Chapter 1-4 Exam Study Guide Flashcards
Psychology
The scientific study of mind and behavior, both of which depend on processing in the brain
Critical Thinking
Systematically evaluating information to reach conclusions based on the evidence presented.
Steps in Critical Thinking
- What is the claim I am being asked to accept?
- What evidence, if any, is provided to support the claim?
- Given the evidence, to what extent should the claim be accepted or rejected
Two main questions early philosophers proposed
Nature vs Nurture and Mind/Body Problem
Nature vs Nurture?
Does biology or the environment determine behavior?
Mind/Body Problem
Are the mind/body separate?
Do they interact?
Does the mind control the body or the body control the mind
Structuralism
The first school of psychology and focused on breaking down mental processes into the most basic components/The periodic table of consciousness.
Functionalism
Asks why and is the idea that the mind is complex and a stream of consciousness.
Psychoanalysis
Is used to understand unconscious forces, and uses dream analysis and free association. Is not scientific, but contributed to a lot of firsts
Unconscious Forces
Things we bury deep in our mind that we don’t realize is there. (Ex: trauma, taboo conflict)
Dream Analysis
Letting the patient explain what’s in their dream, to explain the symbolism of them.
Free Association
Letting the patient talk to see where their conversation goes.
Gestalt Psychology
Handles the mind as the sum of its parts instead of separately. Opposed to structuralism
Behaviorism
The study of the things you can see. Opposed to Freudian psychoanalysis
Humanistic Psychology
Believe we’re good people at heart, we just need to find it. Also called positive psychology. Created in reaction to behaviorism and psychoanalysis
Cognitive Psychology
The study of how people think, learn, and remember. Created in reaction to behaviorism and budding technology
Social Psychology
The study of how people influence other people’s thoughts feelings and actions
Scientific Method
A systematic procedure of observing and measuring phenomena (observable things). To answer questions about what happens, when it happens, what happens, what causes it, and why. Involves an interaction between theories, hypotheses, and research methods
Theory
An explanation for why something occurs based on prior data.
A good theory is:
- Supported by data
- Falsifiable
- Parsimonious
Hypothesis
A specific testable prediction
Five steps in the Scientific Method
- Formulate/Find a theory
- Develop a testable hypothesis
- Test with a research method
- Analyze the data
- Share the results and conduct more research
Operation Definition
To define exactly how we are going to measure it.
Three Types of Operationalization are:
- Self Report
- Observational
- Physiological
Self Reports
Questionnaires, surveys, polls, interviews.
Observationals
Behavioral. Systematically assessing and coding behavior
Physiologicals
Heart rate, blood pressure, fMRI, pupil dilation
Three Types of Research Methods
Descriptive, Correlational, and Experimental methods
Descriptive Research
Research methods that provide a systematic and objective description of what is occurring. Measuring one variable at a time as it naturally occurs. The only method to use case study.
Correlational Research
Must be at least two or more variables to argue how they are related to one another/what can one variable tell you about the other. All variables must be measured and not manipulated.
Experimental Research
Research methods that test causal hypotheses by manipulating independent variables and measuring the effects on dependent variables
Descriptive Research Behavior
- Not manipulating any variables
- Not looking at a relationship between two or more variables
- Only measuring one variable at a time
Correlational Research Behavior
- Argues that one variable is related to another
- At least 2 variables
- All variables should be measured - not manipulated
Correlation doesn’t = causation because:
The directionality problem and the third variable problem
Experimental can = causation if:
Using random assignment and eliminating confounds
