Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM


Top Flashcards (Certified)
All Flashcards

AP Psychology > Unit 2: Psychological Research Methods > Flashcards

Unit 2: Psychological Research Methods Flashcards

(79 cards)

Start Studying
1
Q

APA ethical guidelines for human research

A

Ethical guidelines for psychological research that protects any human or animal participants from excessive or unnecessary physical or emotional harm

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

applied research

A

psychological research that applies its scientific findings to real-world scenerios

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Barnum effect

A

the gullibility of people when reading descriptions for themselves

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

basic research

A

research solely done to improve knowledge or understanding in a field of study

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

biased sample

A

a sample of a larger population that is not random and may fail to accurately represent the population well

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

case study

A

a method of descriptive research where a researcher analyzes one specific individual or group with exceptional detail to find out if the data gathered can be applied to a larger population

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

causation conditioned response

A

behavior not learned naturally but rather learned through purposeful pairing with a stimulus

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

confounding variables

A

variables that interfere with the results of an experiment because they have some connection to the independent variable

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Control

A

a factor in an experiment that is used as a reference to compare the results of the independent variable to

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

control group

A

a group that is not given the independent variable that the experimental group is given. It acts as a baseline to see how the independent variable affects the experimental group or the dependent variable

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

Correlation

A

statistical analysis to find any relationship between variables

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

correlation coefficient

A

describes how strongly two variables are related on a scale from -1.00 to 1.00.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

covert behavior

A

human behaviors which can not be observed

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

critical thinking

A

thinking that doesn’t blindly accept arguments and conclusions, but rather examines any assumptions made, assesses the source of the arguments or conclusions, discerns hidden values, evaluates evidence, and assesses conclusions

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

Debriefing

A

fully explaining the purpose of an experiment including any deceptions used in an experiment to a participant after the experiment has occured

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

dependent variable

A

variable that changes due to changes in the independent variable

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

Description

A

statements that describe who someone is, what an object is, where an object is, and when the time is

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

descriptive statistics

A

statistics used to organize, summarize, and describe data

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

double-blind procedure

A

experiment where neither participants nor the researchers know what research group the participants are assigned to

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

empirical evidence

A

evidence supported by research findings and psychology

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

Experiment

A

scientific procedure that is done to find how an independent and dependent variable are connected, or if they are connected at all

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

experimental group

A

group that is to be tested by manipulating the independent variable

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

experimental method

A

a way for one to design an experiment and collect data

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

experimental self-observation

A

analysis of one’s self through a scientific experiment on one’s self

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
experimental subjects
individuals who participate in an experimental study
26
experimenter bias
when the experimenter or researcher affects the results of an experiment due to specific verbal contact with the subjects
27
fallacy of positive instances
tendency for people to only recognize statements in arguments that agree with their own opinions
28
gender bias
tendency to prefer one gender over another
29
Hawthorne effect
tendency for some individuals to alter their behavior due to being observed
30
hindsight bias
tendency to believe that one would have foreseen an outcome only after experiencing or learning it
31
Hypothesis
an educated guess that answers a question
32
illusory correlation
believing that there is a relation between two variables when there is none
33
independent variable
variable that is manipulated by an experimenter to see its effect on the dependent variable
34
inferential statistics
statistics used to analyze data to make conclusions about the population
35
informed consent
giving a full explanation of the purpose of an experiment and steps of it to a participant so the participant may choose whether or not he or she would like to be in it
36
Mean
the average value of a data set
37
measures of variability
ways to measure how much data values vary
38
Median
the middle value of a sequentially ordered data set
39
Mode
the value in a data set that is the most frequent
40
naturalistic observation
a method of descriptive research where one watches and records the behavior of organisms in their natural habitat without interference
41
negative correlation
when an increase in an independent variable causes a decrease in the dependent variable
42
normal curve
a frequency distribution shaped like a bell curve where the measures of variability, the mean, median, and mode, are all in the same place in the middle. The middle is where most of the data values are located, and as values recede away from the middle, the data value amount decreases
43
observer bias
when expectations of an observer or experimenter affects the results of the study
44
observer effect
happens in naturalistic observation when the “watcher” is seen by the organism being researched and changes its usual behavior because of it
45
Overconfidence
action of being more confident than correct in a situation
46
overt behavior
behavior that can be physically seen
47
Placebo
a substance or treatment that is given to a group of people and has no effect; it is used as a control
48
placebo effect
results caused by a drug evaluation experiment are due to the expectations alone of the experiment; i.e. if given an inert placebo to a user who does not know whether the “drug” is the treatment or not, the user may be excited and think that the “drug” ie was the treatment
49
Population
a larger group that a sample is taken from
50
positive correlation
when an increase in the independent variable causes an increase in the dependent variable
51
Prediction
a statement that attempts to predict what will happen in the future given past or known information
52
random assignment
the participants are assigned to a research group by chance
53
random sample
each member of a sample has an equal chance of being chosen
54
random selection
a method of sampling where the participants are chosen at random
55
Range
the highest value of a data set minus the lowest value
56
Reliability
the extent to which a research study is stable and consistent
57
Replication
the processes of repeating an experiment or quality of being able to repeat an experiment
58
representative sample
the sample chosen that represents the larger population well
59
research method
the methods that one uses to collect data
60
sampling bias
the flawed process of sampling that produces an unrepresentative sample
61
Scatterplot
a graphical representation of an association between variables
62
scientific observation
observation carried out by careful thought and accuracy to obtain data
63
single-blind experiment
experiment where the participants do not know what research group they are assigned to, but the researchers do know what research group they are assigned to.
64
skewed distribution
a distribution of data points that are affected by “way-off” data scores
65
standard deviation
the average distance a value is away from the mean
66
statistical significance
the probability that a statistical finding is due to something other than chance or coincidence
67
stratified sampling
sample taken from a subpopulation rather than the whole population
68
survey method
a method of descriptive research where one gathers personal information from the participants
69
Theory
ideas that attempt to explain observations
70
uncritical acceptance
tendency to believe the compliments you recieve
71
Validity
how correct, logical, relevant, and meaningful a research study is to the target variable
72
Variable
anything measured in an experiment
73
How do psychologists collect information?
Psychologists collect information by designing and proceeding with experiments
74
How is an experiment performed, and what are its major components?
An experiment is performed using the scientific method and consists of an independent variable, a dependent variable, and an experimental and control group
75
What research methods do psychologists use, and for what purposes?
Psychologists use descriptive research to describe behaviors, they use experimental research to find the effects of one variable on another, and they use correlational research to find if there is any relationship whatsoever between two variables.
76
How does psychology differ from false explanations of behavior?
Psychology uses scientific thinking and reasoning to test these explanations on how true they are
77
How dependable is psychological information in popular media?
Psychological information from the popular media may not be accurate; it is much better to check these facts with trustable and accurate sources
78
What is the role of critical thinking in the scientific process?
Science uses critical thinking to test its theories to the maximum and further improve the accuracy of theories
79
What ethical questions does psychological research raise?
Some ethical questions include “is it ethical to experiment on animals/ people?”

AP Psychology (19 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2025 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions