McGill PSYC 100
Hypothesis - CORRECT ANSWER-A testable prediction on what the outcome of an
experiment will be. Derived from a theory
Confirmation Bias - CORRECT ANSWER-The tendency to seek out results that support
a hypothesis (and ignore results that contradict it)
Belief Perseverance - CORRECT ANSWER-Initial assumptions, even when proved to
be wrong, still tend to survive and influence people
Ruling Out Rival Hypotheses - CORRECT ANSWER-There may be another hypothesis
that explains the results just as well.
Correlation v. Causation - CORRECT ANSWER-Just because 2 events are related
does not mean that they influence each other
Falsifiability - CORRECT ANSWER-A scientific theory can only be valid if it can be
tested (and potentially disproved)
Replicability - CORRECT ANSWER-If an experiment cannot be re-performed, then its
results cannot be checked, so it has no falsifiability
Extraordinary Claims - CORRECT ANSWER-A sketchy claim must have more evidence
to be accepted than more reasonable claims
Occam's Razor - CORRECT ANSWER-The simplest explanation is the most likely to be
correct
Heuristic - CORRECT ANSWER-A mental shortcut that helps us make snap decisions,
or simplifies complicated problems
External Validity - CORRECT ANSWER-Measurement of how well the results can be
generalized to the outside world
Structuralism - CORRECT ANSWER-Big names: Wundt and Titchener.
Purpose: Wanted psychology to become like "hard" sciences, emphasized systematic
study.
Also Know: Used introspection (armchair speculation) to "map" the consciousness.
Functionalism - CORRECT ANSWER-Big names: James (and Darwin)
Purpose: Sought to define the adaptive purposes of thoughts and feelings.
,Behaviourism - CORRECT ANSWER-Big Names: Watson and Skinner
Purpose: Studied only observable behaviours, like rewards/ punishments and how
people learn.
Cognitivism - CORRECT ANSWER-Big Names: Piaget, Neisser
Purpose: Studied how people rationalize their behaviour - Countered Behaviourism,
claims that people will interpret rewards/punishments differently
Psychoanalysis - CORRECT ANSWER-Big Name: Freud
Purpose: Study the role of the unconscious on our everyday life
Scientific Theory - CORRECT ANSWER-An explanation on why something happens, or
what something is
Internal Validity - CORRECT ANSWER-The extent to which what was purported to be
measured, was measured
Naturalistic Observation Study - CORRECT ANSWER-Style: Watching behaviours in
real world settings without manipulating the situation.
Tends to have: High external, low internal
Case Study - CORRECT ANSWER-Style: Extensive, in-depth study of a unique
person/group
Tends to have: existence proofs, anecdotal, low internal/external
Correlational Designs - CORRECT ANSWER-Style: Experiment/Observation which
charts two variables against each other to see if they are associated in some way
Tends to have: predict behaviour, no internal
Experimental Designs - CORRECT ANSWER-Style: Manipulate one variable and
record how it affects another
Tends to have: High internal, sometimes low in external
Placebo Effect - CORRECT ANSWER-Patient improves their condition despite
receiving sugar pills, most likely because they expected to improve
Nocebo Effecy - CORRECT ANSWER-Harm resulting from the expectation of harm
Experimenter Expectancy Effect - CORRECT ANSWER-Experimenter unintentionally
biases their experiment towards proving their hypothesis
Neurons - CORRECT ANSWER-Nerve cell specialized for communication
Dendrite - CORRECT ANSWER-Neuron "ear" that receives communication from other
neurons
, Axon - CORRECT ANSWER-Neuron "mouth" that sends signals
Synaptic Vesicle - CORRECT ANSWER-Spherical sac containing neurotransmitters
Neurotransmitter - CORRECT ANSWER-Chemical messenger specialized for
communication from neuron to neuron
Synapse - CORRECT ANSWER-Connection point where neurotransmitters are shared
between neurons
Glial Cell - CORRECT ANSWER-Most numerous forms: astrocytes and
oligodendrocytes (myelin sheath)
Purpose: Expedites/Protects/Nourishes/Aids the communication between neurons
Action Potential - CORRECT ANSWER-Full on electric impulse that releases
neurotransmitters
Graded Potentials - CORRECT ANSWER-Can be an excitatory or inhibitory electric
pulse
Glutamate - CORRECT ANSWER-Main excitatory neurotransmitter
GABA - CORRECT ANSWER-Main inhibitory neurotransmitter
Plasticity - CORRECT ANSWER-Ability of the nervous system to change (occurs
constantly)
Frontal Lobe - CORRECT ANSWER-"Pilot sits in the Front"
Performs: executive functions, motor planning, language, memory
Broca's Area - CORRECT ANSWER-Damaging this area of the prefrontal cortex will
place a great burden on the patient's ability to produce speech
Parietal Lobe - CORRECT ANSWER-"Pa-irate-al arrrr for touchin' and perceivin'"
Performs: touch information, helps us track objects
Corpus Callosum - CORRECT ANSWER-"The Superhighway of the Brain"
Large band of fibres connecting the two cerebral hemispheres
Temporal Lobe - CORRECT ANSWER-"Just know this one, okay?"
Performs: hearing, understanding language, memory
Wernicke's Area - CORRECT ANSWER-"If you say Wernicke to some random guy,
they might think you have suffered damage to his area"
Hypothesis - CORRECT ANSWER-A testable prediction on what the outcome of an
experiment will be. Derived from a theory
Confirmation Bias - CORRECT ANSWER-The tendency to seek out results that support
a hypothesis (and ignore results that contradict it)
Belief Perseverance - CORRECT ANSWER-Initial assumptions, even when proved to
be wrong, still tend to survive and influence people
Ruling Out Rival Hypotheses - CORRECT ANSWER-There may be another hypothesis
that explains the results just as well.
Correlation v. Causation - CORRECT ANSWER-Just because 2 events are related
does not mean that they influence each other
Falsifiability - CORRECT ANSWER-A scientific theory can only be valid if it can be
tested (and potentially disproved)
Replicability - CORRECT ANSWER-If an experiment cannot be re-performed, then its
results cannot be checked, so it has no falsifiability
Extraordinary Claims - CORRECT ANSWER-A sketchy claim must have more evidence
to be accepted than more reasonable claims
Occam's Razor - CORRECT ANSWER-The simplest explanation is the most likely to be
correct
Heuristic - CORRECT ANSWER-A mental shortcut that helps us make snap decisions,
or simplifies complicated problems
External Validity - CORRECT ANSWER-Measurement of how well the results can be
generalized to the outside world
Structuralism - CORRECT ANSWER-Big names: Wundt and Titchener.
Purpose: Wanted psychology to become like "hard" sciences, emphasized systematic
study.
Also Know: Used introspection (armchair speculation) to "map" the consciousness.
Functionalism - CORRECT ANSWER-Big names: James (and Darwin)
Purpose: Sought to define the adaptive purposes of thoughts and feelings.
,Behaviourism - CORRECT ANSWER-Big Names: Watson and Skinner
Purpose: Studied only observable behaviours, like rewards/ punishments and how
people learn.
Cognitivism - CORRECT ANSWER-Big Names: Piaget, Neisser
Purpose: Studied how people rationalize their behaviour - Countered Behaviourism,
claims that people will interpret rewards/punishments differently
Psychoanalysis - CORRECT ANSWER-Big Name: Freud
Purpose: Study the role of the unconscious on our everyday life
Scientific Theory - CORRECT ANSWER-An explanation on why something happens, or
what something is
Internal Validity - CORRECT ANSWER-The extent to which what was purported to be
measured, was measured
Naturalistic Observation Study - CORRECT ANSWER-Style: Watching behaviours in
real world settings without manipulating the situation.
Tends to have: High external, low internal
Case Study - CORRECT ANSWER-Style: Extensive, in-depth study of a unique
person/group
Tends to have: existence proofs, anecdotal, low internal/external
Correlational Designs - CORRECT ANSWER-Style: Experiment/Observation which
charts two variables against each other to see if they are associated in some way
Tends to have: predict behaviour, no internal
Experimental Designs - CORRECT ANSWER-Style: Manipulate one variable and
record how it affects another
Tends to have: High internal, sometimes low in external
Placebo Effect - CORRECT ANSWER-Patient improves their condition despite
receiving sugar pills, most likely because they expected to improve
Nocebo Effecy - CORRECT ANSWER-Harm resulting from the expectation of harm
Experimenter Expectancy Effect - CORRECT ANSWER-Experimenter unintentionally
biases their experiment towards proving their hypothesis
Neurons - CORRECT ANSWER-Nerve cell specialized for communication
Dendrite - CORRECT ANSWER-Neuron "ear" that receives communication from other
neurons
, Axon - CORRECT ANSWER-Neuron "mouth" that sends signals
Synaptic Vesicle - CORRECT ANSWER-Spherical sac containing neurotransmitters
Neurotransmitter - CORRECT ANSWER-Chemical messenger specialized for
communication from neuron to neuron
Synapse - CORRECT ANSWER-Connection point where neurotransmitters are shared
between neurons
Glial Cell - CORRECT ANSWER-Most numerous forms: astrocytes and
oligodendrocytes (myelin sheath)
Purpose: Expedites/Protects/Nourishes/Aids the communication between neurons
Action Potential - CORRECT ANSWER-Full on electric impulse that releases
neurotransmitters
Graded Potentials - CORRECT ANSWER-Can be an excitatory or inhibitory electric
pulse
Glutamate - CORRECT ANSWER-Main excitatory neurotransmitter
GABA - CORRECT ANSWER-Main inhibitory neurotransmitter
Plasticity - CORRECT ANSWER-Ability of the nervous system to change (occurs
constantly)
Frontal Lobe - CORRECT ANSWER-"Pilot sits in the Front"
Performs: executive functions, motor planning, language, memory
Broca's Area - CORRECT ANSWER-Damaging this area of the prefrontal cortex will
place a great burden on the patient's ability to produce speech
Parietal Lobe - CORRECT ANSWER-"Pa-irate-al arrrr for touchin' and perceivin'"
Performs: touch information, helps us track objects
Corpus Callosum - CORRECT ANSWER-"The Superhighway of the Brain"
Large band of fibres connecting the two cerebral hemispheres
Temporal Lobe - CORRECT ANSWER-"Just know this one, okay?"
Performs: hearing, understanding language, memory
Wernicke's Area - CORRECT ANSWER-"If you say Wernicke to some random guy,
they might think you have suffered damage to his area"
