Defining Psychological Science: The Experimental Method
Lily Scott
7 min read
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Study Guide Overview
This AP Psychology study guide covers research methods, including basic vs. applied research, the scientific method (theory, hypothesis, and operational definitions), and variables (independent, dependent, confounding, and control). It also discusses the Hawthorne effect, establishing cause and effect through random assignment, sampling bias and experimenter bias, and common sense biases (hindsight bias, overconfidence, and perceiving order in random events).
#AP Psychology Study Guide: Research Methods 🚀
Hey! Let's get you prepped for the AP Psych exam. This guide will break down research methods in a way that's easy to remember and super helpful for test day. Let's dive in!
#Types of Research
Understanding the difference between basic and applied research is key. Think of it like this:
- Basic Research: 🧐 Curiosity-driven, expanding knowledge. Like figuring out how caffeine affects the brain. No immediate practical goal.
- Focuses on foundational knowledge rather than solving specific problems.
- Applied Research: 🛠️ Problem-solving, practical use. Like finding a cure for OCD. Directly aims to address real-world issues.
Basic = Building knowledge, Applied = Action-oriented.
#The Scientific Method
It's not just a list of steps; it's how we make sure our findings are solid:
- Theory: 🤔 An explanation for observed behavior. This is your starting point.
- Hypothesis: 🧪 A testable prediction based on your theory. It's your educated guess.
- Operational Definition: 📝 This is crucial. It's how you define your variables so that anyone can replicate your study. Think of it as a recipe for your experiment. For example, instead of saying “intelligence,” you'd say “scores on an IQ test.”
- Pay close attention to how variables are defined in the study descriptions on the exam. This is where many students lose points!
#Types of Variables
Variables are the bread and butter of experiments. Let's break them down:
- Independent Variable (IV): 🎛️ The variable you change. It's the cause. Example: the amount of sleep.
- Dependent Variable (DV): 📈 The variable that's affected by the IV. It's the effect. Example: exam performance.
IV = I change it, DV = Depends on the IV.
- Confounding Variable: 🚧 An outside factor that messes with your resu...
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