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AP Psychology Vocabulary Flashcards

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194318981Case Studyan observation technique in which one person is studied in depth in hope of revealing universal principles.0
194318982Control Conditiona standard against which other conditions can be compared in a scientific experiment condition of an experiment that contrasts with the experimental condition and serves as a comparison for evaluation the effect of treatment.1
194318983Correlation Coefficienta statistic representing how closely two variables co-vary statistical measure of the extent to which two factors vary together, and thus, of how well either one factor predicts another.2
194318984Critical Thinkingdoes not blindly accept arguments and conclusions. Examines assumptions, discerns, hidden values, evaluates evidence and assesses conclusions.3
194318985Culturethe enduring behaviors, ideas, attitudes, and traditions shared by a large group of people and transmitted from one generation to the next.4
194318986Dependent Variablethe experimental factor that is being measured; the variable that may change in response to the manipulations of the independent variable.5
194318987Double-blind Procedureexperimental procedure in which both the research participants and the research staff are ignorant about whether the research participants have received a placebo.6
194318988Experimenta research method in which an investigator manipulates one or more factors to observe the effect on some behavior or mental process.7
194318989Experimental Conditioncondition of an experiment that exposes participants to the treatment, to one version of the independent variable.8
194318990False Consensus Effect:the tendency to overestimate the extent to which others share our beliefs and behaviors tendency to overestimate the extent to which others share our beliefs and behaviors.9
194318991Hindsight Biasthe tendency to believe, after learning an outcome, that one would have foreseen it "I knew it all along" phenomenon.10
194318992Hypothesisa testable prediction, often implied by a theory.11
194318993Illusory Correlationa perceived, non-existent correlation.12
194318994Independent Variablethe experimental factor that is manipulated; the variable whose effect is being studied.13
194318995Inferential statisticsprocedures used to draw conclusions about larger populations from small samples of data Statistics that can determine whether or not findings can be applied to the larger population from which the sample was selected.14
194318996Meanaverage of distribution.15
194318997Medianmiddle score of distribution.16
194318998Modemost frequently occurring score in a distribution.17
194318999Naturalistic Observationobserving and recording behaviors in naturally occurring situations without trying to manipulate or control the situation.18
194319000Operational Definitionstatement of the procedures used to define research variables.19
194319001Overconfidenceour tendency to overestimate what we know.20
194319002Placebo Effectexperimental results caused by expectations alone.21
194319003Populationall the cases in a group, from which samples may be drawn for a study.22
194319004Random Assignmentassigning participants to experimental and control conditions by chance, thus minimizing preexisting differences between those assigned to the different groups.23
194319005Random Samplefairly represents a population.24
194319006Rangedifference between the highest and lowest scores.25
194319007Replicationrepeating a research study in different situations to see if the basic findings extend to other circumstances and findings.26
194319008Scatter Plota graphed cluster of dots, each of which represents the values of two variables. The slope of the points suggests the direction the relationship between the two variables. The amount of scatter suggests the strength of the correlation.27
194319009Standard Deviationcomputed measure of how much scores vary about the mean score.28
194319010Statistical Significancestatistical statement of how likely it is that an obtained result occurred by chance.29
194319011Stratified samplingA process that allows a researcher to ensure that the sample represents the population on some criteria.30
194319012Surveya technique for ascertaining the self-reported attitudes or behaviors of people, usually by questioning a representative, random sample of them.31
194319013Theoryan explanation using an integrated set of principles that organizes and predicts observations.32
194319014Acoustic encodingthe encoding of sound, especially the sound of words33
194319015amnesiathe loss of memory34
194319016Automatic processingunconscious encoding of incidental information, such as space, time and frequency, and of well-learned information, such as word meanings35
194319017Chunkingorganizing items into familiar, manageable units, often occurs automatically36
194319018déjà vuthe eerie sense that "I've experienced this before" Cues from the current situation may subconsciously trigger retrieval of an earlier experience37
194319019echoic memorya momentary sensory memory of auditory stimuli; if attention is elsewhere, sounds and words can still be recalled within 3 or 4 seconds38
194319020Effortful processingencoding that requires attention and conscious effort.39
194319021Encodingthe processing of information into the memory system40
194319022Explicit memorymemory of facts and experiences that one can consciously know and "declare"41
194319023Flashbulb memorya clear memory of an emotionally significant moment or event42
194319024Iconic memorya momentary sensory memory of visual stimuli: a photographic or picture-image memory last no more than a few tenths of a second43
194319025Imagerymental pictures; a powerful aid to effortful processing, especially when combined with semantic encoding44
194319026Implicit memoryretention independent of conscious recollection. (also called procedural memory)45
194319027Long-term memorythe relatively permanent and limitless storehouse of the memory system46
194319028Long-term potentiationan increase in a synapse's firing potential after brief, rapid stimulation. Believed to be a neural basis for learning and memory47
194319029Memorythe persistence of learning over time through the storage and retrieval of information48
194319030Misinformation effectincorporating misleading information into one's memory of an event49
194319031Mnemonicsmemory aids, especially those techniques that use vivid imagery and organizational devices50
194319032Mood-congruent memorythe tendency to recall experiences that are consistent with one's current good or bad mood51
194319033Primingthe activation, often unconsciously, of a particular associations in memory52
194319034proactive interferencethe disruptive effect of prior learning on the recall of new information53
194319035Procedural memoryMemories of skills and how to perform them.54
194319036Recalla measure of memory in which the person must retrieve information learned earlier, as on a fill-in-the-blank test55
194319037Recognitiona measure of memory in which the person need only identify items previously learned, as on a multiple choice test56
194319038Rehearsalthe conscious repetition of information, wither to maintain it in consciousness or to encode it for storage57
194319039Relearninga memory measure that assesses the amount of time saved when learning material for a second time58
194319040Repressionin psychoanalytic theory, the basic defense mechanism that banishes from consciousness anxiety-arousing thoughts, feelings and memories59
194319041Retrievalthe process of getting information out of memory storage60
194319042Retroactive interferencethe disruptive effect of new learning on the recall of old information61
194319043Semantic encodingthe encoding of meaning, including the meaning of words62
194319044Sensory memorythe immediate, initial recording of sensory information in the memory system63
194319045Serial position effectour tendency to recall best the last and first items in a list64
194319046Short-term memoryactivated memory that holds a few items briefly, such as the seven digits of a phone number while dialing, before the information is stored or forgotten65
194319047Source amnesiaattributing to the wrong source an event that we have experienced, heard about, read about, or imagined66
194319048Spacing effectthe tendency for distributed study or practice to yield better long-term retention than is achieved through massed study or practice67
194319049Storagethe retention of encoded information over time68
194319050Visual encodingthe encoding of picture images69

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