Chapter 1: Psychology and Research Flashcards

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1
Q

Why do research psychologists use scientific methods?

A

To discover new knowledge about the causes of human behavior.

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2
Q

Why do psychologist-practitioners use existing research?

A

To enhance the lives of others.

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3
Q

What is data?

A

Information collected through formal observation or measurement.

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4
Q

Why do psychologists use data?

A

To answer questions about, and predict human behavior.

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5
Q

Define Intuition

A

Personal feelings and experiences about what the right answer should be.

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6
Q

Define Hindsight Bias

A

The tendency to think that we could have predicted something that has already occurred that we probably would not have been able to predict.

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7
Q

Define empirical methods

A

The processes of collecting and organizing data and drawing conclusions about those data.

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8
Q

Define scientific method

A

The set of assumptions, rules, and procedures that scientists use to conduct empirical research

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9
Q

Define value statements

A

A statement that cannot be measured objectively or tested for truthfulness, it cannot be evaluated using scientific inquiry.

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10
Q

Define values

A

Personal statements or beliefs

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11
Q

Define Facts

A

Objective statements verified by empirical evidence.

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12
Q

How can facts be used?

A

To help develop or determine their values

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13
Q

How can values impact research?

A

By determining what research is appropriate or important

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14
Q

Define Levels of Explanation

A

Perspectives that are used to understand behavior

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15
Q

Identify the 3 levels of explanation?

A

Lower Level
Middle Level
Higher Level

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16
Q

Define Lower Level

A

Related to biological influences.

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17
Q

Define Middle Level

A

Related to characteristics and abilities of individuals

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18
Q

Define Higher Level

A

related to social groups, organizations, and cultures

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19
Q

Define Individual Differences

A

the variations among people on physical or psychological dimensions.

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20
Q

define multiply determined

A

Behavior that is caused by many factors, often interrelated causes, which occur at many levels of explanation.

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21
Q

Define Repressed

A

outside our conscious awareness.

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22
Q

All psychologists use:

A

scientific method

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23
Q

Define Psychology

A

The scientific study of behavior

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24
Q

Behavior

A

Anything a human does that can be measured; how someone acts

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25
Q

Overt Behavior

A

Activity that can be seen and observed by others.

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26
Q

Covert Behavior

A

Activity that cannot be seen or observed by others.

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27
Q

Science

A

The systematic method of discovering and verifying knowledge

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28
Q

Operational Definition

A

Defining subject matter in objective and measurable terms.

29
Q

Empirical Method

A

Using numbers and observations that are publicly observable.

30
Q

Validity

A

Whether what is being measured is real.

31
Q

Pseudoscience

A

May appear to be scientific but is not based on an objective measure of data.

32
Q

Data

A

Countable, objective measure of an event.

33
Q

What are the four goals of psychology?

A

Description
Explanation
Prediction
Modification

34
Q

Mechanism

A

Belief that complex human behaviors operate essentially like machines.

35
Q

Reductionism

A

Any phenomenon, no matter how complicated, can be reduced to a lower, simpler state.

36
Q

Psychophysics

A

The study of the relationship between mental and physical processes.

37
Q

What are the early schools of psychology?

A

Structuralism
Functionalism
Gestalt

38
Q

Structuralism

A

To discover and analyze the structure of the mind

39
Q

Introspection

A

Analyzing one’s own perceptions and experiences.

40
Q

Functionalism

A

Emphasizing the actual functioning of the mind as it performed an activity or solved a problem.

41
Q

Stream of Consciousness

A

The mind is ever changing fluid and motion

42
Q

Gestalt

A

Consciousness can never be broken down into parts because it can only be understood as a whole.

43
Q

Mental Chemistry

A

The focus of the combination of individual elements as they are synthesized into the whole unit.

44
Q

Phi Phenomenon

A

The perception of motion based on two or more stationary objects.

45
Q

Law of Proximity

A

The tendency to see items that are close together as items in a group

46
Q

Law of Closure

A

The tendency to see an object as complete even if it contains gaps in the lines.

47
Q

What are the perspectives of human behavior?

A
Biological
Cognitive
Psychodynamic
Humanistic
Behavioral/Learning
Social/Cultural
48
Q

Perspective

A

Ways of looking at human behavior

49
Q

Biological Perspective

A

Assume that all human behavior and functioning have their origins in biological processes in the body.

50
Q

Cognitive Perspective

A

The way humans think and know about the world around them.

51
Q

Psychodynamic Perspective

A

Focus on the unconscious, which contains thoughts, desires, wishes, and motivations that affect what we do, although we are unaware of the influence.

52
Q

Id

A

Primitive part of our personality that seeks pleasure and immediate gratification.

53
Q

Ego

A

Part of our personality that operates within the bounds of reality to seek acceptable ways to satisfy the unreasonable demands of the id.

54
Q

Superego

A

Part of our personality that is the seat of our moral and elements of conscience.

55
Q

Humanistic Perspective

A

Assumes that all human functioning is known to us, everyone has the power to reach their goals and achieve healthy functioning, and people have the ability to make positive decisions about their life and to control their behavior.

56
Q

Learning Perspective

A

How a person behaves due to the influence of experience and the environment.

57
Q

Applied Behavior Analysis

A

The systematic application of principles that either increase or decrease the behavior of individuals through the control of the environment

58
Q

Vicarious Learning

A

Learning how to act by watching the successes or failures of people’s actions.

59
Q

Social Learning Theory

A

Personality is learned through observation of the environment.

60
Q

Social/Cultural Perspective

A

People act the way they do because of their social and cultural context

61
Q

Eclectism

A

Using and embracing many perspectives

62
Q

Pre-paradigmatic

A

An early state when a science cannot agree on basic points.

63
Q

Ph.D

A

Doctorate in philosophy

64
Q

Psy. D

A

Doctorate in psychology

65
Q

Psychiatry

A

A medical degree that qualifies the psychiatrist to prescribe drugs and treat the physical causes of psychological disorders.

66
Q

M.D.

A

Medical Degree

67
Q

October 22, 1850, is important because ___________________ was developed.

A

psychophysics

68
Q

The founder of psychology is considered ___________________ in the year at the University of ___________________.

A

Wilhelm Wundt

Leipzig

69
Q

What are the three roles for psychologists in a university setting?

A

Teach classes to undergraduate and graduate students.
Perform research investigations and conduct scholarship.
Practice psychology with clients in a clinic-type setting or to perform other types of services in the university or community.