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PSY 101 > Exam 1 > Flashcards

Exam 1 Flashcards

1
Q

Describe the steps of the scientific method.

A

Step 1: Observe and theorize
Step 2: Formulate a hypothesis
-Making a specific prediction that can be tested empirically with data
Step 3: Design the study
Step 4: Collect data
-Do an experiment
-Make notes about observations
-People complete surveys
Step 5: Examine how study results relate to the hypothesis
Make inference about whether the evidence supports the hypothesis
- The study must be repeatable

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2
Q

Explain consciousness and its altered states.

A 
Consciousness is everything in which we are aware at any giver time.
Thoughts
Feelings
Sensations
Perceptions about external environment
Altered States:
Sleep
Meditation
Hypnosis
Drugs
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3
Q

Describe guidelines for ethical research with humans and animals.

A

Legality- Research must conform to applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations.

Institutional approval- Researchers must obtain approval from the institution involved in the study.

Informed Consent- Participants must be informed of the purpose of the study and it’s potential for harming them.

Deception- Deception is ethical the it is necessary to acquire data. (EX: placebo in testing for medicines.)

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4
Q

What are the goals of psychology?

A

Description: Identifying and classifying behaviors and mental processes as accurately as possible.

Explanation: Proposing reasons for behaviors and mental processes.

Prediction: Offering predictions (or hypotheses) about how a given condition or set of conditions will affect behaviors and mental processes.

Influence: Using the results for research to solve practical problems that involve behavior and mental processes.

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5
Q

Describe the processes of resting and action potential.

A

Resting potential: The slight negative electrical potential of the axon membrane of a neuron at rest, about -70 millivolts
Action potential: The sudden reversal of the resting potential, which initiates the firing of a neuron.

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6
Q

Neurotransmitters

A 
Acetylcholine(Ach)
Dopamine(DA)
Norepinephrine(NE)
Epinephrine
Serotonin
Glutamate
GABA
Endorphins
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7
Q

What is learning?

A

A relatively permanent change in behavior, knowledge, capability, or attitude acquired through experience and cnnnot be attributed to illness, injury, or maturation.

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8
Q

Why do we learn?

A

Learning is a survival mechanism.
Typically learning is a choice
sometimes organisms have no choice

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9
Q

Types of learning?

A

Classical Conditioning

Operant Conditioning

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10
Q

Positive correlations

A

The factors work together.

Ex: As study time goes up so does test scores.

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11
Q

Negative correlations

A

The factors work against each other.

Ex: As TV time goes up grades goes down.

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12
Q

Independent Variables

A

A factor or condition that manipulated on purpose to determine if it causes any change in another behavior or condition

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13
Q

Dependent Variables

A

The factor or condition that is measured at the end of the experiment.

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14
Q

Sample population

A

A part of a population that is studied to reach conclusions about the entire population

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15
Q

Population

A

The entire group interested to researchers that they which to generalize their findings

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16
Q

Random Sampling

A

Selection participants for experimental and control groups by using a chance procedure to guarantee that each participant has an equal probability of being assigned to any of the groups

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17
Q

Describe the various methods of descriptive research.

A

Next couple of cards

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18
Q

Naturalistic Observation:

A

Observation of behavior in its natural setting.
No attempt to influence behavior.
Ex: observing children’s behavior.

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19
Q

Laboratory Observation:

A

Studies behavior in a laboratory setting
Allows more control and more precise measurements of responses.
Ex: observing sleep habits in a lab
Disadvantage: Research can be biased

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20
Q

Case Study:

A

Studies a single individual or a small number of persons in depth.
Disadvantage: Takes a lot of time and study only relates to one person.

21
Q

Survey Research:

A

Interviews and or questionnaires: Gathers information about attitudes beliefs, or behaviors of a group of people.

22
Q

Correlational Method:

A

Measures degree of a relationship between two characteristics, events, or behaviors.
Three types:
Negative correlation: Increase in one variable are associated with low values in another variable.
Positive correlation:
Increases in one variable are associated with high values in another variable.
No correlation: variable are not related.

23
Q

Correlations Method Advantages and Disadvantages:

A

Advantages: Information about one variable can be used to predict the other
Disadvantages: cannot be used to support the conclusion that one variable causes the other.

24
Q

Survey Research Advantages and Disadvantages:

A 
Advantage:
Fast data collection 
Disadvantage:
Not always reliable 
Surveys can be biased
Not asking the right population
25
Q

Case Study Advantages and Disadvantages:

A

Advantages:
Appropriate for studying rare psychological disorders or brain damage
Disadvantages:
Cannot identify the cause of behavior. Potential for bias. Results can lack generalizability.

26
Q

Do correlations explain cause and effect? Explain. What is the best way to examine cause and effect

A

Correlation between two variables does not prove that a cause and effect relationship exists between them.
There is a correlation between stress and illness but that doesn’t mean that stress necessarily causes illness.
The best way to examine it is the experimental method.

27
Q

Describe machines that allow us to study the electrical activity of the brain.

A

Electroencephalogram(EEG): Electrodes placed on the scalp.
Microelectrode:
Monitors or stimulates activity of a single neuron.

28
Q

List and describe the components of a neural network

A

Cell Body:
The part of a neuron that contains the nucleus and carries out the metabolic functions of the neuron
Dendrites:
In a neuron, the branch-like extensions of the cell body that receive signals from other neurons
Axon:
The slender, trail-like extension of the neuron that transmits signals to the dendrites or cell body of other neurons and to muscles, glands, and other parts of the body.
Axon Terminal:
Bulbous end of the axon where signals move from the axon of one neuron to the dendrites or cell body of another.

29
Q

Parts of the cells and their functions.

A 
Axon terminal:
Axon:
Myellin heath
Cell body:
Dendrites:
30
Q

How do we know psychology is an academic discipline?

A

Because psychology uses the scientific method to gain knowledge.

31
Q

Explain the process of classical conditioning:

A

A neutral stimulus is presented due to this, there is an unconditional stimulus that happens that creates the unconditional response. The person being conditioned now has a learned stimulus and results in the learned response.
Ex: When Pavol teaches the dog to salivate to a chime because he conditioned it to think that the chime leads to food.

32
Q

Explain genotype/phenotype. Explain how they are linked with psychology.

A

Genotype: An individual’s genetic makeup
Phenotype: An individual’s actual characteristics
They are linked to psychology because scientists use it to refer to a person’s traits and help distinguish genetic traits that are expressed from those that are not expressed. The disease is part of their genotype but not part of their phenotype.

33
Q

Self-serving bias

A

The tendency to attribute one’s successes to dispositional causes and on’s failure to situational causes.

34
Q

Explain the meaning of ‘psychological disorder’. Describe criteria for a disorder.

A

Mental processes and or behavior patterns that cause emotional distress and or substantial impairment in functioning. Maladaptive is behavior that is poorly suited to a particular situation or function.

35
Q

Describe the circadian rhythm and its process, cues, mechanisms

A

The regular fluctuation from high to plow points of certain bodily functions and behaviors within a 24-hour cycle.It is controlled by a biological clock that is called the suprachiasmatic nucleus that controls the timing of our circadian rhythms.
Cues:
Sunlight
darkness

36
Q

Describe five perspectives on the causes of disorders.

A

Biological Perspective: When a psychological disorder is a symptom of an underlying physical disorder caused by a structural or biochemical abnormality in the brain by genetic inheritance or by infection
Biopsychological perspective: results from a combination of biological, psychological, and social causes.
Psychodynamic perspective: Psychological disorders stem from early childhood experiences and unresolved, unconscious sexual or aggressive conflicts.
Learning perspective: Abnormal thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are learned and sustained like any other behaviors, or there is a failure to learn appropriate behaviors.
Cognitive perspective: Faulty thinking or distorted perceptions can cause psychological disorders.

37
Q

Explain sleep cycles

A

A period of sleep lasting about 90 minutes and including one or more stages of NREM sleep, followed by REM sleep.

38
Q

Explain sleep cycles lengths

A

The four NREM stages occupy the first 50 to 70 minutes of sleep, then in a matter of minutes the brain cycles back to smaller faster brain waves and the sleeper experiences the first episode of dreaming REM sleep which lasts 5 to 15 minutes

39
Q

REM/NREM sleep

A

NREM: quite sleep where the bodies physiological functions and brain activity slow down.
REM: Active sleep heightened body and brain activity during which dreaming consistently occurs.

40
Q

Purpose of sleep

A

To restore the body and mind and is also an evolutionary way of keeping us out of harms way during the night.

41
Q

Function of Acetylcholine(Ach)

A

Affects movement, learning memory, REM sleep

42
Q

Function of Dopamine(DA):

A

Affects movement, attention, learning, reinforcement, pleasure

43
Q

Function of Norepinephrine(NE):

A

Affects eating, alertness, wakefulness

44
Q

Function of Epinephrine:

A

Affects metabolism of glucose, energy release during exercise

45
Q

Function of Serotonin:

A

Affects mood, sleep, appetite, impulsivity, aggression

46
Q

Function of Glutamate:

A

Active in areas of the brain involved in learning, thoughts, and emotion

47
Q

Function of GABA:

A

Facilitates neural inhibition in the central nervous system
Endorphins: Provide relief from pain and feelings of pleasure and well-beingNorepinephrine(NE): Affects eating, alertness, wakefulness

48
Q

Function of Endorphins:

A

Provide relief from pain and feelings of pleasure and well-being

PSY 101 (2 decks)

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