Chapter 1-4 Exam Study Guide

Question 1

Psychology

Answer 1

The scientific study of mind and behavior, both of which depend on processing in the brain

Question 2

Critical Thinking

Answer 2

Systematically evaluating information to reach conclusions based on the evidence presented.

Question 3

Steps in Critical Thinking

Answer 3

1. What is the claim I am being asked to accept?
2. What evidence, if any, is provided to support the claim?
3. Given the evidence, to what extent should the claim be accepted or rejected

Question 4

Two main questions early philosophers proposed

Answer 4

Nature vs Nurture and Mind/Body Problem

Question 5

Nature vs Nurture?

Answer 5

Does biology or the environment determine behavior?

Question 6

Mind/Body Problem

Answer 6

Are the mind/body separate?
Do they interact?
Does the mind control the body or the body control the mind

Question 7

Structuralism

Answer 7

The first school of psychology and focused on breaking down mental processes into the most basic components/The periodic table of consciousness.

Question 8

Functionalism

Answer 8

Asks why and is the idea that the mind is complex and a stream of consciousness.

Question 9

Psychoanalysis

Answer 9

Is used to understand unconscious forces, and uses dream analysis and free association. Is not scientific, but contributed to a lot of firsts

Question 10

Unconscious Forces

Answer 10

Things we bury deep in our mind that we don’t realize is there. (Ex: trauma, taboo conflict)

Question 11

Dream Analysis

Answer 11

Letting the patient explain what’s in their dream, to explain the symbolism of them.

Question 12

Free Association

Answer 12

Letting the patient talk to see where their conversation goes.

Question 13

Gestalt Psychology

Answer 13

Handles the mind as the sum of its parts instead of separately. Opposed to structuralism

Question 14

Behaviorism

Answer 14

The study of the things you can see. Opposed to Freudian psychoanalysis

Question 15

Humanistic Psychology

Answer 15

Believe we’re good people at heart, we just need to find it. Also called positive psychology. Created in reaction to behaviorism and psychoanalysis

Question 16

Cognitive Psychology

Answer 16

The study of how people think, learn, and remember. Created in reaction to behaviorism and budding technology

Question 17

Social Psychology

Answer 17

The study of how people influence other people’s thoughts feelings and actions

Question 18

Scientific Method

Answer 18

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

Question 19

Theory

Answer 19

An explanation for why something occurs based on prior data.

Question 20

A good theory is:

Answer 20

1. Supported by data
2. Falsifiable
3. Parsimonious

Question 21

Hypothesis

Answer 21

A specific testable prediction

Question 22

Five steps in the Scientific Method

Answer 22

1. Formulate/Find a theory
2. Develop a testable hypothesis
3. Test with a research method
4. Analyze the data
5. Share the results and conduct more research

Question 23

Operation Definition

Answer 23

To define exactly how we are going to measure it.

Question 24

Three Types of Operationalization are:

Answer 24

1. Self Report
2. Observational
3. Physiological

Question 25

Self Reports

Answer 25

Questionnaires, surveys, polls, interviews.

Question 26

Observationals

Answer 26

Behavioral. Systematically assessing and coding behavior

Question 27

Physiologicals

Answer 27

Heart rate, blood pressure, fMRI, pupil dilation

Question 28

Three Types of Research Methods

Answer 28

Descriptive, Correlational, and Experimental methods

Question 29

Descriptive Research

Answer 29

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.

Question 30

Correlational Research

Answer 30

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.

Question 31

Experimental Research

Answer 31

Research methods that test causal hypotheses by manipulating independent variables and measuring the effects on dependent variables

Question 32

Descriptive Research Behavior

Answer 32

1. Not manipulating any variables 2. Not looking at a relationship between two or more variables 3. Only measuring one variable at a time

Question 33

Correlational Research Behavior

Answer 33

1. Argues that one variable is related to another 2. At least 2 variables 3. All variables should be measured - not manipulated

Question 34

Correlation doesn’t = causation because:

Answer 34

The directionality problem and the third variable problem

Question 35

Experimental can = causation if:

Answer 35

Using random assignment and eliminating confounds