history and research methods

Question 1

Wilhem Wundt and STRUCTURALISM

Answer 1

Structuralism studies the human mind and the basic units that can be identified through introspection

Question 2

William James and FUNCTIONALSM

Answer 2

Functionalism focuses on more objective forms of study and argues that it’s necessary to study aspects of the mind and behavior in terms of function.

Question 3

Sigmund Freud and UNCONSCIOUS

Answer 3

Unconscious conflicts can produce psychological disorders. Difficult to prove scientifically

Question 4

Watson, Skinner, and BEHAVORISM

Answer 4

Emphasizes environmental forces in shaping behavior (consequences, rewards, punishments). “People do what they do because they are being rewarded for it”

Question 5

Nativism

Answer 5

The human mind is created with pre-existing structures and information. NATURE and biology/genetics

Question 6

Empiricism

Answer 6

The human mind is shaped by the environment. NURTURE, environment. (E&E)

Question 7

Biopsycophysical Approach: Biological influences

Answer 7

brain mechanisms, hormonal influences, genetic predispositions responding to environment, natural selection of adaptive traits

Question 8

Biopsycophysical Approach: Psychological influences

Answer 8

cognitive research, emotional responses

Question 9

Biopsycophysical Approach: Social-Cultural influences

Answer 9

cultural/family/social expectations, peer/group influences

Question 10

Subfields of Psyc: Biological

Answer 10

explore the links between brain and mind

Question 11

Subfields of Psyc: Clinical

Answer 11

studies, treats people with disorders

Question 12

Subfields of Psyc: counseling

Answer 12

helps people cope with problems (academic, marital)

Question 13

Subfields of Psyc: Cognitive

Answer 13

studies how we perceive, think, and solve problems

Question 14

DESCRIPTIVE RESEARCH: Case Studies

Answer 14

One singular person, n=1. Provides detailed information; sometimes bias and not a big enough sample. Example: Phineas Gage

Question 15

DESCRIPTIVE RESEARCH: Naturalistic observation

Answer 15

“Real World.” People may act differently when they are being observed

Question 16

DESCRIPTIVE RESEARCH: Surveys

Answer 16

Provides lots of data, could have dishonest results, sample is representative

Question 17

CORRELATIONAL RESEARCH pt 1

Answer 17

-Measures connections between 2 or more variables
-Correlation does not equal causation: Does A cause b? or B cause A?
-there are outliers

Question 18

CORRELATIONAL RESEARCH pt 2

Answer 18

Correlational coefficient (r): measures the extent to which variations in one variable are accompanied by INCREASES or DECREASES in a second variable
-example: lemonade and weather
-both thumbs up, positive. both thumbs down, negative

Question 19

Correlation coefficient: R

Answer 19

-indicates the STRENGTH and DIRECTION of the relationship between variables
-numerical value between -1 and +1, 0 means no correlation
-example: Strongest correlation= Largest number, IGNORE + or -

Question 20

EXPERIMENTAL RESEARCH

Answer 20

most powerful to determine CAUSE AND EFFECT relationships between variables
3 steps:
1. random assignment
2. manipulation of independent variable (cause)
3. measurement of this manipulation on dependent variable (effect)

Question 21

independent variable

Answer 21

supposed cause
manipulated by experimenter

Question 22

dependent variable

Answer 22

supposed effect
outcome variable measured by experimental

Question 23

Goals of psychology

Answer 23

describe- observe and describe before understanding
explain- organize and make sense of findings
predict- predict behaviors/outcomes if explanation is valid
change- modify or change behavior, apply findings of psychological research to direct behaviors