Chapter 1: The Science Of Psychology

Question 1

Psychology

Answer 1

The scientific study of behavior and mental processes

Question 2

Science

Answer 2

the use of systematic methods to observe the natural world, including human behavior and to draw conclusions

Question 3

Behavior

Answer 3

Everything we do that can be directly observed

Question 4

Mental processes

Answer 4

The thoughts, feelings, and motives that people experience but cannot be observed directly

Question 5

Critical thinking

Answer 5

The process of thinking deeply and actively, asking questions and evaluating evidence

Question 6

Empirical method

Answer 6

Gaining knowledge through observation of events, the collection of date, and logical reasoning

Question 7

Wundt

Answer 7

Structuralism

Question 8

Structuralism

Answer 8

Wundt’s approach to discovering the basic elements, structures, or mental processes

Question 9

James

Answer 9

Functionalism

Question 10

Functionalism

Answer 10

James’ approach to mental processes, emphasizing the functions and purposes of the mind and behavior in the individuals adaptation to the enviroment

Question 11

Biological approach

Answer 11

An approach to psychology focusing on the body, especially the brain and nervous system

Question 12

Neuroscience

Answer 12

The study of the structure, function, development, genetics, and biochemistry of the nervous system, emphasizing that the brain and nervous system are central to understanding thought, behavior, and emotion

Question 13

Behavioral approach

Answer 13

An approach to psychology emphasizing the scientific study of observable behavioral responses and their environmental determinants

Question 14

Psychodynamic approach

Answer 14

An approach to psychology emphasizing unconscious thought, the conflict between biological drives (such as sex drive) and society’s demands, and early childhood experiences

Question 15

Humanistic approach

Answer 15

An approach to psychology emphasizing a person’s positive qualities, the capacity for positive growth, and the freedom to choose any destiny

Question 16

Cognitive approach

Answer 16

An approach to psychology emphasizing the mental processes involved in knowing how we direct our attention, perceive, remember, think and solve problems

Question 17

Evolutionary approach

Answer 17

An approach to psychology centered on evolutionary ideas such as adaptation, reproduction, and natural selection as the basis for explaining specific human behaviors

Question 18

Sociocultural approach

Answer 18

An approach to psychology that examines the ways in which social and cultural environments influence behavior

Question 19

Culture

Answer 19

The shared knowledge, practices, and attitudes of groups of people and can include language, customs and beliefs about behavior is appropriate and inappropriate

Question 20

Biopsychosocial approach

Answer 20

A perspective on human behavior that asserts that biological, social, and psychological factors are all significant ingredients in producing behavior all of these levels are important to understanding human behavior

Question 21

Variable

Answer 21

Anything that can change

Question 22

Theory

Answer 22

A broad idea or set of closely related ideas that attempts to explain observations and to make predictions about future observations

Question 23

Hypothesis

Answer 23

A testable prediction that derives logically from a theory

Question 24

Operational definition

Answer 24

A definition that provides an objective description of how a variable is going to be measured and observed in a particular study

Question 25

Replication

Answer 25

The process in which a scientist to reproduce a study to see if the same results emerge

Question 26

Descriptive research

Answer 26

Involves finding out the basic dimensions of some variable (ex. Case study)

Question 27

Case study

Answer 27

An in depth look at a single individual

Question 28

Correlational research

Answer 28

Research that examines the relationship between variables, whose purpose is to examine whether, and how two variable change each other

Question 29

Correlation coefficient

Answer 29

A number often indicated by “r” to determine the magnitude of how two variable correlate to one another. Always falls between -1.00 and +1.00. A “-“ indicates that as one variable increases, the other decreases, while a “+” indicates that two variables increase together. A number closer to 0 indicates no correlation

Question 30

Third variable problem

Answer 30

The circumstance where a variable that has not been measured accounts for the relationship between two other variables third variables are also known as confounding variables.

Question 31

Longitudinal designs

Answer 31

A specific type of systemic observation, used by correlational researchers, that involves obtaining measurements of the variables of interest in multiple waves over time

Question 32

Experiment

Answer 32

A carefully regulated procedure in which the researcher manipulates one or more variables that are believed to influence some other variable

Question 33

Random assignment

Answer 33

Researchers’ assignment of participants to groups by chance, to reduce the likelihood that an experiments results will be due to preexisting differences between groups

Question 34

Independent variable

Answer 34

A manipulated experimental factor, the variable the experimenter changes to see what its effects are

Question 35

Dependent variable

Answer 35

The outcome; the factor that can change in an experiment in response to changes in the independent variable

Question 36

Experimental group

Answer 36

The participants in an experiment who receive the drug or other treatment under study- that is, those who are exposed to the changes that the independent variable represents

Question 37

Control group

Answer 37

The participants in an experiment who are as much like the experimental group as possible and who are treated in every way like the experimental group except for a manipulated factor, the independent variable

Question 38

Placebo effect

Answer 38

The situation where participant expectations, rather than the experimental treatment produce and experiment outcome

Question 39

Placebo

Answer 39

In a drug study, a harmless substance that has no physiologic effect, given to participants in a control group so that they are treated identically to the experimental group, except for the active agent

Question 40

Population

Answer 40

The entire group about which the researcher wants to draw conclusions

Question 41

Sample

Answer 41

The subset of the population by the investigator for study

Question 42

Random sample

Answer 42

A sample that gives every member of the population an equal chance of being selected

Question 43

Naturalistic observation

Answer 43

The observation of behavior in a real world setting