Chapter 1 Thinking Critically With Psychological Science

Question 1

An evidence-based method that draws on observation and experimentation

Answer 1

Empirical approach

Question 2

Thinking that doesn’t blindly accept arguments and conclusions. Rather, it examines assumptions, appraises the source, discerns hidden biases, evaluates evidence, and assesses conclusions

Answer 2

Critical thinking

Question 3

Established the first psychology laboratory at the university of Leipzig, Germany in 1879

Answer 3

Wilhelm Wundt

Question 4

An early school of thought promoted by Wundt and Titchener; used introspection to reveal the structure of the human mind

Answer 4

Structuralism

Question 5

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

Answer 5

Functionalism

Question 6

The view that psychology (1) should be an objective science that (2) studies behavior without reference to mental processes.

Answer 6

Behaviorism

Question 7

Emphasized the ways our unconscious mind and childhood experiences affect our behavior

Answer 7

Freudian (psychoanalytic) Psychology

Question 8

Emphasizes human growth potential. Created by Carl Rogers and Abraham Maslow

Answer 8

Humanistic psychology

Question 9

The study of mental processes, this includes perception, learning, memory, communication, and problem solving

Answer 9

Cognitive Psychology

Question 10

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.

Answer 10

Cognitive neuroscience

Question 11

The study of the evolution of behavior and the mind, using principles of natural selection

Answer 11

Evolutionary psychology

Question 12

The study of the relative power and limits of genetic and environmental influences on behavior. Are we predisposed to things or not?

Answer 12

Behavior genetics

Question 13

How life and death (among other things like eye contact and gestures) are handled across culture. Prevents conflict and misunderstandings.

Answer 13

Cross-cultural and gender psychology

Question 14

An integrated approach that incorporates biological, psychological, and social-cultural levels of analysis. All encompassing

Answer 14

Biopsychosocial

Question 15

An explanation using an integrated set of principles that organizes observations and predicts behaviors or events

Answer 15

Theory

Question 16

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.

Answer 16

Hypothesis

Question 17

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

Answer 17

Operational definition

Question 18

Repeating the essence of a research study, usually with different participants and different situations, to see whether the basic finding can be reproduced

Answer 18

Replication

Question 19

The statistical procedure for analyzing the results of multiple studies to reach an overall conclusion

Answer 19

Meta-analysis

Question 20

A descriptive technique in which one individual or group is studied in depth in the hope of revealing universal principles

Answer 20

Case study

Question 21

A descriptive technique of observing and recording behavior in a naturally occurring situation without trying to manipulate and control the situation

Answer 21

Naturalistic observation

Question 22

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

Answer 22

Survey

Question 23

The sample that fairly represents a population because each member has an equal chance of inclusion

Answer 23

Random sample

Question 24

The measure of the extent to which two factors vary together, and thus of how well either factor predicts the other

Answer 24

Correlation

Question 25

The statistical index of the relationship between two things (from -1.00 to +1.00)

Answer 25

Correlation coefficient

Question 26

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

Answer 26

Double-blind procedure

Question 27

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

Answer 27

Placebo

Question 28

In an experiment, the factor that is manipulated; the variable whose effect is being studied

Answer 28

Independent variable

Question 29

In an experiment, a factor other than the factor being studied that might influence a study’s results

Answer 29

Confounding variable

Question 30

In an experiment, the outcome that is measured; the variable that may change when the independent variable is manipulated

Answer 30

Dependent variable

Question 31

The definition of psychology

Answer 31

The scientific study of behavior and mental processing