Questions and Answers
What does our tendency to believe we know more than we do illustrate?
Overconfidence
What does the hindsight bias refer to?
Exaggerate their ability to have foreseen the outcome of past events
What might we be experiencing when we see outcomes as obvious based on what has occurred?
Hindsight bias
Which two questions exemplify the scientific attitude?
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Megan was certain she would never live far from her family, but she moved to further her career. What does this illustrate?
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What is a specification of how a researcher measures a research variable known as?
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What is Professor Shalet's idea about intelligence and genes best described as?
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How can critical thinkers best be described?
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What process is most likely to be facilitated by operational definition?
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What process would best enable Professor Ambra to assess the reliability of research findings?
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Which techniques involve repeating the essence of an earlier research study with different participants?
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What do surveys indicate about people's support for welfare vs. aid to the needy?
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Why is replication important to science?
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Which researcher used the case study method to observe one exceptional individual?
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What is the biggest danger of relying on case study evidence?
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To describe animal behavior in their native habitats, researchers are most likely to use what?
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Correlational research is most useful for what purpose?
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Which research method would be most appropriate for investigating the relationship between Americans' religious beliefs and their attitudes towards abortions?
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If college graduates typically earn more than high school graduates, this indicates that education level and income are what?
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If psychologists discover that wealthy people are less satisfied with their marriages than poor people, this indicates what about wealth and marital satisfaction?
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To discover how economic status predicts political preferences, researchers are most likely to use what?
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Which correlation between annual income and education level would best enable you to predict annual income?
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If the correlation between physical weight and reading ability of children is positive .85, what does this indicate?
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In a test of sleep deprivation on problem-solving skills, if participants see either 4 or 8 hours of sleep each night, what type of research is this?
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Felicia believes all Fridays the 13th will bring bad luck because of a past experience. What does this illustrate?
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An extensive survey showed children with high self-esteem picture God positively while those with lower self-esteem view God negatively. What does this illustrate?
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What illustrates the healing power of positive expectations?
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In a drug treatment study, participants given a pill with no actual drug are receiving a?
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What is the most foolproof way of testing the effectiveness of a new psychological therapy method?
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What do researchers engage in to exercise maximum control over the factors they are interested in studying?
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Study Notes
Psychological Concepts
- Overconfidence: A cognitive bias where individuals believe they know more than they actually do, leading to misjudgments about their abilities.
- Hindsight Bias: The tendency to think that one could have predicted an event after it has already occurred, often leading to an inflated sense of foresight.
- Operational Definition: A clear specification of how variables are measured in a study, which facilitates replication.
Research Methods and Attitudes
- Scientific Attitude: Exemplified by critical questions like "What do you mean?" and "How do you know?", promoting skepticism and inquiry.
- Replication: Repeating a study to confirm findings, which increases confidence in the reliability of original research results.
Survey and Case Study Insights
- Wording Effects: Variations in survey phrasing can significantly influence responses, emphasizing careful wording in survey design.
- Case Study Method: Used by researchers like Jean Piaget to gather in-depth observations of unique individuals, though it may not represent broader populations.
Observational Techniques
- Naturalistic Observations: A research method involving direct observation of subjects in their natural environment to describe behavior without interference.
Correlation Concepts
- Prediction: Correlational research is primarily used for making predictions about relationships between variables.
- Positive Correlation: Higher levels of one variable (e.g., education) predict higher levels of another (e.g., income).
- Negative Correlation: An inverse relationship indicating that as one variable (e.g., wealth) increases, another variable (e.g., marital satisfaction) decreases.
Experimental Research
- Experimental Design: Involves manipulating one or more factors to determine their effects on a dependent variable, allowing for cause-and-effect conclusions.
- Placebo Effect: The phenomenon where participants experience real changes in their condition due to their expectations rather than the treatment itself.
Understanding Correlation and Causation
- Assuming Correlation Proves Causation: A common error where researchers mistakenly conclude that correlated variables have a direct cause-and-effect relationship.
Important Discoveries
- The Role of Expectations: Positive expectations can significantly impact outcomes, as seen in the placebo effect.
- Effectiveness of Research Designs: The most reliable way to establish the impact of a therapeutic method is through controlled experimental research, which allows for maximum control over variables.
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Description
Test your knowledge with these flashcards covering key concepts from AP Psychology Unit 2. Understand important principles such as overconfidence and hindsight bias that are crucial for grasping psychological phenomena. Perfect for review before exams or enhancing your understanding of psychology.
