Chapter 1 Thinking Critically With Psychological Science Flashcards
An evidence-based method that draws on observation and experimentation
Empirical approach
Thinking that doesn’t blindly accept arguments and conclusions. Rather, it examines assumptions, appraises the source, discerns hidden biases, evaluates evidence, and assesses conclusions
Critical thinking
Established the first psychology laboratory at the university of Leipzig, Germany in 1879
Wilhelm Wundt
An early school of thought promoted by Wundt and Titchener; used introspection to reveal the structure of the human mind
Structuralism
An early school of thought promoted by James and influenced by darwin; explored how mental and behavioral processes function- how they enable the organisms to adapt, survive, and flourish
Functionalism
The view that psychology (1) should be an objective science that (2) studies behavior without reference to mental processes.
Behaviorism
Emphasized the ways our unconscious mind and childhood experiences affect our behavior
Freudian (psychoanalytic) Psychology
Emphasizes human growth potential. Created by Carl Rogers and Abraham Maslow
Humanistic psychology
The study of mental processes, this includes perception, learning, memory, communication, and problem solving
Cognitive Psychology
The interdisciplinary study of the brain activity linked with cognition (including perception, thinking, memory, and language) or the study of thoughts and relation to something specific in the body.
Cognitive neuroscience
The study of the evolution of behavior and the mind, using principles of natural selection
Evolutionary psychology
The study of the relative power and limits of genetic and environmental influences on behavior. Are we predisposed to things or not?
Behavior genetics
How life and death (among other things like eye contact and gestures) are handled across culture. Prevents conflict and misunderstandings.
Cross-cultural and gender psychology
An integrated approach that incorporates biological, psychological, and social-cultural levels of analysis. All encompassing
Biopsychosocial
An explanation using an integrated set of principles that organizes observations and predicts behaviors or events
Theory
A testable prediction, often implied by a theory. Or a prediction stemming from a theory stated in a way that allows it to be tested. It is a statement.
Hypothesis
A precise description of how the variables (variables are behaviors, events, or any characteristic that can vary or change in some way. There are always two variables per hypothesis) are manipulated or measured for outcome in the study
Operational definition
Repeating the essence of a research study, usually with different participants and different situations, to see whether the basic finding can be reproduced
Replication
The statistical procedure for analyzing the results of multiple studies to reach an overall conclusion
Meta-analysis
A descriptive technique in which one individual or group is studied in depth in the hope of revealing universal principles
Case study
A descriptive technique of observing and recording behavior in a naturally occurring situation without trying to manipulate and control the situation
Naturalistic observation
A descriptive technique for obtaining the self-reported attitudes or behaviors of a particular group, usually by questioning a representative, random sample of the group
Survey
The sample that fairly represents a population because each member has an equal chance of inclusion
Random sample
The measure of the extent to which two factors vary together, and thus of how well either factor predicts the other
Correlation
The statistical index of the relationship between two things (from -1.00 to +1.00)
Correlation coefficient
An experimental procedure in which both the research participants and the research staff are ignorant about whether the research participants have received the treatment or a placebo. Commonly used in drug- evaluation studies
Double-blind procedure
Experimental results caused by expectations alone; any effect on behavior caused by the administration of an inert substance or condition, which the recipient assumes is an act of agent
Placebo
In an experiment, the factor that is manipulated; the variable whose effect is being studied
Independent variable
In an experiment, a factor other than the factor being studied that might influence a study’s results
Confounding variable
In an experiment, the outcome that is measured; the variable that may change when the independent variable is manipulated
Dependent variable
The definition of psychology
The scientific study of behavior and mental processing
