Chapter 1: Intro to Psychology Flashcards
What is the definition of Psychology?
the scientific study of behavior and mental processes
What are the 4 basic goals of Psychology?
1- describe- examine behaviors
2- explain- organize and make sense
3- predict- predict behavior and outcomes
4- change behavior- control behavior
What discipline did the study of Psychology originate from?
developed from philosophy and physiology
Basic research
focuses on collecting data to support theories
Applied research
focuses on changing behaviors and outcomes
Who is considered to be the “father” of psychology?
Wilhelm Wundt
Nature in psychology
the inherited biological factors that shape behaviors, personality, and other characteristics
Nurture in psychology
the environmental factors that shape behaviors, personality, and other characteristics
Plato
believed truth and knowledge exist in the soul before birth (nature)
Aristotle
Plato’s student; believed that we know reality through our perceptions, and we learn through our sensory experiences (nurture)
Empirical method
a process that uses objective observation to measure and collect data
Introspection
the examination of one’s own conscious activities
What field of psychology was Sigmund Freud known for?
Psychodynamic Theory
What field of psychology was William James known for?
Functionalism
What field of psychology was John Watson known for?
Behaviorism
What field of psychology was Wilhelm Wundt known for?
Structuralism
What field of psychology was Abraham Maslow known for?
Humanistic Theory
Humanistic Psychology
study focused on positive human behaviors and human’s natural capacity for growth
Behaviorism
the study of observable behaviors
Functionalism
the study of how the mind allows people to live, work, play and adapt to their environment
Structuralism
the study of the components/structures of the mind through objective introspection
Psychoanalysis
the study of unconscious thoughts, feelings, and desires
Sociocultural Psychology
the study of how social and cultural environments influence behavior
Biological Psychology
the study of the brain and nervous system and its effect on behavior
Evolutionary Psychology
the study of human behavior as it relates to adapting to the environment and natural selection
Cognitive Psychology
the study of memory, intelligence, decision making and problem solving
Biopsychosocial Perspective
studies behavior through the interaction of biological, psychological and sociocultural factors
B. F. Skinner
studied the relationship between behaviors and their consequences; focused on operant conditioning
Cognitive perspective
examining the mental processes that direct behavior
Structure
how the mind is structured
Function
thoughts, feelings, and behaviors and how they help us adapt to the environment
What years of a human’s life has the most impact?
0-5
The 5 basic steps of the scientific method
1- Develop a question
2- Develop a hypothesis
3- Design study and collect data
4- Analyze the data
5- Share the findings
Variables
measurable characteristics that can vary over time or across people
Population
all members of an identified group about which a researcher is interested
Sample
a subset of a population chosen for inclusion in an experiment
Random sample
a subset of the population chosen through a procedure that ensures all members of the population have an equal chance of being selected to participate in the study
Survey method
a type of descriptive research that uses questionnaires or interviews to gather data
Case study
a detailed examination of an individual or small group
Descriptive research
research methods that observe and explore behaviors, but whose findings cannot definitively state cause-and-effect relationships
Naturalistic Observation
a type of descriptive research that studies participants in their naturalistic environment through systematic observation
Correlational method
a type of research examining relationships among variables
Correlation coefficient
the statistical measure that indicates the strength and direction of the relationship between two variables
Positive correlation
both variables move in the same direction
Negative correlation
variables move in opposite directions
How are correlation coefficients inversely related?
the closer r is to +1.00 or -1.00, the stronger the relationship
Third variable
some unaccounted-for characteristic of the participants or their environment that explains the changes in the two other variables
Independent variable
variable manipulated by the researcher
Dependent variable
the characteristic or response that is measured
Extraneous variable
a characteristic of participants or the environment that could unexpectedly influence the outcome of a study
Confounding variable
a type of extraneous variable that changes in sync with the independent variable, making it difficult to discern which one is causing changes in the dependent variable
Placebo
an inert substance given to members of the control group; this fake treatment has no benefit but is administered as if it will
Experimental group
the participants in an experiment who are exposed to the treatment variable or manipulation by the researcher; represent the treatment group
Control group
the participants in an experiment who are not exposed to the treatment variable; this is the comparison group
Double-blind study
type of studies where neither the participants nor the researchers administering know who is receiving the treatment
What is a measure of central tendency?
the numbers that represent the middle of the data set
Mean
the arithmetic average of a data set
Median
the number that represents the position in a data set for which 50% of the values are above it, and 50% are below it
Mode
the most frequently occurring value in a data set
Bimodal distribution
a distribution with 2 modes, which are the two most frequently occurring values
Statistical Significance
the probability that the findings of a study were due to chance
Skewed data
non symmetrical frequency distribution
What number indicates a good p-value?
P<0.05
Inferential Statistics
explores the probability of events and tries to predict general trends
Descriptive statistics
researchers summarize the information they have gleaned from their studies
Sample size
a subset of a population chosen for inclusion in an experiment
