Ch. 1 Flashcards
The view that psychology (1) should be an objective science that (2) studies behavior without reference to mental processes
Behaviorism
Historically important perspective that emphasized human growth potential
Humanistic psychology
The study of mental processes, such as occur when we perceive, learn, remember, think, communicate, and solve problems
Cognitive psychology
The interdisciplinary study of the brain activity linked with mental activity (including perception, thinking, memory, and language)
Cognitive neuroscience
The science of behavior and mental processes
Psychology
Thinking that does not blindly accept arguments and conclusions. Rather, it examines assumptions, uncovers hidden values, weighs evidence, and assesses conclusions
Critical thinking
An approach that integrates different but complementary views from biological, psychological, and social-cultural viewpoints
Biopsychosocial approach
The enduring behaviors, ideas, attitudes, values, and traditions shared by a group of people and handed down from one generation to the next
Culture
The age-old controversy over the relative influence of genes and experience in the development of psychological traits and behaviors
Nature-nurture issue
The principle that our mind processes information at the same time on separate conscious and unconscious tracks
Dual processing
The scientific study of human functioning, with the goals of discovering and promoting strengths and virtues to help individuals and communities to thrive
Positive psychology
The tendency to believe, after learning an outcome, that we could have predicted it
Hindsight bias
An explanation using principles that organize observations and predict behaviors or events
Theory
A testable prediction, often implied by a theory
Hypothesis
A carefully worded statement of the exact procedures (operations) used in a research study
Operational definition
Repeating the essence of a research study, usually with different participants in different situations, to see whether the basic finding can be reproduced
Replication
A descriptive technique in which one individual or group is studied in depth in the hope of revealing universal principles
Case study
A descriptive technique of observing and recording behavior in naturally occurring situations without trying to change or control the situation
Naturalistic observation
A descriptive technique for obtaining the self-reported attitudes or behaviors of a group, usually by questioning a representative, random sample of that group
Survey
All those in a group being studied, from which samples may be drawn
Population
A sample that fairly represents a population because each member has an equal chance of inclusion
Random sample
A measure of the extent to which two events vary together, and thus of how well either one predicts the other
Correlation
A method in which researchers vary one or more factors (ind. variables) to observe the effect on some behavior or mental process (dep. variable)
Experiment
Assigning participants to experimental and control groups by chance, thus minimizing any preexisting differences between the groups
Random assignment
In an experiment, the group exposed to the treatment, that is, to one version of the independent variable
Experimental group
In an experiment, the group not exposed to the treatment
Control group
An inactive substance or condition that is sometimes given to those in a control group in place of the treatment given to the experimental group
Placebo
In an experiment, a procedure in which both the participants and the research staff are ignorant about who has received the treatment or the placebo
Double-blind procedure
Results caused by expectations alone
Placebo effect
In an experiment, the factor that is manipulated; the variable whose effect is being studied
Independent variable
A factor other than the factor being studied that might influence a study’s results
Confounding variable
In an experiment, the factor that is measured
Dependent variable
Giving people enough information about a study to enable them to decide whether they wish to participate
Informed consent
After an experiment ends, explaining to participants the study’s purpose and any deceptions researchers used
Debriefing
Enhanced memory after retrieving, rather than simply rereading, information
Testing effect
A study method incorporating 5 steps: Survey, Question, Read, Retrieve, Review
SQ3R
Any action that can be observed and recorded
Behavior
Internal states that are inferred from behavior
Mental processes
