AP Psychology Chapter 1 Thinking Critically With Psychological Science

Hypothesis Related Terms:

Definition: A testable prediction, often implied by a theory Example/Association:

Survey Related Terms: Statistics; more breadth less depth

Definition: A technique for ascertaining the self-reported attitudes or behaviors of a particular group, usually by questioning a representative, random sample of the group Example/Association: Sample population survey for marketing and focus group purposes

Standard Deviation Related Terms:

Definition: A computed measure of how much scores vary around the mean score Example/Association:

Scatterplots Related Terms:

Definition: 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. The amount of scatter suggests the strength of the correlation (little scatter indicates high correlation) Example/Association: Line of best fit

Correlation Related Terms:

Definition: A measure of the extent to which two factors vary together, and thus of how well either factor predicts the other Example/Association:

Experiment Related Terms:

Definition: A research method in which an investigator manipulates one or more factors (independent variable) to observe the effect on some behavior or mental process (the dependent variable). By random assignment of participants, the experimenter aims to control other relevant factors Example/Association:

Random Sample Related Terms: Nielsen TV ratings

Definition: A sample that fairly represents a population because each member has an equal chance of inclusion Example/Association:

Operational Definition Related Terms:

Definition: A statement of the procedures (operations) used to define research variables. For example, human intelligence may be operationally defined as what an intelligence test measures Example/Association:

Correlation Coefficient Related Terms:

Definition: A statistical index of the relationship between two things from -1 to +1 Example/Association:

Statistical Significance Related Terms:

Definition: A statistical statement of how likely it is that an obtained result occurred by chance Example/Association:

Normal Curve Related Terms:

Definition: A symmetrical, bell-shaped curve 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 Example/Association:

Population Related Terms:

Definition: All the cases in a group being studied, from which samples may be drawn (Except for national studies, this doesn't refer to a country's whole population) Example/Association:

Double-Blind Procedure Related Terms:

Definition: 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 Example/Association:

Theory Related Terms:

Definition: An explanation using an integrated set of principles that organizes observations and predicts behaviors or events Example/Association: Theory of relativity; theory of gravity (predictions that gravity is inevitable)

Case Study Related Terms: Opposite of Statistics; more depth less breadth (calc last year)

Definition: An observation technique in which one person is studied in depth in the hope of revealing universal principles Example/Association: Sample population survey for marketing and focus group purposes Individual cases can differ if subject is atypical

Random Assignment Related Terms:

Definition: Assigning participants to experimental and control groups by chance, thus minimizing preexisting differences between those assigned to the different groups Example/Association:

Placebo Effect Related Terms:

Definition: 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 Example/Association:

Experimental Group Related Terms:

Definition: In an experiment, the group that is exposed to the treatment, that is, to one version of the independent variable Example/Association:

Control Group Related Terms:

Definition: 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 Example/Association:

Naturalistic Observation Related Terms:

Definition: Observing and recording behavior in naturally occurring situations without trying to manipulate and control the situation Example/Association: Chimpanzee observer Frans de Waal & Jane Goodall

Replication Related Terms:

Definition: 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 Example/Association: See if the results hold true!

Mean Related Terms:

Definition: The arithmetic average of a distribution, obtained by adding up all scores and dividing by the number of scores Example/Association:

Range Related Terms:

Definition: The difference between the highest and lowest scores in the distribution Example/Association:

Culture Related Terms:

Definition: The enduring behaviors, ideas, attitudes, and traditions shared by a group of people and transmitted from one generation to the next Example/Association:

Independent Variable Related Terms:

Definition: The experimental factor that is manipulated; the variable whose effect is being studied Example/Association:

Median Related Terms:

Definition: The middle score in a distribution; half the scores are above it and half are below it Example/Association:

Mode Related Terms:

Definition: The most frequently occurring score(s) in a distribution Example/Association:

Dependent Variable Related Terms:

Definition: The outcome factor; the variable that may change the response to manipulations of the independent variable Example/Association:

Illusory Correlation Related Terms:

Definition: The perception of a relationship where none exists Example/Association: My relationship with Lana Del Rey The greed game and my gut feeling to sit down and the next number was the death roll (random coincidences) Patterns that aren't really there! Cold weather->flu like symptoms

Hindsight Bias Related Terms: If-Then statements "Oh yeah, I knew that (after something is said)"

Definition: The tendency to believe, after learning an outcome, that one would have forseen it; something happened to make the outcome inevitable Example/Association: Also known as the I-Knew-It-All-Along Phenomenon (Game of Greed w/ gut feeling when the numbers got too high to sit down in stats)

Critical Thinking Related Terms:

Definition: Thinking that does not blindly accept arguments and conclusions. Rather, it examines assumptions, discerns hidden values, evaluates evidence, and assesses conclusions Example/Association: The SO WHAT question or the WHY