psy exam 1 normal Flashcards
Cultural Heritage
Impacts individual behavior and psychology based on one’s cultural background.
Cons of Experiments
Artificial settings may not reflect real-world scenarios.
Cultural Psychology
The study of how cultural practices shape psychological processes.
IRB
Oversight committee that reviews research proposals for ethical compliance.
Naturalistic Observation
Studying subjects in their natural environment.
Subjectivity
The idea that personal experiences and interpretations shape one’s understanding of reality.
Control Group
Group receiving no treatment, used for comparison.
Physiological Measures
Using tools like fMRI, EEG, or heart rate monitors.
Sociohistorical Context
The influence of social and historical factors on psychological practices and theories.
Goals of Science
Description, prediction, and explanation.
Pros of Experiments
Allows for cause-and-effect conclusions.
Description
The process of observing and recording behavior or phenomena.
Placebo Effects
Subjects’ response to a placebo rather than the actual treatment.
Correlation vs. Causation
Correlations indicate a relationship between variables but do not imply causation.
Psychology
The scientific study of behavior and mental processes.
Hypotheses
Specific predictions derived from a theory.
Mary Whiton Calkins
First woman president of the American Psychological Association; faced gender discrimination in her academic career.
Social Psychology
The study of how individuals influence and are influenced by others.
Wilhelm Wundt
Considered the father of modern psychology; established the first psychology laboratory.
Nature/Nurture
The debate over the relative contributions of genetics and environment to behavior.
Support for Hypotheses
Findings that increase confidence in a theory.
Positive Psychology
A field of psychology that focuses on the positive aspects of human life, such as happiness and well-being.
Evolutionary Psychology
A theoretical perspective that examines psychological traits as adaptations to environmental challenges.
Experimental Group
Group receiving the treatment in an experiment.
Correlation Coefficient
Ranges from -1 to +1, with extremes indicating stronger relationships.
Standardized Tests
Utilizing uniform procedures for fair comparisons.
Sigmund Freud
The founder of psychoanalysis, known for his theories on the unconscious mind and psychosexual development.
Social Desirability Bias
Respondents may answer in a way they perceive as socially acceptable.
Theory Construction
A process involving theory, hypotheses, and empirical research.
Dependent Variable (DV)
The factor being measured or observed in an experiment.
Variable
Any factor that can vary.
Multiple Causes
The concept that behavior and mental processes are influenced by various factors.
Theory
A well-substantiated explanation based on evidence; must be testable/provable.
Industrial/Organizational Psychology
The application of psychological principles to workplace environments.
Cognitive Psychology
The study of mental processes such as perception, memory, and problem-solving.
Experimental Design
Structuring the study to test the hypothesis effectively.
Negative Correlation
x and y are on opposite ends.
Scientific Knowledge
Is cumulative and tentative; theories may be revised or discarded.
Positive Correlation
x and y are on similar ends.
Operational Definition
Defining a concept by the procedures used to measure or observe it.
William James
A prominent psychologist known for his work in functionalism and author of ‘The Principles of Psychology’.
B.F. Skinner
A leading behaviorist known for his work on operant conditioning and reinforcement.
Empiricism
The belief that knowledge comes from observation and experience.
Leta Stetter Hollingworth
Pioneered research in gifted children and gender differences; faced challenges due to her gender.
Prediction
Anticipates occurrences based on gathered data.
Structuralism
An early school of psychology that aimed to identify the basic elements of consciousness.
Experiment
Involves manipulating variables to observe their impact.
Independent Variable (IV)
The factor being changed or controlled in an experiment.
Counseling Psychology
A professional area that focuses on providing therapeutic services to individuals.
Psychoanalysis
A therapeutic approach that focuses on unconscious processes and childhood experiences.
Non-support for Hypotheses
Findings that decrease confidence in a theory, prompting revision.
Personality Psychology
The study of individual differences in characteristic patterns of thinking, feeling, and behaving.
Functionalism
A school of psychology that focused on the purpose of consciousness and behavior.
Hypothesis
A testable prediction or educated guess.
Clinical Psychology
A branch of psychology that focuses on diagnosing and treating mental disorders.
John B. Watson
The founder of behaviorism, emphasizing the study of observable behavior.
Developmental Psychology
The study of how people grow and change from infancy through old age.
Animal Research
Should be conducted with ethical guidelines and justification for harm.
Psychometrics
The field of psychology concerned with the theory and technique of psychological measurement.
Explanation
Seeks to clarify why certain behaviors or phenomena happen.
Deception
Sometimes necessary in research but requires debriefing.
Sampling Bias
When the sample does not represent the population accurately.
Self-reported data
Can contain distortions or bias.
Experimenter Bias
Researchers’ expectations influencing the outcomes.
Biological Psychology
The study of the relationship between biological processes and psychological phenomena.
APA’s Guidelines
Ensure voluntary participation, confidentiality, and no harm in research.
Physiological Psychology
The study of the biological basis of behavior and mental processes.
Random Assignment
Allocating subjects randomly to control and experimental groups to minimize bias.
Margaret Floy Washburn
First woman to earn a Ph.D. in psychology; known for her work in animal behavior and consciousness.
Descriptive Research
In-depth examination of behavior without influencing it.
Anecdotal Evidence
Personal accounts or stories used to support a claim.
Correlational Research
Assessing the relationship between variables.
Surveys & Interviews
Gathering data through questionnaires or direct questioning.
Double-blind study
A method to avoid experimenter bias.
Flaws in Anecdotal Evidence
Lack of systematic testing and bias.
Extraneous variables
Factors other than the independent variable that may influence the results.
Experimental Research
Manipulating variables to observe their effects.
Behaviorism
A theoretical perspective that emphasizes the study of observable behavior and the role of the environment.
Theoretical Diversity
The idea that multiple theories can explain psychological phenomena.
Educational Psychology
The study of how people learn and the best practices to teach them.
Correlation Strength
+0.80 shows a stronger association than +0.50.
Empirical Research
Conducting studies to test hypotheses.
Ethical Concerns
Issues regarding subject well-being and consent in experiments.
Experimental Psychology
The branch of psychology that uses experimental methods to study behavior and mental processes.
Persuasiveness of Anecdotal Evidence
Compelling because of relatability but lacks scientific rigor.
Scientific Journal
A publication that presents original research findings and reviews.
Archival Records
Examining existing data for research purposes.
Humanism
A psychological perspective that emphasizes personal growth and the concept of self-actualization.
