Psychology - ANSWER The scientific study of behavior and the mind
Four goals of psychology - ANSWER description, explanation, control,
and application
Pyschodynamic perspective - ANSWER searches for the causes of
behavior within the inner workings of our personality (our unique pattern
of traits, emotions, and motives), emphasizing the role of unconscious
processes (developed first by Freud).
Behavioral perspective - ANSWER focuses on the role of the external
environment in governing our actions. (blank tablet theory)
Humanistic perspective (humanism) - ANSWER emphasizes free will,
personal growth, and the attempt to find meaning in one's own
existence.
Cognitive perspective - ANSWER examines the nature of the mind and
how mental processes influence behavior. In this view, humans are
information processors whose actions are governed by thought.
Socio-cultural perspective - ANSWER examines how the social
environment and cultural learning influence our behavior, thoughts, and
feelings.
Biological perspective - ANSWER examines how brain processes and
other bodily functions regulate behavior.
5 Steps of the scientific method - ANSWER 1) Identify the question
2) Gather information and form a hypothesis
3) Test hypothesis by conducting research
4) Analyze data, draw tentative conclusions, and report findings
5) Build a body of knowledge (theories)
,Theory vs. hypothesis - ANSWER A theory is a set of formal
statements that explains how and why certain events are related to one
another.
Variable - ANSWER Any characteristic or factor that can change
Operational definition - ANSWER defines a variable in terms of the
specific procedures used to produce or measure it. This translates
abstract concepts into something measurable.
Four techniques used to study and measure psychological variables and
behavior. - ANSWER 1) Self-reports and reports by others
2) Measures of overt behavior
3) Psychological tests (personality)
4) Physiological measures
Informed consent and deception - ANSWER Before agreeing to
participate: purpose, procedure, benefits, risks, right to decline, and
whether the test is confidential must be disclosed. Deception is
sometimes necessary so as not to slew results.
3 methods of descriptive research - ANSWER 1) Case studies (in
depth analysis of an event)
2) Naturalistic observation
3) Surveys
Correlational research - ANSWER measures two separate variables
and statistically determines whether they are related.
Essential elements of an experiment - ANSWER Researcher
manipulates one or more variables, measures whether that manipulation
affects other variables, and attempts to control extraneous factors.
Two ways to assign subjects to experimental groups - ANSWER
Random assignment and having all do both
, Disadvantage of experiments - ANSWER faults in internal or external
validity can lead to faulty conclusions
Threats to validity - ANSWER confounding of variables, placebo
effects, experimenter expectancy effects, replicating/generalizing
findings, social desirability bias, and sampling bias
Confounding of variables - ANSWER Two variables are intertwined in
such a way that we cannot determine which one has influenced a
dependent variable
Placebo effects - ANSWER People receiving a treatment show a
change in behavior because of their expectations, not the treatment
Experimenter expectancy effects - ANSWER Unintentional ways a
researcher influences participants to respond in a manner which is
consistent with the hypothesis
Replicating/generalizing the findings - ANSWER Whether or not
findings can be duplicated and applied to other situations
Social desirability bias - ANSWER The tendency to respond in a
socially acceptable manner rather than with true feelings
Sampling bias - ANSWER Over or under-representing a particular
portion of the population
External validity - ANSWER the degree to which the results of a study
can be generalized to other populations, settings, or conditions.
Three measures of central tendency - ANSWER mean, median, and
mode
correlational coefficient - ANSWER a statistic that indicates direction
and strength of the relation between two variables
Four goals of psychology - ANSWER description, explanation, control,
and application
Pyschodynamic perspective - ANSWER searches for the causes of
behavior within the inner workings of our personality (our unique pattern
of traits, emotions, and motives), emphasizing the role of unconscious
processes (developed first by Freud).
Behavioral perspective - ANSWER focuses on the role of the external
environment in governing our actions. (blank tablet theory)
Humanistic perspective (humanism) - ANSWER emphasizes free will,
personal growth, and the attempt to find meaning in one's own
existence.
Cognitive perspective - ANSWER examines the nature of the mind and
how mental processes influence behavior. In this view, humans are
information processors whose actions are governed by thought.
Socio-cultural perspective - ANSWER examines how the social
environment and cultural learning influence our behavior, thoughts, and
feelings.
Biological perspective - ANSWER examines how brain processes and
other bodily functions regulate behavior.
5 Steps of the scientific method - ANSWER 1) Identify the question
2) Gather information and form a hypothesis
3) Test hypothesis by conducting research
4) Analyze data, draw tentative conclusions, and report findings
5) Build a body of knowledge (theories)
,Theory vs. hypothesis - ANSWER A theory is a set of formal
statements that explains how and why certain events are related to one
another.
Variable - ANSWER Any characteristic or factor that can change
Operational definition - ANSWER defines a variable in terms of the
specific procedures used to produce or measure it. This translates
abstract concepts into something measurable.
Four techniques used to study and measure psychological variables and
behavior. - ANSWER 1) Self-reports and reports by others
2) Measures of overt behavior
3) Psychological tests (personality)
4) Physiological measures
Informed consent and deception - ANSWER Before agreeing to
participate: purpose, procedure, benefits, risks, right to decline, and
whether the test is confidential must be disclosed. Deception is
sometimes necessary so as not to slew results.
3 methods of descriptive research - ANSWER 1) Case studies (in
depth analysis of an event)
2) Naturalistic observation
3) Surveys
Correlational research - ANSWER measures two separate variables
and statistically determines whether they are related.
Essential elements of an experiment - ANSWER Researcher
manipulates one or more variables, measures whether that manipulation
affects other variables, and attempts to control extraneous factors.
Two ways to assign subjects to experimental groups - ANSWER
Random assignment and having all do both
, Disadvantage of experiments - ANSWER faults in internal or external
validity can lead to faulty conclusions
Threats to validity - ANSWER confounding of variables, placebo
effects, experimenter expectancy effects, replicating/generalizing
findings, social desirability bias, and sampling bias
Confounding of variables - ANSWER Two variables are intertwined in
such a way that we cannot determine which one has influenced a
dependent variable
Placebo effects - ANSWER People receiving a treatment show a
change in behavior because of their expectations, not the treatment
Experimenter expectancy effects - ANSWER Unintentional ways a
researcher influences participants to respond in a manner which is
consistent with the hypothesis
Replicating/generalizing the findings - ANSWER Whether or not
findings can be duplicated and applied to other situations
Social desirability bias - ANSWER The tendency to respond in a
socially acceptable manner rather than with true feelings
Sampling bias - ANSWER Over or under-representing a particular
portion of the population
External validity - ANSWER the degree to which the results of a study
can be generalized to other populations, settings, or conditions.
Three measures of central tendency - ANSWER mean, median, and
mode
correlational coefficient - ANSWER a statistic that indicates direction
and strength of the relation between two variables
