Ch.1 Research Method Flashcards
Scientific Observation
Gathering evidence from direct observation. Systematically/carefully planned. Inter subjective - confirmed by more than one observer
Define Psychology
The scientific study of behavior and mental processes
Define Research Method
A systematic approach to answering scientific questions
Define Description
Naming or classifying, in scientific research
Define Understanding
When we can state the causes of behavior
Define Prediction
The ability to forecast behavior accurately
Define Control
The ability to alter the condition(s) that affect behavior
Define Critical Thinking
A type of reflection involving support of beliefs through scientific explanation and observation
Define Structuralism
The school of thought concerned with analyzing sensations and personal experiences into basic elements
Define Functionalism
The school of psychology concerned with how behavior and mental abilities help people adapt to their environment
Behaviorism
Definition: The study of over, observable behavior. Shaped & controlled by one’s environment.
Focuses on idea that people have issues today, due/learned from their environment.
Don’t believe in unconscious.
“If you’re depressed today, you learned it from your environment.”
Cognitive Behaviorism
Definition: a thought
Not learned from environment (difference with behaviorism), its the way you think/interpret about things (today)
Who/What is Gestalt?
A psychologist. Studied thinking, learning, and perception as whole units, not by analyzing experiences into parts.
Psychoanalytic
Definition: a psychologist who has training in Freudian.
*Sigmund Freud
Believed the reason why people have issues today, due to unconscious (area of the mind outside of personal awareness) conflicts/memories
Psychologist or Psychiatrist
Does PSYCHOANALYSIS (treatment) type of therapy, talking
Tested by dreams/dreaming
Biopsychologists
Deal with/study hormonal changes, chemical imbalances, the nervous system, the brain
Treated medically, with meds
Humanistic
Aka “Humanism”
Definition: view focuses on subjective human experience, problems, potentials, and ideals
Believe YOU are in control
FREE WILL - ability to make voluntary choices
Define Positive Psychology
The study of human strengths, virtues, and optimal behavior
What is an MFT?
Marriage and Family Therapist
What is a Psychologist?
A person highly trained in the methods, factual knowledge, and theories of psychology
What is LCSW?
a Licensed Clinical Social Worker
Is it necessary for a psychologist to get/have a PhD?
No. They are and/or can be Licensed
What is the difference between a Psychologist and Psychiatrist?
Psychologists: see the solution. Talking is the/their cure
Psychiatrist: are medical doctors, treat chemical balance/mental disorders w/ medication or psychotherapy.
*chemicals also get affected by having hope, faith, optimism
Define Scientific Method
A form of critical thinking based on careful measurement and controlled observations
Has 5 steps
Define a Hypothesis
An educated guess, prediction/guess how the experiment will turn out
Define Observer Effect
Refers to change in a subject’s behavior caused by an awareness of being observed.
Define Observer Bias
Observers see what they expect to see or record only selected details. Done by observing your own research
Who is Rosenthal and what did he do?
A psychologist. Believes/Experiments how expectations influence people
Class experiment
Define Self-fulfilling prophecy (related to Rosenthal)
A prediction that prompts people to act in ways that make the prediction come true
Who is Rosehan and what did he do?
Psychologist. Believed/perceived expectations influence perception.
Mental hospital experiment
What is a Correlational study?
Testing the relationship between two variable (are these variables related to each other?)
*Does not figure out cause and effect. Just relation between variables.
Correlational Methods
Tells you straight and nature between two variables
Nature refers to positive/negative correlation
The higher the number the higher the correlation (relation)
(.8 - 1.00 = strong)
(Correlation represented by “r”)
Define Correlation coefficients
The expression of the strength and direction of a relationship of a correlation (positive or negative +/-)
Define Positive Correlation
The higher you score in one variable, the higher you score on the other variable
Define Negative Correlation
The higher you score in one variable, the lower you score on the other variable
Define Experimental Studies/Methods
Ability to draw conclusions about cause and effect
What is an Independent Variable and what type of study/method is it related to?
Condition(s) altered/changed/varied by experimenter, who sets their size, amount, or value. Suspected to cause difference in behavior.
Experimental Study/Method
What is a Dependent Variable and what type of study/method is it related to?
It MEASURES the results of the experiment.
Experimental Study/Method
What is an Extraneous Variable and what type of study/method is it related to?
Condition(s) that a researcher wishes to prevent from affecting the outcome of the experiment. Outside variables, have to be the same in both groups (ex. classroom - teacher)
Experimental Study/Method
Define Experimental Group
Group of subjects exposed to the independent variable or experimental condition. Gets the independent variable.
Define Control Group
Group of subjects exposed to all experimental condition(s) or variable(s) except the independent variable
Define Random Assignment
The use of chance to assign subjects to experimental and control groups (ex. flipping a coin, counting off “1, 2, 1, 2..”)
Define Statistical Signficance
Experimental results that would rarely occur by change alone. Results “due to independent variable”
Results in levels of .05 or .01 = 95% or 99%, so to say that with 95 or 99% CERTAINTY, the difference in scores between groups is due to the independent variable.
Define Placebo Effect
Works through the power of suggestion/implication. Frequently used in meds, “fake pill.”
What is a Double Blind Experiment?
When subjects and experimenter(s) don’t know who/if in which group - experimental/control.
What is an Active Placebo?
Placebo that produces the same (side) affects as given/actual meds/substance
What is an Inactive Placebo?
Placebo that does not produce any (side) affects
Who is Milgram?
A psychologist that experimented on obedience and authority. Electric shock experiment
Who is Asch?
Experiment on “group pressures”
