Myers Psychology for AP: 25 Essential Definitions and Concepts You Need to Know

Understanding 9 Key Psychological Perspectives

1. Behavioral Perspective: Focuses on observable behaviors and environmental stimuli, ignoring internal mental processes.
2. Cognitive Perspective: Emphasizes mental processes such as memory, thinking, and language, which influence behavior.
3. Psychodynamic Perspective: Explores unconscious motivations, conflicts, and early life experiences that shape personality.
4. Humanistic Perspective: Values subjective experience, self-actualization, and the potential of all individuals.
5. Biopsychological Perspective: Examines the biological basis of behavior and mental processes.
6. Evolutionary Perspective: Views behavior and mental processes in terms of their adaptive value for survival.
7. Cross-Cultural Perspective: Considers cultural influences on psychological phenomena.
8. Gender Perspective: Examines the psychological impact of gender roles, stereotypes, and discrimination.
9. Developmental Perspective: Focuses on how psychological processes change over the lifespan.

10 Important Research Methods

1. Observational Methods: Studying behavior without intervening, either directly or indirectly.
2. Experimental Methods: Manipulating variables to determine cause-and-effect relationships.
3. Correlational Methods: Examining relationships between two or more variables, without establishing cause-and-effect.
4. Case Study Method: In-depth study of a single individual or small group, providing rich qualitative data.
5. Survey Research: Collecting data from a large sample of people, often through questionnaires.
6. Interviews: Gathering information through face-to-face or telephone conversations.
7. Longitudinal Studies: Observing participants over time to track changes in behavior or mental processes.
8. Cross-Sectional Studies: Comparing data from different age groups at a single point in time.
9. Meta-Analysis: Combining results from multiple studies to provide a more comprehensive understanding of a phenomenon.
10. Replication: Repeating a study multiple times to ensure its findings are reliable.

6 Statistics and Data Analysis Techniques

1. Descriptive Statistics: Summarizing data using measures of central tendency (e.g., mean, median, mode) and variability (e.g., standard deviation, range).
2. Inferential Statistics: Making inferences about a population based on a sample.
3. Hypothesis Testing: Formulating a hypothesis and using data to test its validity.
4. Correlation Coefficients: Measuring the strength and direction of relationships between variables.
5. Analysis of Variance (ANOVA): Comparing the means of multiple groups.
6. Regression Analysis: Predicting a dependent variable from one or more independent variables.

4 Ethical Guidelines for Psychological Research

1. Informed Consent: Obtaing permission from participants before conducting research that involves them.
2. Confidentiality: Protecting the privacy of research participants and their data.
3. Ethical Treatment: Ensuring that participants are treated with respect and dignity.
4. Institutional Review Board (IRB): Reviewing and approving proposed research studies to ensure ethical compliance.

Tables:

Table 1: Key Psychological Perspectives and Their Focus

Table 2: Research Methods and Their Advantages

Table 3: Data Analysis Techniques and Their Uses

Table 4: Ethical Guidelines for Psychological Research