Chapter 1 Thinking Critically Without Psychological Science Flashcards
Who is Wilhelm Wundt and what contribution did he make the the field of psychology?
He was the first person to do a psychological experiment. He measured the amount of time it took after a pin drop for a person to press a key. He wanted to measure “atoms of the mind”.
What is structuralism and who was a follower of this?
The study of the mind based on introspection. Wilhelm Wundt used this form of psychology.
What is functionalism and who promoted it?
This is the study of WHY and HOW behavior and mental processes occur. William James promoted this
Who is Mary Whiton Calkins and what contribution did she make to the field of psychology?
She was the first woman to complete a psychology degree (at harvard). She was denied the degree but continued to do great things.
Who was Margaret Floy Washburn?
First woman to actually recieve a PHD in psychology
What did John B. Watson and BF Skinner do?
Rejected introspective psychology and redefined psychology as the study of observable behavior.
Humanistic Psychology
Looking at the enviroments effects on people. The growth potential of healthy people.
Cognitive Psychology
Study of brain activity linked to cognition (perception, thinking, memory, language
Newest Definition of Psychology
the study of mental and cognitive processes
Nature Vs. Nurture Controversy
The argument regarding whether our genes or our environment play a larger role in our psychology. The belief now is that traits arise from the interaction of nature and nurture.
Freud
Founded psychoanalytic approach to psychology. He has no testable hypothesis.
Who is Neisser?
The person that introduced the idea of understanding mental processes. He focused on the ability to organize remember and use knowledge.
What is the nueroscience approach?
Looking at brain activity to explain perception, processing of information, and memory.
Why do we need psychology?
To explain past behavior, predict future behavior, and understand real world problems
What is Descriptive Research?
Using naturalistic observation, surveys, or case studies to observe or record behavior.
What is correlation research?
Collecting data on two or more variables and detecting naturally occuring relationships. Seeing how well one variable predicts the next.
What is Experimental Research?
Manipulating one or more factors using randomly assigned participants to discover cause and effect.
What is an EAR?
Electronically Activated Recorder used to observe people naturally. Turns on without the person knowing periodically and study the sound bites obtained.
What is a theory?
The use of principles to explain and organize observations and events.
Hypothesis
A testable prediction
Independent Variable
Variable being manipulated and tested
Dependent Variable
The variable whose outcome might change due to the experiment
Counfounding Variable
Factor that might produce effect in the experiment (but not independent variable)
What does correlation give you?
Only an observation, not causation
What is the correlation coefficient?
The measurable number showing the correlation between two variables. If the variables correlate the value will be 1 or -1. If no correlation, the value will be zero.
What is the observational definition?
Making something MEASURABLE
What is Error Variance?
difference in experiment based on diversity among the people in the experiment
What is statistical significance?
The mean for one group is different that the mean of another group. (They are far enough apart to say their is a difference.
What is the percentage showing that results arent caused by chance?
less than .05
Naturalistic Obervation
Watching participants in natural environment either in real time or from recording to DESCRIBE behavior
Case Study
Looking at individual unique case in depth to reveal some truth in all people
Survey
using questioner to look at MANY cases in little depth
