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Unit 2 vocabulary review Myers' psychology second edition for AP Flashcards

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1624465950Hindsight biasThe tendency to believe, after learning an outcome, that one would have foreseen it.0
1624467084Critical thinkingThinking that does not blindly accept arguments and conclusions. Rather, it examines assumptions, assesses the source, discerns hidden values, evaluates evidence, and assesses conclusions.1
1624468768TheoryAn examination using an integrated set of principles that organizes observations and predicts behaviors or events.2
1624469364HypothesisA testable prediction, often implied by a theory.3
1624472246Operational definitionA carefully worded statement of the exact procedures (operations) used in a research study. For example, human intelligence may be operationally defined as what an intelligence test measures.4
1624474146ReplicationRepeating 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
1624476485Case studyA descriptive technique in which one individual or group is studied in depth in the hope of revealing universal principles.6
1624478095Naturalistic observationObserving and recording behavior in naturally occurring situations without trying to manipulate and control the situation.7
1624479951SurveyA technique for ascertaining the self - reported attitudes or behaviors of a particular group, usually by questioning a representative, random sample of the group.8
1624480657Sampling biasA flawed sampling process that produces an unrepresentative sample.9
1624481604PopulationAll those in a group being studied, from which samples may be drawn.10
1624482202Random sampleA sample that fairly represents a population because each member has an equal chance of inclusion.11
1624483259CorrelationA measure of the extent to which two variables change together, and thus of how well either variable predicts the other.12
1624483627Correlation coefficientA statistical index of the relationship between two variables.13
1624485374ScatterplotA graphed cluster of dots, each of which represents the value of two variables. The slope of the points suggest the direction of the relationship between two variables. The amount of scatter suggests the strength of the correlation.14
1624486328Illusory correlationThe perception of relationship where none exists.15
1624489775ExperimentA research method in which an investigator manipulates one or more factors (independent variables) to observe the effect on some behavior or mental process (dependent variable) by random assessment of participants, that examining her aims to control other relevant variables.16
1624490609Experimental groupIn an experiment, the group exposed to the treatment, that is, to one version of the independent variable17
1624492386Control groupIn an experiment, the group not exposed to the treatment; contrasts the experimental group and serves as a comparison for evaluating the effect of the treatment.18
1624493371Random assignmentAssigning participants to experimental and control groups by chance, best minimizing pre-existing differences between the different groups.19
1624494590Double-blind procedureAnd 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 the placebo. Commonly used in drug evaluation studies.20
1624498940PlaceboEffect experimental 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 ingredient.21
1624499793Independent variableThe experimental factor that is manipulated; the variable whose effect is being studied.22
1624500779Confounding variableA factor other than the independent variable that might produce an effect in an experiment.23
1624501400D pendant variableThe outcome factor; the variable that may change in response to manipulations of the independent variable.24
1624503088ValidityThe extent to which a test or experiment measures or predicts what it is supposed to.25
1624504160Descriptive statisticsNumerical data used to measure and describe characteristics of groups. Includes measures of central tendency and measures of variation.26
1624505463HistogramA bar graph depicting a frequency distribution.27
1624505825ModeThe most frequently occurring scores in a distribution.28
1624506567MeanThe arithmetic average of a distribution, obtained by adding the scores and then dividing by the number of the scores.29
1624507279MedianThe middle score in a distribution; half the scores are above it and half are below it.30
1624508228Skewed distributionA representation of scores that lack symmetry around their average value.31
1624508695RangeThe difference between the highest and the lowest scores in a distribution.32
1624509685Standard deviationA computed measure of how much scores vary around the mean score.33
1624513056Normal curve(Normal Distribution) a symmetrical, bell shaped curve that describes the distribution of many types of data; most scores fall near the mean (about 68% fall within one standard deviation of it) and fewer and fewer near the extremes.34
1624514779Inferential statisticsNumerical data that allows one to generalize - to infer from sample data the probability of something being true of a population.35
1624516635Statistical significanceA statistical statement of how likely it is that an obtained results occurred by chance.36
1624518049CultureThe enduring behaviors, ideas, attitudes, values, and traditions shared by a group of people and transmitted from one generation to the next.37
1624519516Informed consentAnd ethical principle that research participants be told enough to enable them to choose whether they wish to participate.38
1624523797DebriefingA Postexperimental explanation of the study, including its purpose and any deceptions, to its participants.39

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