Introduction to Psychology & Research Methods Flashcards

1
Q

Define Psychology

A

The scientific study of behavior & mental process that values empirical evidence and critical thinking.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

Define Critical Thinking

A

The process of objectively evaluating, comparing, analyzing, and synthesizing information

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

What are Psychology’s four main goals?

A

Describe, explain, predict, and change behavior and mental processes

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What is the difference between a Psychiatrist and a Psychologist?

A

A psychiatrist is a medical doctor, they have (M.D) degrees with a specialization in psychiatry and a licensed to prescribe medications and drugs. Counseling and Clinical psychologist have advanced degrees in human behavior and methods of therapy. (Ph.D. or Psy.D)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Psychoanalytic / Psychodynamic Prospective

A

Focuses on unconscious processes and unresolved past conflicts

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

Sigmund Freud (1856-1939)

A

Austrian physician Sigmund Freud believed that many psychological problems are caused by a conflict between “acceptable” behavior and “unacceptable” unconscious sexual or aggressive motives. Freud developed a form of psychotherapy, or “talk therapy,” called psychoanalysis

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Behavioral Perspective

A

Emphasizes objective, observable environmental influences on overt behavior

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

B. F. Skinner (1904-1990)

A

B. F. Skinner is a behavioralist, convinced that we could (and should) use behavioral approaches to actually “shape” human behavior

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

John B. Watson (1913)

A

American psychologist in the 20th century who established the psychological field of behaviorism

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

William James (1842-1910)

A

William James, an American Scholar, was a leading force in the functionalist school of psychology, which stressed the adaptive and practical functions of human behavior

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

Sigmund Freud structural model of personality:

A

Freud divides the personality into three parts the id, the ego, and the superego.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Wihelm Wundt (1832-1920)

A

Acknowledged as the “father of psychology” established the first psychological laboratory in Leipzig, Germany in 1879. Wilhelm Wundt focused on understanding the conscious experience through introspection

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

B. F. Skinner Behavioral Theory:

A

A behaviorist, he developed the theory of operant conditioning – the idea that behavior is determined by its consequences, be they reinforcements or punishments, which make it more or less likely that the behavior will occur again. which is predicated on three types of responses people exhibit to external stimuli.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Humanistic Perspective

A

Emphasizes free will, self-actualization,
and human nature as naturally positive
and growth-seeking

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

Positive Psychology

A

The scientific study of optimal human functioning, emphasizing positive emotions, positive traits,
and positive institutions

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Cognitive Perspective

A

Focuses on thinking, perceiving, and information processing

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

Neuroscience / Biopsychology Perspective

A

Emphasizes genetics and other biological processes in the brain and other parts of the nervous system

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

Evolutionary Perspective

A

Focuses on natural selection, adaptation,

and evolution of behavior and mental processes

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

Sociocultural Perspective

A

Emphasizes social interaction and cultural

determinants of behavior and mental processes

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

Ethnicities of doctorate recipients in psychology

A

American Indian 1%, Asian and Pacific Islander 4%, Hispanic (Latino) 6%, White (non-Hispanic) 85%

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

Biopsychosocial Model

A

The unifying theme of modern psychology that incorporates biological, psychological, and social
processes

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

Basic Research

A

Research conducted to advance scientific knowledge. Basic research meets the first three goals of psychology (description, explanation, and prediction)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

Applied Research

A

Research designed to solve practical problems. Applied Research is generally conducted outside the laboratory. And it meets the fourth goal of psychology—to change existing real-world problems.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

Meta-Analysis

A

Statistical procedure for combining and analyzing data from many studies

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
Q

What are the six basic steps of the scientific method?

A
Step 1: Literature Review
Step 2: Testable Hypothesis, Operational defined
Step 3: Research Design
Step 4: Statistical Analysis
Step 5: Peer-Review Scientific Journal 
Step 6: Theory
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
26
Q

Hypothesis

A

Specific, testable prediction about how one factor, or variable, is related to another

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
27
Q

Operational Definition

A

The precise description of how the variables in
a study will be observed and measured (For example, drug abuse might be operationally defined as “the number of missed workdays due to excessive use of an addictive substance.”)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
28
Q

Theory

A

Interrelated set of concepts that explain a body of data

29
Q

What are the two largest professional organizations of psychologists?

A

The American Psychological Society (APS)

The American Psychological Association (APA)

30
Q

Informed Consent

A

Participant’s agreement to take part in a study after

being told what to expect

31
Q

The APA has developed rigorous guidelines regulating research with human participants, including:

A
Informed Consent
Voluntary Participation
Restricted use of deception and debriefing 
Confidentiality
Alternative Activities
32
Q

Debriefing

A

Informing participants after the research about the purpose of the study, the nature of the anticipated results, and any deceptions used

33
Q

Comparative Psychology

A

the study of the behavior of different species

34
Q

Confidentiality Rights of Psychotherapy Clients

A

All personal information and therapy records must be kept confidential, with records being available only to authorized persons and with the client’s permission. However, the public’s right to safety ethically outweighs the client’s right to privacy. Therapists are legally required to break confidentiality if a client threatens violence to him or herself or to others. This breaking
of confidentiality also applies if a client is suspected of abusing a child or an elderly person, and in other limited situations.

35
Q

What is the counselor’s primary obligation?

A

To protect client’s disclosure

36
Q

What are the four main types of psychological research?

A

Experimental
Descriptive
Correlational
Biological

37
Q

Experiment

A

Carefully controlled scientific procedure that involves the manipulation of variables to determine cause and effect

38
Q

An experiment has several key components:

A

Experimental versus control groups and independent versus dependent variables

39
Q

Researchers must guard against two particular problems:

A

Experimenter bias and ethnocentrism

40
Q

Experimenter Bias

A

Occurs when the researcher influences research results in the expected direction

41
Q

Ethnocentrism

A

Believing that one’s culture is typical of all cultures; also, viewing one’s own ethnic group (or culture) as
central and “correct” and judging others according to this standard

42
Q

Experimental Group

A

The group that receives treatment in an experiment

43
Q

Control Group

A

The group that receives no treatment in an experiment

44
Q

Independent Variable (IV)

A

Variable that is manipulated to determine its causal effect on the dependent variable

45
Q

Dependent Variable (DV)

A

Variable that is measured; it is affected by (or dependent on) the independent variable

46
Q

Double-Blind Study

A

Procedure in which both the researcher and the participants are unaware (blind) of who is in the experimental or control group

47
Q

Placebo

A

An inactive substance or fake treatment used as a control

technique, usually in drug research, or given by a medical practitioner to a patient

48
Q

Sample bias

A

Occurs when research participants are not representative of the larger population

49
Q

Random Assignment

A

Using chance methods to assign participants to

experimental or control conditions, thus minimizing the possibility of biases or preexisting differences in the groups

50
Q

Participant Bias

A

Occurs when experimental conditions influence the participant’s behavior or mental processes

51
Q

Misattribution of Arousal

A

Different emotions produce similar feelings

of arousal, which leads to mistaken inferences about these emotions and the source of arousal.

52
Q

What are the three key methods of Descriptive Research?

A

Naturalistic Observation
Surveys
Case Studies

53
Q

Descriptive Research

A

Research methods that observe and record behavior

and mental processes without producing causal explanations

54
Q

Naturalistic Observation

A

Observation and recording behavior and mental processes in the participant’s natural state or habitat

55
Q

Survey

A

A research technique that questions a large sample of people to assess their behaviors and attitudes

56
Q

Case Study

A

In-depth study of a single research participant

57
Q

Correlational Research

A

The researcher observes or measures (without directly manipulating) two or more naturally occurring variables to find the relationships between them. Correlation does NOT imply causation

58
Q

Correlation Coefficient

A

A number indicating the strength and direction of the relationship between two variables

59
Q

What is the formula for calculating the correlation coefficient?

A

Correlation coefficients are calculated by a formula that produces a number ranging from +1.00 to -1.00. The number indicates the strength of the relationship. Both
+1.00 and -1.00 indicate the strongest possible relationship. As the number decreases and gets
closer to 0.00, the relationship weakens. Note that the sign (+ or - ) in front of the number indicates the direction of the correlation, positive (+) or negative ( - )

60
Q

Key features of Correlations

A

A positive correlation (+) indicates that two variables move (or vary) in the same direction—they increase or decrease in a similar way. For example, when studying
increases, exam scores generally increase. Conversely, when studying decreases, exam scores decrease. Both are positive correlations. The factors vary in the same direction upward or downward.

 A negative correlation occurs when two variables vary in opposite directions as one-factor increases, the other factor decreases. Have you noticed that the more hours
you work (or party) outside of college, the lower your exam scores? This is an example of a negative correlation—working and partying vary in opposite directions to exam scores.

A zero correlation indicates no relationship between two variables. For example, there is no relation (zero correlation) between your birthday and your exam scores. And, despite popular belief, repeated scientific investigations of astrology have found no relationship
between personality and the position of the stars when you were born (a zero correlation).

61
Q

What is a scatterplot?

A

Positive, negative, and zero correlations are sometimes shown on graphs (called scatterplots), with each dot
representing an individual participant’s score on the
two variables

62
Q

A “Correlation Coefficient” is delineated by:

A

the letter “r,” and it would be expressed something like this, r + 62. The sign in front of the number
( + or - ) indicates the direction of the relationship, and the number (.62) indicates the strength. The closer the number is to 1.00, either positive or negative, the stronger the correlation between the variables. A correlation of +92 or - 92 would represent a high (or strong) correlation, whereas a correlation of + 15 or - 15 would indicate a low (or weak) correlation.

Sample Correlation Coefficient (r = + .62)

63
Q

Biological Research

A

Scientific studies of the brain and other parts of the nervous system

64
Q

Biological Research Method:

A
Brain Dissection
Ablation/Lesions
Observation/Case studies
(EEG) Electrical Recordings
(ESB) Electrical Stimulation of the brain 
(CT) Computed Tomography Scan
(PET) Positron Emission Tomography Scan
(MRI) Magnetic Resonance Imaging
(fMRI) Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging 
(TMS) Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation
65
Q

List the 6 steps in the SQ4R Method:

A
Survey
Question 
Read 
Recite
Review 
Write
66
Q

List of careers in the psychology field

A
Occupational examples include:
Experimental
Biopsychology
Cognitive
Developmental
Clinical
Counseling
67
Q

Structuralism

A

Focused on consciousness and the structure of the mind using introspection

68
Q

Functionalism

A

The emphasized function of mental processes in adapting to the environment and practical applications of psychology.