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ARTIFACT IN RESEARCH

an extraneous and unintended factor affecting the results of research, especially one associated with the researcher (e.g., expectations, personality) or

ASCENDING-DESCENDING SERIES

in psychophysics, this refers to two sets of stimuli

ASPERMIA

refers to the failure of the male reproductive organs to produce or emit semen. Also known as aspcrmatism.

ASSIGNMENT THERAPY

a specific technique used in group therapy to enhance group cohesiveness and communication among the participants. A sociometric test is

ASSOCIATION FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF PSYCHOL

an organization founded in 1974, whose main purpose is to promote human welfare through the advancement of the profession and

ASSOCIATIVE STRENGTH

the strength of an association between two items (e.g., a stimulus and response or between two items in memory). Associative

ASTHMA

a disorder in which blocking of the bronchial passages by contractions and mucus causes wheezing and gasping. The precipitating cause

ASYMPTOMATIC NEUROSYPHILIS

one form of neurosyphilis, whereby laboratory findings show abnormalities in the cerebrospinal fluid but the patient does not show symptoms

ATAXIC FEELING

a perception that the ability to coordinate muscular movement has been lost. The feeling may be psychogenic or caused by

ATMOSPHERIC PERSPECTIVE

a cue that aids in the accurate perception of depth and distance. Atmospheric perspective is the acquired or learned ability

ATTENDANCE

n. 1. the number of people present in a class, school, or at another educational function. 2. a record of

ATTENTIONAL DYSLEXIA

a form of dyslexia (see alexia) in which a person is able to read words but has difficulty identifying their

ATTITUDE CHANGE

any alteration in the strength or content of an attitude. This may result from active attempts by others to change

ATTRACTOR DYNAMICS

an approach to analyzing the interaction of goals, feedback, and the environment - especially in the evolution of a movement

ATYPICAL DISORDER

in the DSM-lll and earlier editions, a residual category that included unusual or uncharacteristic variations of the standard mental disorders.

AUDIBLE THOUGHT

a type of auditory hallucination in which one hears one's own thoughts or core beliefs - as if they were

AUDIT

n. in health administration, a formal evaluation or review of the health care services provided by an agency. See also

AUDITORY FILTER

the process responsible for the frequency and selectivity of the auditory system. Filters begin auditory processing in that some of

AUDITORY SPACE PERCEPTION

refers to the perceiver's perception of the direction and distance of a sound source. See also auditory localization.

AUSCULTATION

n. a diagnostic method in which the examiner, who is usually a doctor, listens for sounds within the body either