated support forums.

If you need to contact the Course-Notes.Org web experience team, please use our contact form.

Need Notes?

While we strive to provide the most comprehensive notes for as many high school textbooks as possible, there are certainly going to be some that we miss. Drop us a note and let us know which textbooks you need. Be sure to include which edition of the textbook you are using! If we see enough demand, we'll do whatever we can to get those notes up on the site for you!