Myers AP Psychology 2nd Ed. Unit II terms Flashcards

5028293113	Hindsight Bias	The tendency to believe, after learning the outcome, that one would have foreseen it.	0
5028311472	Critical Thinking	Thinking that does not blindly accept arguments and conclusions. Rather, it examines assumptions, assesses the source, discerns hidden values, evaluates evidence, and assesses conclusions.	1
5028332269	Theory	An explanation using an integrated set of principles that organizes observations and predicts behaviors or events.	2
5028342357	Hypothesis	A testable prediction, often implied by a theory.	3
5028351258	Operational Definition	A carefully worded statement of the exact procedures used in a research study.	4
5028356665	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.	5
5028378996	Case Study	A descriptive technique in which one individual or group is studied in depth in the hope of revealing universal principles.	6
5028468861	Naturalistic Observation	Observing and recording behavior in naturally occurring situations without trying to manipulate and control the situation.	7
5028487282	Survey	A technique for ascertaining the self-reported attitudes or behaviors of a particular group, usually by questioning a representative, random, sample of the group.	8
5028508535	Sampling Bias	A flawed sampling process that produces an unrepresentative sample.	9
5028514945	Population	All those in a group being studied, from which samples may be drawn.	10
5028522435	Random Sample	A sample that fairly represents a population because each member has an equal chance of inclusion.	11
5028530939	Correlation	A measure of the extent to which 2 variables change together, and thus of well either variable predicts the other.	12
5028557346	Correlation Coeffiecent	A statistical index of the relationship between two variables (from -1.0 to +1.0)	13
5028568976	Scatterplot	A grouped cluster of dots, each which represents the values of two variables. Slope suggests the relationship between the variables.	14
5028587732	Illusory Correlation	The perception of a relationship where none exists.	15
5028596025	Experiment	A research method in which an investigator manipulates one or more factors to observe the effect on some behavior or mental process.	16
5028613537	Experimental Group	The group exposed to the treatment in an experiment; one version of the independent variable.	17
5028767446	Control Group	The group not exposed to the treatment in an experiment.	18
5028776150	Random Assignment	Assigning participants to experimental and control groups by chance, thus minimizing preexisting differences between the different groups.	19
5028794642	Double-Blind Procedure	An experimental procedure in which both research participants and the research staff are ignorant about whether the research participants have received the treatment or placebo. Commonly used in drug education studies.	20
5028842064	Placebo Effect	Experimental results caused by expectations alone.	21
5028849260	Independent Variable	The experimental factor that is manipulated, the variable whose effect is being studied.	22
5028861598	Confounding Variable	A factor other than the independent variable that might produce an effect in the experiment.	23
5029087197	Dependent Variable	The outcome variable that may change in response to manipulations of the independent variable.	24
5029117556	Validity	The extent to which a test or experiment measures or predicts what it is supposed to do.	25
5029124778	Descriptive Statistics	Numerical data used to measure and describe characteristics of groups. Includes measures of central tendency and measures of variation.	26
5029162475	Mode	The most frequently occurring scores in a distribution.	27
5029166716	Mean	The arithmetic average of a distribution (add scores and divide by the number of scores)	28
5029179157	Median	The literal middle score in a distribution	29
5029186902	Skewed Distribution	A representation of scores that lack symmetry around their average value.	30
5029225604	Range	The difference between the highest and lowest scores in a distribution.	31
5029359255	Standard Deviation	A computed measure of how much scores vary around the mean score.	32
5029325995	Normal Curve	A symmetrical, bell-shaped curve tat descibes 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.	33
5029233175	Inferential Statistics	Numerical data that allow one to generalize from sample data the probability of something being true of a population.	34
5029261979	Statistical Significance	A statistical statement of how likely it is that an obtained result occurred by chance.	35
5029271057	Culture	The enduring behaviors, ideas, attitudes, values, and traditions shared by a group of people and transmitted form one generation to the next.	36
5029287741	Informed Consent	The ethical principle that research be told enough to enable them to choose whether they wish to participate.	37
5029302505	Debriefing	The post-experimental explanation of a study, including its purpose and any deceptions to its participants.	38