Chapter 1 Vocabulary

Question 1

Psychology

Answer 1

The study of behavior and mental processes.

Question 2

Correlation

Answer 2

A statistical index used to represent the strength of a relationship between two factors and how well one factor can predict the other.

Question 3

Biopsychosocial Approach

Answer 3

An approach that integrates different but complimentary views from biological, psychological, and social-cultural viewpoints.

Question 4

Critical Thinking

Answer 4

Thinking that examines assumptions, uncovers hidden values, weights evidence, and assesses conclutions.

Question 5

Hypothesis

Answer 5

A precise, testable statement of a prediction concerning the relationship between two or more variables.

Question 6

Positive Psychology

Answer 6

The scientific study of human functioning, with the goals of discovering and promoting strengths and virtues that help individuals and communities to thrive.

Question 7

Case Study

Answer 7

A method for collecting research data that involves watching a participant and recording relevant data.

Question 8

Cognitive Neuroscience

Answer 8

The interdisciplinary study of the brain activity linked with mental activity.

Question 9

Experimental Group

Answer 9

The group of participants that is exposed to the independent variable.

Question 10

Behaviorism

Answer 10

A view that psychology should be an objective science that studies behavior without reference to mental processes.

Question 11

Dependent Variable

Answer 11

The variable that the experimenter changes or controls.

Question 12

Nature

Answer 12

Genes and biology

Question 13

Questionnaire

Answer 13

A research instrument composed of a series of questions designed to gather information about a certain topic

Question 14

Confounding Variable

Answer 14

The unaccounted for variable that can obscure the relationship of the other variables.

Question 15

Humanistic Psychology

Answer 15

A view that emphasizes the growth of potential of healthy people.

Question 16

Experiment

Answer 16

A scientific procedure undertaken to make a discovery, test a hypothesis or demonstrate a known fact.

Question 17

Dual Processing

Answer 17

The principal that, at the same time, our minds process information of separate conscious and unconscious tracks.

Question 18

Interview

Answer 18

A self report technique that involves an experimenter asking participants questions and recording their responses.

Question 19

Control Group

Answer 19

The group of participants that is not exposed to the independant variable.

Question 20

Nurture

Answer 20

Environment and culture

Question 21

Observation

Answer 21

A descriptive research approach designed to obtain an in depth analysis of a person, group, or phenomenon.

Question 22

Hindsight Bias

Answer 22

The tendency to believe, after learning an outcome, that we could have predicted it.

Question 23

Culture

Answer 23

The enduring behaviors, ideas, attitudes, values, and traditions shared by a group of people and handed down from one generation to the next.

Question 24

Independent Variable

Answer 24

The variable that is being tested and measured in an experiment.

Question 25

Theory

Answer 25

A fact based framework for describing a phenomenon.

Question 26

Overconfidentence

Answer 26

When we think we know more than we do.

Question 27

SQ3R

Answer 27

A study method incorportating five steps: survey, question, read, retreive, review.