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AP PSYCH - KEY VOCABULARY 2026 100% PASS
ASSURED UPDATED EXAM SOLUTIONS.
Confirmation Bias - correct answer- A tendency
to search for information that supports our
preconceptions and to ignore or distort
contradictory evidence.
Hindsight Bias - correct answer- The tendency
to believe, after learning an outcome, that
one would have foreseen it. (Also known as the
I-knew-it-all-along phenomenon.)
Overconfidence - correct answer- The tendency
to overestimate one's knowledge or abilities.
Independent Variable - correct answer- The
factor manipulated in an experiment to observe
its effect.
Dependent Variable - correct answer- The
outcome measured in an experiment based on
changes in the independent variable.
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Random Assignment - correct answer- Randomly
allocating participants to experimental or
control groups to reduce bias.
Case Study - correct answer- An in-depth
analysis of a single individual or group.
Correlational Research - correct answer- Type
of research technique based on the naturally
occurring relationship between two or more
variables. Involves the use of scatterplots.
Meta-Analysis - correct answer- Set of
statistical techniques for combining data from
independent studies to produce a single
estimate of effect. Very objective and
accurate.
Naturalistic Observation - correct answer-
Involves the systematic study of behavior in
natural settings rather than a laboratory.
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Participants cannot know they are being
watched.
Operational Definition - correct answer- A
precise explanation of how variables are
measured in a study.
Confounding Variable - correct answer- An
extraneous factor that could influence results
alongside the independent variable.
Normal Curve - correct answer- A normal
distribution - A symmetrical bell-shaped curve
describing the distribution of many types of
data; most scores fall near the mean.
Standard Deviation - correct answer- A
computed measure of how much scores vary
around the mean score.
Regression Toward the Mean - correct answer-
The tendency for extreme scores to move closer
to the average upon retesting.
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Representative Sample - correct answer- A
subset of a population that accurately
reflects the whole.
Random Sampling - correct answer- Selecting
participants in a way that each has an equal
chance of being chosen.
Convenience Sampling - correct answer-
Choosing participants based on availability
and ease of access.
Sampling Bias - correct answer- A flawed
sampling process that produces an
unrepresentative sample.
Experimental Group - correct answer- The group
exposed to the independent variable in an
experiment.
AP PSYCH - KEY VOCABULARY 2026 100% PASS
ASSURED UPDATED EXAM SOLUTIONS.
Confirmation Bias - correct answer- A tendency
to search for information that supports our
preconceptions and to ignore or distort
contradictory evidence.
Hindsight Bias - correct answer- The tendency
to believe, after learning an outcome, that
one would have foreseen it. (Also known as the
I-knew-it-all-along phenomenon.)
Overconfidence - correct answer- The tendency
to overestimate one's knowledge or abilities.
Independent Variable - correct answer- The
factor manipulated in an experiment to observe
its effect.
Dependent Variable - correct answer- The
outcome measured in an experiment based on
changes in the independent variable.
,2 | Page
Random Assignment - correct answer- Randomly
allocating participants to experimental or
control groups to reduce bias.
Case Study - correct answer- An in-depth
analysis of a single individual or group.
Correlational Research - correct answer- Type
of research technique based on the naturally
occurring relationship between two or more
variables. Involves the use of scatterplots.
Meta-Analysis - correct answer- Set of
statistical techniques for combining data from
independent studies to produce a single
estimate of effect. Very objective and
accurate.
Naturalistic Observation - correct answer-
Involves the systematic study of behavior in
natural settings rather than a laboratory.
,3 | Page
Participants cannot know they are being
watched.
Operational Definition - correct answer- A
precise explanation of how variables are
measured in a study.
Confounding Variable - correct answer- An
extraneous factor that could influence results
alongside the independent variable.
Normal Curve - correct answer- A normal
distribution - A symmetrical bell-shaped curve
describing the distribution of many types of
data; most scores fall near the mean.
Standard Deviation - correct answer- A
computed measure of how much scores vary
around the mean score.
Regression Toward the Mean - correct answer-
The tendency for extreme scores to move closer
to the average upon retesting.
, 4 | Page
Representative Sample - correct answer- A
subset of a population that accurately
reflects the whole.
Random Sampling - correct answer- Selecting
participants in a way that each has an equal
chance of being chosen.
Convenience Sampling - correct answer-
Choosing participants based on availability
and ease of access.
Sampling Bias - correct answer- A flawed
sampling process that produces an
unrepresentative sample.
Experimental Group - correct answer- The group
exposed to the independent variable in an
experiment.
