AP Psych Vocab List 2

Question 1

The tendency to believe after learning an outcome, that one would have foreseen it. (Also known as the I-knew-it-all-along phenomenon)

Answer 1

Hindsight bias

Question 2

An explanation using an integrated set of principles that organizes observations and predicts behaviors or events.

Answer 2

Theory

Question 3

A testable prediction, often implied by a theory.

Answer 3

Hypothesis

Question 4

A carefully worded statement of the exact procedures used in a research study.

Answer 4

Operational definition

Question 5

Repeating the essence of a research study, usually with different participants in different situations, to see whether the best finding can be reproduced.

Answer 5

Replication

Question 6

A procedure for statistically combining the results of many different research studies.

Answer 6

Meta-Analysis

Question 7

A flawed sampling process that produces an unrepresentative sample.

Answer 7

Sampling Bias

Question 8

A descriptive technique of observing and recording behavior in naturally occurring situations without trying to manipulate or control the situation.

Answer 8

Naturalistic Observation

Question 9

The post-experimental explanation of a study, including its purpose and any deceptions, to its participants.

Answer 9

Debriefing

Question 10

A statistical index of the relationship between two things.

Answer 10

Correlation coefficient

Question 11

Both variables increase or decrease at the same time. A correlation coefficient close to +1.00 indicates a strong positive correlation.

Answer 11

Positive Correlation

Question 12

As the amount of one variable increases, the other decreases (and vice versa). A correlation coefficient close to -1.00 indicates a strong negative correlation.

Answer 12

Negative Correlation

Question 13

The tendency for extreme or unusual scores or events to fall back toward the average.

Answer 13

Regression to the mean

Question 14

Giving potential participants enough information about a study to enable them to choose whether they wish to participate.

Answer 14

Informed Consent

Question 15

The measure of how useful the results of a study are for a larger group of people or situations.

Answer 15

Generalizability

Question 16

The extent to which a test or experiment measures or predicts what it is supposed to.

Answer 16

Validity

Question 17

The arithmetic average of a distribution, obtained by adding the scores and then dividing by the number of scores.

Answer 17

Mean

Question 18

The middle score in a distribution; half the scores are above it and half are below it.

Answer 18

Median

Question 19

The most frequently occurring scores in a distribution .

Answer 19

Mode

Question 20

A committee that has been formally designated to approve, monitor, and review biomedical and behavioral research involving humans with the aim to protect the rights and welfare of the research subjects.

Answer 20

Institutional Review Board

Question 21

A frequency curve where most occurrences take place in the middle of the distribution and taper off on either side.

Answer 21

Normal Curve

Question 22

Numerical data that allow one to generalize-to infer from sample data the probability of something being true of a population.

Answer 22

Inferential Statistics

Question 23

A statistical statement of how likely it is that an obtained result occurred by chance.

Answer 23

Statistical significance