CH. 1 The Science of Psychology

Question 1

What is psychology

Answer 1

Scientific study of behavior and mental processes

Question 2

What are the 4 aspects of Scientific Thinking?

Answer 2

Curious
objective
skeptical
think critically

Question 3

What are the 6 steps of the Scientific Method?

Answer 3

1. Observation & literature review
2. Testable hypothesis
3. Research design
4. Data collection and analysis
5. Publication
6. Theory development

Question 4

Theory vs Hypothesis
DEFINE
How are they different

Answer 4

Theory- Broad explanation of observations or facts through repeated testing (Tested)

Hypothesis- statement or possible explanation of the relationship you have observed (PREDICTIONS)

Question 5

Variable-

Answer 5

Any factors that can vary or change

can be observed, measured and verified

Question 6

3 types of research data collection methods

Answer 6

Descriptive

Correlational

Experimental

Question 7

Descriptive Research

Answer 7

observing & recording behavior & mental states without manipulating the variable

Question 8

5 types of Descriptive research

Answer 8

Naturalistic observation- Real world settings (NO MANIPULATIONS)

Surveys- convenient social desirability

Case Study- in depth look at a single individual
-rare conditions
-interviews
sometimes small groups

standardized tests- uniform way of administering & scoring. Describes current state; may change in time.

Meta Analysis- A statistical technique for combining analyzing data from many studies in order to determine overall trends

Question 9

MAIN GOAL OF Correlational research

Answer 9

Identify the strength of the relationship between two or more events or characteristics. designed to meet the goal of prediction

Question 10

3rd variable

illusory correlations

Answer 10

does not indicate cause & affect- EX: Ice cream and drowning are HIGHLY correlated. not because ice cream sales cause drowning. but they both are in the summer time….(3rd variable)

Illusory correlations- non existent. made up. NO actual connections between the two variables

Question 11

What is Correlation Coefficient

Answer 11

A number from -1.00 to +1.00 that indicates the direction and strength of the relationship between to variables.

scatter plots- show if
positive relationship
negative
no relationship (0)

Question 12

strongest positive relationship between two variables?

weakest possible relationship

Answer 12

+1

0

Question 13

Experimental Design

Answer 13

Manipulating and controlling the variables to determine cause of behavior (cause & affect)

Question 14

INDEPENDENT VARIABLE

DEPENDENT VARIABLE

Answer 14

IV- manipulated, influenced, experimental factors in the experiment, controlled by the experimenter (AKA treatment variable)

DV- observed & measured for change. depends on the IV’s factors

EXAMPLE: New medications thought to help anxiety (IV)
anxiety levels of the participant/client (DV)

Question 15

Random Assignment

Answer 15

equal chance for participants to be assigned to either group

Question 16

Experimental group

Answer 16

group is manipulated

Question 17

control group

Answer 17

comparison, treated like experimental but not manipulated

Question 18

Placebo

Answer 18

Inactive substance- fake. Mimics the Independent Variable but isn’t the (IV)

Question 19

Placebo affect

Answer 19

The DV says there symptoms improve. all in their heads

Question 20

Population Vs. Sample

Answer 20

population- is the entire group

Sample- a section of the group

SAMPLE BIAS- when a researcher recruits and selects individuals who do not accurately reflect the composition of the population.

Question 21

Experimenter Bias

Participant Bias

Answer 21

when the experimenters behavior and or expectations influence the groups outcome.

when the participants behavior and or expectations influence the groups outcome.

ALLEVIATE BIAS BY:
anonymous participation, privacy and confidentiality

Question 22

Informed consent

Answer 22

patients are made aware of the study, what to expect. etc. agreement made

Question 23

Confidentiality

Answer 23

personal info is kept private and not published

Question 24

Debriefing

Answer 24

a discussion at the end of an experiment or study.