ap unit 1 Flashcards
Operational definition
the statement of procedures the researcher is going to use in order to measure a specific variable.
Quantitative vs qualitative data
quantitative is numerical type, qualitative is non numerical, descriptive.
Descriptive research
these studies are used to describe general or specific behaviors and attributes that are observed and measured.
Case study
an observation technique in which one individual or just a few individuals are carefully studied in depth.
Survey method
self report data, relies on the individuals own report of their symptoms, behaviors, beliefs, or attitudes.
Observer effect
when people know they’re being watched, they are less likely to behave naturally.
Hawthorne effect
change in behavior due to the attention they are receiving from researchers, not manipulation.
Correlational studies
research used to see if two variables are related and to make predictions based on relationship.
Correlation coefficient
the direction of the relationship between the variable and its strength, helps us figure how closely other two things vary together, and thus how well either one predicts the other.
positive vs negative correlation coefficient
closer to -1 or +1 makes it a stronger relationship, if it’s closer to 0 it’s a weaker relationship.
Experimental method
the only way to establish that there is a cause and effect relationship between two variables is to conduct a scientific experiment.
Variables
anything that can vary or change, help test hypotheses.
Independent variable
treatment (x), the factor that the experimenter controls and manipulates. It’s believed to cause the change.
Dependent variable
measured (y), the variable that is being measured or tested in an experiment. It’s believed to change when an independent variable changes.
Confounding variable
a lurking variable, differences between the experimental group and the control group other than those resulting from the independent variable.
Population
includes all the individuals in the group to which the study applies.
Confederate
individuals who seem to be participants but in reality are part of the research team.
Representative Sample
a group that closely matches the characteristics of its population as a whole.
Random Sample
select people to participate in research in such a way that everyone in the population has an equal chance of being included.
Control group vs experimental group
control is being compared to the other group, it has no treatment or some treatment with no effect. The experimental group is exposed to the independent variable, receives the experimental manipulation.
Placebo
allows researchers to separate the effect of the variable itself from the expectations of the participants.
Single blind vs double blind
single blind is a research design when the participants don’t know which treatment group they are in. (experimental or controlled). Double blind is a research design when both the experimenter and participants don’t know what group they are in.
Reliability
whether or not an experiment can be repeated.
Validity
the accuracy of an experiment, to see if it’s testing what it’s supposed to test.
Find Mean, Median, Mode
mean is the average (add up all the numbers, divide by how many numbers), median is the middle number (place numbers in order then find middle), mode is the most repeated number (find the most recurring).
Range
represents the span of the scores in a data set (estimate of variation)
Standard Deviation
(SD) scores in a group differ from the mean of that same group.
Skewed Data
an outlier is disproportionately affecting the mean, a few scores stretch away from the group.
Skewed data postive
the long tail is on the positive side of the peak. Right side of peak.
Skewed data negative
the long tail is on the negative side of the peak. Left side of peak.
Statistical significance
a measure of the likelihood that the difference between groups results from a real difference between the two groups rather than from chance alone.
Outlier
a data point that sits an abnormal distance from other values in a random sample. Once normal range is found, the outliers are found.
Null hypothesis
predicts there will not be a significant relationship.
Ethics
the correct rules of conduct and moral principles necessary when carrying out research.
Two types of ethics review boards
Institutional Review Board for humans and Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee for animals.
Informed consent
a form provides a written description of what participants can expect during the experiment, including potential risks and implications of research.
Discontinued participation
participant is capable of leaving and not continuing study at any time
Confidentiality
any data collected in the experiment should remain completely private.
Dorothea Dix
she helped to spread and founding more than 30 hospitals for the treatment of the mentally ill. Helped to change the idea that mentally disturbances can be cured and treated.
Wilhelm Wundt
“father of psychology” 1879, separated psychology from philosophy, personally trained leading psychologists, first to establish an experimental lab for psych.
Structuralism
what the mind is, focus of study was the structure or basis element of consciousness using trained introspection.
William James
“father of American psychology” professor at Harvard, first to teach a psych course, wrote The Principles of Psychology.
Mary Winton Calkins
studied psych under James at Harvard, worked to get PhD but was refused to get it, first female president of American Psychological Association.
Margaret Flow Washburn
Titcheners’ first grad student, first woman to get PhD of psych in Cornell University, interested in animal behavior, wrote The Animal Mind, served as president in American Psychological Association.
G Stanley Hall
member of school of structuralism, set up a psych lab employing introspection at Johns Hopkins University (first psych lab in US), helped found the American Psychological Association, founded first journal research in psych.
Functionalism
what the mind does, higher mental processes were developed over the ages by evolution because of their adaptive value/life preserving functions.
