Chapter 1- Thinking Critically

Question 0

What are the 3 components of the scientific attitude?

Answer 0

Curiosity
Skepticism
Humility

Question 1

How is psychology defined today?

Answer 1

Science of behavior and mental processes

Question 2

What is the difference between a theory and a hypothesis?

Answer 2

Theory
> Linked with observation

Hypothesis
> Set of testable predictions that can reject or revise a theory

Question 3

Can we prove that things are true?

Answer 3

No. We can only prove that things are false.

Question 4

What is a correlation?

Answer 4

The relationship between an independent and a dependent variable.

Question 5

What do we mean when we say a correlation is either positive or negative?

Answer 5

Positive
> Both variables are increasing

Negative
> One variable is increasing while the other is decreasing

Question 6

What is the placebo effect?

Answer 6

A subject is told that they are receiving pain medication when they are actually receiving a sugar pill. The subject reports a reduction in pain even though no pain medication was given.

Question 7

To what group is a placebo typically given in an experiment?

Answer 7

Control group

Question 8

What are the roles of independent and dependent variables in an experiment?

Answer 8

An independent variable is manipulate in order to observe a reaction in the dependent variable

Question 9

What are the 3 measures of central tendency?

Answer 9

Mean (average)
Median (middle)
Mode (most frequent)