Ch 1: Science of Psychology (most important) Flashcards
PSYCHOLOGY
The scientific study of behavior and mental processes
CRITICAL THINKING
The process of thinking deeply and actively, asking questions, and evaluating the evidence
NEUROSCIENCE
The scientific study of the nervous system
BIOPSYCHOSOCIAL APPROACH
Umbrella of all approaches: biological, psychological, and social factors are all significant in producing behavior. All consist of a variety of specialties.
VARIABLE
Anything that can change
THEORY
A broad idea or set of closely related ideas that attempts to explain observations and to make predictions about future observations
A key characteristic of a scientific theory is that it must be _____.
FALSIFIABLE (Even a scientist who believes a theory is true must be able generate research to prove the theory wrong.)
HYPOTHESIS
A testable prediction that derives logically from a theory
REPLICATION
The process in which a scientist attempts to reproduce a study to see if the same results emerge.
THIRD VARIABLE PROBLEM
A variable that has not been measured accounts for the relationship between two other variables
Third variables are also known as _____.
CONFOUNDS
INDEPENDENT VARIABLE
A manipulated factor – the variable that the experimenter changes to see what its effects are.
DEPENDENT VARIABLE
The outcome – the factor that can change in response to changes in the independent variable.
EXPERIMENTAL GROUP
The participants who receive the drug or other treatment under study – those who are exposed to the change that the independent variable represents.
CONTROL GROUP
As much like the experimental group as possible and treated the same way except for the manipulated factor – provides a comparison against which the researcher can test the effects of the independent variable.
