PSY 101 (CAS) – Penn State University – Exam 1 Definitions Study
Guide (key terms and concepts)
psychology - correct answer ✔✔the scientific study of the behavior of humans & other animals
behavior - correct answer ✔✔anything that an organism does involving action & response to
stimulation
empirical - correct answer ✔✔based on or characterized by observation & experiment rather
than theory
theory - correct answer ✔✔the analysis of a set of facts in their relation to one another
hypothesis - correct answer ✔✔a tentative assumption made in order to draw out and test its
logical & empirical aspects
data - correct answer ✔✔factual information used as a basis for reasoning, discussion or
calculation
independent variable - correct answer ✔✔something the researcher decides
dependent variable - correct answer ✔✔something you are measuring
US (unconditioned stimulus) - correct answer ✔✔a stimulus that leads to a response that is not
learned (i.e. a dog salivating when it smells food)
CS (conditioned stimulus) - correct answer ✔✔a stimulus that leads to a response that is
learned (i.e. a dog salivating when it hears a bell, because that means it's dinner time)
Guide (key terms and concepts)
psychology - correct answer ✔✔the scientific study of the behavior of humans & other animals
behavior - correct answer ✔✔anything that an organism does involving action & response to
stimulation
empirical - correct answer ✔✔based on or characterized by observation & experiment rather
than theory
theory - correct answer ✔✔the analysis of a set of facts in their relation to one another
hypothesis - correct answer ✔✔a tentative assumption made in order to draw out and test its
logical & empirical aspects
data - correct answer ✔✔factual information used as a basis for reasoning, discussion or
calculation
independent variable - correct answer ✔✔something the researcher decides
dependent variable - correct answer ✔✔something you are measuring
US (unconditioned stimulus) - correct answer ✔✔a stimulus that leads to a response that is not
learned (i.e. a dog salivating when it smells food)
CS (conditioned stimulus) - correct answer ✔✔a stimulus that leads to a response that is
learned (i.e. a dog salivating when it hears a bell, because that means it's dinner time)
