exam 1 (2) Flashcards
What is the definition of Psychology?
The scientific study of mind and behavior. It encompasses various aspects of human experience and mental processes.
Who were some key African American figures in the history of Psychology?
Francis Cecil Sumner: First African American to receive a PhD in Psychology. Mamie Phipps Clark and Kenneth Clark: Known for their studies on African American children and doll preference.
What contributions did Margaret Floy Washburn make to Psychology?
First woman to earn a doctorate in Psychology. Researched animal behavior and authored ‘The Animal Mind: A Textbook of Comparative Psychology.’
What is the significance of the research conducted by Mamie Phipps Clark and Kenneth Clark?
Instrumental in the Brown v. Board of Education case. Opened a child guidance center in Harlem to support African American children.
What are some notable achievements of Mary Whiton Calkins in Psychology?
Completed all requirements for a PhD but was denied the degree by Harvard. Researched primacy and recency effects in memory.
Who was the first Latina to earn a doctoral degree in Psychology?
Martha Bernal: Pioneered research in education. Her work contributed to understanding diverse perspectives in psychology.
What is Structuralism in Psychology?
A perspective focused on understanding conscious experience through introspection. Wilhelm Wundt is credited as one of its founders and established the first psychological research laboratory.
What is Functionalism in Psychology?
A perspective that emphasizes how mental activities help organisms adapt to their environment. It contrasts with Structuralism by focusing on the purpose of mental processes.
Who was Inez Beverly Prosser and what was her contribution to Psychology?
First African American woman to earn a PhD in Psychology. Conducted research on education, contributing to the understanding of diverse educational perspectives.
What was the focus of Mary Cover Jones’s research?
Conducted a sequel study to John B. Watson’s Little Albert experiment. Her work contributed to the field of behaviorism and understanding of emotional responses.
Who was the first American psychologist and what are some key theories associated with him?
William James was the first American psychologist. He is associated with various psychological theories including psychoanalytic theory, behaviorism, and humanism.
What are the main focuses of psychoanalytic theory?
Psychoanalytic theory focuses on the role of the unconscious in affecting conscious behavior. Sigmund Freud is a key figure in this theory, emphasizing the influence of unconscious processes.
What does Gestalt psychology emphasize?
Gestalt psychology focuses on humans as a whole rather than individual parts. Key figures include Wertheimer, Koffka, and Kohler, who immigrated to the U.S. to escape Nazi Germany.
What is the main focus of behaviorism in psychology?
Behaviorism focuses on observing and controlling behavior. Key figures include Ivan Pavlov, John B. Watson, and B.F. Skinner, each contributing to the understanding of behavior.
What are the contributions of Ivan Pavlov to psychology?
Ivan Pavlov discovered the concept of classical conditioning. His work laid the foundation for behaviorism and understanding learned behaviors.
What is the significance of John B. Watson in psychology?
John B. Watson is known as the father of behaviorism. He believed that objective analysis of the mind was impossible, focusing instead on observable behavior.
How did B.F. Skinner contribute to the field of psychology?
B.F. Skinner concentrated on how behavior was affected by its consequences. He developed the concept of operant conditioning, which is fundamental in behaviorism.
What does humanism emphasize in psychology?
Humanism emphasizes the potential for good that is innate to all humans. Key figures include Abraham Maslow, who proposed a hierarchy of human needs, and Carl Rogers, who developed client-centered therapy.
What is the Five Factor Model of personality?
The Five Factor Model, also known as OCEAN, includes Openness, Conscientiousness, Extroversion, Agreeableness, and Neuroticism. This model focuses on behaviors and thought patterns that are unique to each individual.
What is forensic psychology and its relevance?
Forensic psychology is a branch of psychology dealing with the justice system. It applies psychological principles to legal issues, including assessments and expert testimony.
What are the main tasks of forensic psychologists?
Assessment of individuals’ mental competency to stand trial. Sentencing and treatment suggestions. Advisement regarding eyewitness testimonies.
What does cognitive psychology focus on?
Understanding how the mind thinks. Factors affecting motivation, problem-solving, decision-making, attention, language, and memory.
What is the core focus of feminist psychology?
Social structures and their impact on gender. Understanding psychological issues through a gendered lens.
What is Unconditional Positive Regard in therapy?
A method where the therapist accepts and supports the client unconditionally. Encourages the patient to take the lead role in therapy sessions.
What is the principle of Natural Selection according to Charles Darwin?
Organisms better suited for their environment will survive and reproduce. Those poorly suited will die off, leading to evolution over generations.
What are the characteristics of clinical or case studies in research?
Focus on one individual, often in unique psychological circumstances. Provides deep insight but is difficult to generalize to the larger population.
What is Naturalistic Observation in psychological research?
Observation of behavior in its natural setting without interference. Eliminates performance anxiety, allowing for genuine behavior study.
How are surveys used in psychological research?
Gathering data through a list of questions delivered in various formats. Can collect large amounts of data from a sample of a larger population.
What are the different methods of administering surveys?
Electronically administered research. Paper-based surveys. Telephone interviews. Face-to-face interviews.
What is archival research and how is it conducted?
Uses past records or data sets to answer research questions. Examines records in hardcopy or electronic formats. Searches for interesting patterns or relationships.
What are the key differences between longitudinal and cross-sectional research?
Cross-sectional research compares multiple segments of a population at a single time. Longitudinal research studies the same group over an extended period. Attrition is a common issue in longitudinal studies.
What is attrition in the context of longitudinal research?
Reduction in the number of research participants over time. Often occurs as some participants drop out of the study. Researchers may recruit more participants initially to account for this.
What is standardization in research?
The process of making a test uniform or setting it to a specific standard. Ensures that the same test yields the same results every time.
What is reliability in research, and what are its types?
Consistency and reproducibility of a given result. Inter-rater reliability measures agreement among observers. A reliable measurement may not always be accurate.
What is validity in research, and how does it relate to reliability?
Accuracy of a result in measuring what it is designed to measure. A valid measure is always reliable, but reliability does not guarantee validity.
What is correlation in statistical analysis?
A statistical measure that describes the extent to which two variables change together. Can indicate the strength and direction of a relationship between variables.
What are the key aspects of correlation between variables?
Correlation coefficients range from -1 to +1, indicating the strength and direction of the relationship. Positive correlation means both variables change in the same direction, while negative correlation means they change in opposite directions.
What are the main reasons for using animal research in psychology?
90% of psychological research involving animals uses rodents or birds due to their similarities to humans. Animal research is often used when studies would be unethical to conduct on human participants.
What are the different types of studies used in psychological research?
Naturalistic observation involves observing behavior in its natural setting without interference. Case studies focus on one individual, providing deep insights but are hard to generalize. Experimental studies use scientific methods to explore behavior processes.
What is the role of the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC)?
The IACUC reviews research proposals involving non-human animals to ensure ethical standards are met. It consists of administrators, scientists, veterinarians, and community members.
What is the scientific method in psychology?
The scientific method involves forming a hypothesis, which is a testable statement about the relationship between variables. It is a systematic approach to exploring and understanding behavior.
How does naturalistic observation differ from other research methods?
Naturalistic observation captures behavior in its natural context, minimizing performance anxiety. It is effective for studying genuine behaviors that might be altered under scrutiny.
What are the characteristics of case studies in psychological research?
Case studies focus on individuals in unique psychological circumstances, providing detailed insights. However, results from case studies are often difficult to generalize to the larger population.
What is the difference between positive and negative correlation?
Positive correlation indicates that two variables increase or decrease together. Negative correlation indicates that as one variable increases, the other decreases.
