Chapter 1.1, 1.2, 2.1

Question 1

What is psychology?

Answer 1

The scientific study of behaviour, thought, and experience. And how they can be affected by physical, mental, social, and environmental factors

Question 2

What is the scientific method?

Answer 2

A way of learning about the world through collective observations, developing theories to explain them, and using the theories to make predictions

Question 3

What are examples of mental processes

Answer 3

Thoughts, feelings, sensations, perceptions, motivations, dreams, subjective experiences

Question 4

What is a hypothesis?

Answer 4

A testable prediction about processes that can be observed or measured

• can be supported or rejected, not proved.
• Must be testable

Question 5

What is a theory

Answer 5

An explanation for a broad range of observations that also generates new hypotheses and and integrates numerous findings into a coherent whole.

Question 6

Difference between a theory and hypotheses

Answer 6

Theories are general principles or explanations, where as hypotheses are specific predictions that can test the theory or specific parts of it.

Question 7

What are the four perspectives of behaviour?

Answer 7

Biological, cognitive, behavioural, sociocultural

Question 8

Biosphychosocial model

Answer 8

a means of explaining behaviour as a product of biological, phycological and socio-cultural factors.

Question 9

Biological influences on our behaviour?

Answer 9

involve brain structures and chemicals, hormone, and external substances like drugs.

Question 10

psychological influences on our behaviour?

Answer 10

involve memories, emotions, and personality.

Question 11

social influences on our behaviour?

Answer 11

family, peers, ethnicity, and culture.

Question 12

Scientific literacy

Answer 12

the ability to understand, analyze, and apply scientific information.

Question 13

Critical thinking

Answer 13

it involves exercising curiosity and scepticism when evaluating the claims of others, with our own assumptions or beliefs.

Question 14

Five characteristics of quality scientific research

Answer 14

1. based on measurements that are objective, valid, and reliable.
2. it can be generalized
3. it uses techniques that reduce bias
4. it is made public
5. it can be replicated

Question 15

Objective measurements

Answer 15

the measure of an entity or behaviour that, within an allowed margin of error, is consistent across instruments and observers.

Question 16

Variable

Answer 16

the object, concept, or event being measured.

Question 17

Operational Definitions

Answer 17

Statements that describe the procedures and specific measures that are used to record observations.

Question 18

what does Validity mean?

Answer 18

refers to the degree to which an instrument or procedure actually measures what it claims to measure.

Question 19

population

Answer 19

the group researchers want to generalize about

Question 20

sample

Answer 20

a select group of population members.

Question 21

ecological validity

Answer 21

meaning the the results of a laboratory study can be applied to or repeated in the natural environment.

Question 22

single blind study

Answer 22

participants do not know the true purpose of the study.

Question 23

double blind study

Answer 23

a study in which neither the participant nor the experimenter knows the exact treatment for any individual.

Question 24

Replication

Answer 24

the process of repeating a study and finding a similar outcome each time.

Question 25

5 characters of poor research.

1st characteristic: Falsifiable

Answer 25

meaning the hypothesis is precise enough that it could be proven false.

Question 26

5 characters of poor research 2nd characteristic: Anecdotal evidence

Answer 26

an individuals story or testimony about an observation or event that is used to make a claim as evidence.

Question 27

5 characters of poor research: 3rd characteristic: research bias

Answer 27

even if a scientific claim is backed up by published data. It is possible that some individuals might present only the data that support their views.

Question 28

5 characteristics of poor research: 4th characteristic- appeal to authority

Answer 28

the belief in an “experts” claim even when no supporting data or evidence is present.

Question 29

5 characteristics of poor research: 5th characteristic- appeal to common sense

Answer 29

a claim that appears to be sound but lacks supporting scientific evidence.