All terms from Myers Psychology for AP (BFW Worth, 2011)
6642986261 | Hindsight Bias | The tendency to believe, after learning an outcome, that one would have foreseen it. (Also known as the I-knew-it-all-along phenomenon.) | 0 | |
6642986262 | Hypothesis | A TESTABLE prediction, often implied by a theory. | 1 | |
6642986263 | Operational Definition | A statement of the procedures (operations) used to define research variables. HOW will you measure that variable? | 2 | |
6642986264 | Replication | Repeating 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. | 3 | |
6642986265 | Population | All the cases in a group being studied, from which samples may be drawn. | 4 | |
6642986266 | representative sampling | a sample from a larger population that is statistically typical of that population. | 5 | |
6642986267 | Random Sample | A sample that fairly represents a population because each member has an equal chance of inclusion. | 6 | |
6642986268 | Correlation Coefficient | A statistical index of the relationship between two things (from -1 to +1). 0= no correlation | 7 | |
6642986269 | Scatterplot | A 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. | 8 | |
6642986270 | Illusory Correlation | The perception of a relationship where none exists. Often responsible for superstitions. | 9 | |
6642986271 | Experiment | A 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. The only way to show a cause-effect relationship. | 10 | |
6642986272 | Random Assignment | Assigning participants to experimental and control groups by chance, thus minimizing preexisting differences between those assigned to the different groups. This makes it easier to tell if the I.V. truly affected the D.V. | 11 | |
6642986273 | Double-Blind Procedure | An 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. | 12 | |
6642986274 | Placebo Effect | 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 agent. | 13 | |
6642986275 | Experimental Group | In an experiment, the group that is exposed to the treatment, that is, to one version of the independent variable. | 14 | |
6642986276 | Control Group | In 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. | 15 | |
6642986277 | Independent Variable | The experimental factor that is manipulated; the variable whose effect is being studied. | 16 | |
6642986278 | Confounding Variable | A factor other than the independent variable that might produce an effect in an experiment. | 17 | |
6642986279 | Dependent Variable | The outcome factor; the variable that may change in response to manipulations of the independent variable. | 18 | |
6642986280 | Mode | The most frequently occurring score(s) in a distribution. | 19 | |
6642986281 | Mean | The arithmetic average of a distribution, obtained by adding the scores and then dividing by the number of scores. | 20 | |
6642986282 | Median | The middle score in a distribution; half the scores are above it and half are below it. | 21 | |
6642986283 | Range | The difference between the highest and lowest scores in a distribution. | 22 | |
6642986284 | Standard Deviation | A computed measure of how much scores vary around the mean score. | 23 | |
6642986285 | Normal Curve | A 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. | 24 | |
6642986286 | Statistical Significance | A statistical statement of how likely it is that an obtained result occurred by chance. Usually 5% difference is significant | 25 | |
6642986287 | Hawthorne Effect | tendency of some people to work harder and perform better when they are participants in an experiment. Individuals may change their behavior due to the attention they are receiving from researchers rather than because of any manipulation of independent variables. | 26 |