Chapter 1.1, 1.2, 2.1 Flashcards
What is psychology?
The scientific study of behaviour, thought, and experience. And how they can be affected by physical, mental, social, and environmental factors
What is the scientific method?
A way of learning about the world through collective observations, developing theories to explain them, and using the theories to make predictions
What are examples of mental processes
Thoughts, feelings, sensations, perceptions, motivations, dreams, subjective experiences
What is a hypothesis?
A testable prediction about processes that can be observed or measured
- can be supported or rejected, not proved.
- Must be testable
What is a theory
An explanation for a broad range of observations that also generates new hypotheses and and integrates numerous findings into a coherent whole.
Difference between a theory and hypotheses
Theories are general principles or explanations, where as hypotheses are specific predictions that can test the theory or specific parts of it.
What are the four perspectives of behaviour?
Biological, cognitive, behavioural, sociocultural
Biosphychosocial model
a means of explaining behaviour as a product of biological, phycological and socio-cultural factors.
Biological influences on our behaviour?
involve brain structures and chemicals, hormone, and external substances like drugs.
psychological influences on our behaviour?
involve memories, emotions, and personality.
social influences on our behaviour?
family, peers, ethnicity, and culture.
Scientific literacy
the ability to understand, analyze, and apply scientific information.
Critical thinking
it involves exercising curiosity and scepticism when evaluating the claims of others, with our own assumptions or beliefs.
Five characteristics of quality scientific research
- based on measurements that are objective, valid, and reliable.
- it can be generalized
- it uses techniques that reduce bias
- it is made public
- it can be replicated
Objective measurements
the measure of an entity or behaviour that, within an allowed margin of error, is consistent across instruments and observers.
Variable
the object, concept, or event being measured.
Operational Definitions
Statements that describe the procedures and specific measures that are used to record observations.
what does Validity mean?
refers to the degree to which an instrument or procedure actually measures what it claims to measure.
population
the group researchers want to generalize about
sample
a select group of population members.
ecological validity
meaning the the results of a laboratory study can be applied to or repeated in the natural environment.
single blind study
participants do not know the true purpose of the study.
double blind study
a study in which neither the participant nor the experimenter knows the exact treatment for any individual.
Replication
the process of repeating a study and finding a similar outcome each time.
5 characters of poor research.
1st characteristic: Falsifiable
meaning the hypothesis is precise enough that it could be proven false.
5 characters of poor research 2nd characteristic: Anecdotal evidence
an individuals story or testimony about an observation or event that is used to make a claim as evidence.
5 characters of poor research: 3rd characteristic: research bias
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.
5 characteristics of poor research: 4th characteristic- appeal to authority
the belief in an “experts” claim even when no supporting data or evidence is present.
5 characteristics of poor research: 5th characteristic- appeal to common sense
a claim that appears to be sound but lacks supporting scientific evidence.
