Keywords Flashcards
Capacity
The amount of information that can be stored in memory
Computer metaphor
The idea that memory is like a computer
Duration
Length of time a person can hold a memory
Encoding
The way people process information according to its looks sound and meaning
reconstructive memory
The idea that people only remember little pieces of information but fill in the rest with what could have happened
Chunking
Trying to group information together when trying to remember it
Confounding variable
And bearable that appears to have found some affect when there was none (not fair test)
Operationalise
To make measurable
Schema
Simplified, generalised mental representations of everything an individual understands by a given type of object or event based on past experience
Quasi experiment
Not quite a true experiment, no manipulation of the independent variable and takes advantage of natural conditions
Lab experiment
A highly controlled area where no confounding variables would interfere with the independent variable
Extraneous variable
Any variable apart from the independent variable that could have an effect the on dependent variable
Nondirectional hypothesis
Prediction that there is a difference between two conditions but no confidence where it occurs
Participant variable
A feature or characteristic of a participant which may affect the independent variable
Situational variable
A feature or characteristic of an environment which may affect the independent variable
Random Error
Used to describe a confounding variable is which wasn’t able to be predicted so can’t be controlled
Constant error
Used to describe a confounding variable which was predicted so could be controlled
Internal validity
Extent to which that there is confidence that any change in the dependent variable is a result of the manipulation of the independent variable
Random allocation
when participants have an equal chance of being selected
Ecological validity
A type of external validity, the extent to which the findings and conclusions of a study can be generalised to real life
Demand characteristics
Features of an experiment that give the participants clues about the aim of the study, causing them to alter their behaviour which could reduce internal validity
Population validity
The extent to which the findings and conclusions of a study can be generalised to other people apart from the participants
Temporal validity
The extent to which the findings and conclusions of the study can be generalised to different time periods
Standard deviation
The measure of dispersion within a set of data
Practical application/ Usefulness
Where the findings and conclusions of a study are taken and applied to real life situations
Idiographic approach
Understanding that everybody is unique and therefore to understand an individual you have to study them singularly, the findings may also not be true to other people
Nomothetic approach
Belief that everybody is the same so what do you learn about one person can be applied to everyone else
Fixation
The idea that development is stuck in a particular stage (frued)
Falsifiability
A desirability of science, the extent to which a theory is tested in order to try and prove it wrong
Null hypothesis
A prediction that has no affect or difference between conditions
