Chapter 1 Flashcards
Psychology as a Science
availability heuristic
judgements about the likelihood of an event or situation occurring based on how easily we can think of similar or relevant instances. (ex. if we can easily think of a time when a storm didn’t live up to a forecaster’s prediction, we could ignore an evacuation order)
representativeness heuristic
determine the likelihood of an event based on what we consider to be a “typical example of that event. (ex. “wanting to eat healthier, then eating granola and fruit-flavoured yogurt for lunch”)
better-than-average effect
overestimating skills, abilities, and performance when comparing yourself to others. (ex. “are you a good driver? do you have a good sense of humour?”)
overconfidence phenomenon
being overly confident in the correctness of our judgment. (ex. anticipating a high exam score when that usually doesn’t happen for you)
hindsight bias
the feeling you knew something all along after the outcome is learned.
focusing effect
when you emphasize some pieces of information and undervalue others. (helps confirm our pre-existing beliefs)
introspection
reflecting our own thoughts and experiences. (ex. writing in a journal/diary)
“what you see is all there is” phenomenon
taking things at face value. (you fail to see the limitations of our immediate experience)pl
pleasure paradox
when an introspective analysis regarding a positive experience results in it becoming less enjoyable
belief perseverance
maintaining beliefs despite contradictory factual information. (ex. your friend does something bad, but your still believe they’re a good person)
law of small numbers
extreme outcomes are more likely when considering a small number of cases. (ex. an old person with bad living habits living a long life, doesn’t mean everyone will)
outlier
a case distinct from other cases; an oddball.
“person who” statistics
ignore data/research because you know a person who contradicts it.
scientific method
a systematic approach for addressing questions of interest.
empirical research
researching using systemic observation, experience, or measurement. (ex. relies on research proving that cramming doesn’t work)
non-empirical research
researching using non-systemic methods, like examining personal experience or opinions. (relies on friends experiences to prove cramming works)
replication
recreating another person’s study to see if the findings are the same.
basic research
research that expands the knowledge on an existing topic.
applied research
research dedicated to solving a problem and helping people improve their quality of life. (if there’s an immediate goal of solving something)
denialisms use five strategies (FLICC)
- Fake experts
- Logical fallacies
- Impossible expectations
- Cherry-picking
- Conspiracy theories
pseudoscience
claims not backed by the scientific method.
fake news
new portrayed as true with no basis in fact.
critical-thinking skills
the ability to evaluate, apply, analyze, and synthesize information.
infographic
a graphic that synthesizes statistical information with aesthetically appealing visuals.
