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EHS AP Psychology Unit 2 - Research Methods Flashcards

Advanced Placement Psychology
Enterprise High School, Redding, CA
All terms from Myers Psychology for AP (BFW Worth, 2011)

Terms : Hide Images
863046630Hindsight BiasThe tendency to believe, after learning an outcome, that one would have foreseen it. (Also known as the I-knew-it-all-along phenomenon.)0
863046631Critical ThinkingThinking that does not blindly accept arguments and conclusions. Rather, it examines assumptions, discerns hidden values, evaluates evidence, and assesses conclusions.1
877008968TheoryAn explanation using an integrated set of principles that organizes observations and predicts behaviors or events.2
877008969HypothesisA testable prediction, often implied by a theory.3
877008970Operational DefinitionA statement of the procedures (operations) used to define research variables.4
877008971ReplicationRepeating the essence of a research study, usually with different participants in different situations, to see whether the basic finding extends to other participants and circumstances.5
877008972Case StudyAn observation technique in which one person is studied in depth in the hope of revealing universal principles.6
877008973SurveyA technique for ascertaining the self-reported attitudes or behaviors of a particular group, usually by questioning a representative, random sample of the group.7
877008974PopulationAll the cases in a group being studied, from which samples may be drawn.8
877008975Random SampleA sample that fairly represents a population because each member has an equal chance of inclusion.9
877008976Naturalistic ObservationObserving and recording behavior in naturally occurring situations without trying to manipulate and control the situation.10
877008977CorrelationA measure of the extent to which two factors vary together, and thus of how well either factor predicts the other.11
877008978Correlation CoefficientA statistical index of the relationship between two things (from -1 to +1).12
877008979ScatterplotA 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.13
877008980Illusory CorrelationThe perception of a relationship where none exists.14
877008981ExperimentA research method in which an investigator manipulates one or more factors (independent variables) to observe the effect on some behavior or mental process (the dependent variable). By random assignment of participants, the investigator aims to control other relevant factors.15
877008982Random AssignmentAssigning participants to experimental and control groups by chance, thus minimizing preexisting differences between those assigned to the different groups.16
877008983Double-Blind ProcedureAn experimental procedure in which both the research participants and the research staff are ignorant (blind) about whether the research participants have received the treatment or a placebo. Commonly used in drug-evaluation studies.17
877013099Placebo EffectExperimental 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.18
877013100Experimental GroupIn an experiment, the group that is exposed to the treatment, that is, to one version of the independent variable.19
877013101Control 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
877013102Independent VariableThe experimental factor that is manipulated; the variable whose effect is being studied.21
877013103Confounding VariableA factor other than the independent variable that might produce an effect in an experiment.22
877013104Dependent VariableThe outcome factor; the variable that may change in response to manipulations of the independent variable.23
878932126ModeThe most frequently occurring score(s) in a distribution.24
877013105MeanThe arithmetic average of a distribution, obtained by adding the scores and then dividing by the number of scores.25
877013106MedianThe middle score in a distribution; half the scores are above it and half are below it.26
877013107RangeThe difference between the highest and lowest scores in a distribution.27
877013108Standard DeviationA computed measure of how much scores vary around the mean score.28
877013109Normal CurveA symmetrical, bell-shape that describes the distribution of many types of data; most scores fall near the mean (68 percent fall within one standard deviation of it) and fewer and fewer near the extremes.29
877013110Statistical SignificanceA statistical statement of how likely it is that an obtained result occurred by chance.30
877013111CultureThe enduring behaviors, ideas, attitudes, values and traditions shared by a group of people and transmitted from one generation to the next.31
877013112Informed ConsentAn ethical principle that research participants be told enough to enable them to choose whether they wish to participate.32
877013113DebriefingThe post-experimental explanation of a study, including its purpose and any deceptions, to its participants.33

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