PSYC 1 Flashcards
The view that psychology (1) should be an objective science that (2) studies behavior without reference to mental processes. Most research psychologists today agree with (1) but not with (2).
Behaviorism
Historically significant perspective that emphasized the growth potential of healthy people.
Humanistic Psychology
The interdisciplinary study of the brain activity linked with cognition (including perception, thinking, memory, and language).
Cognitive Neuroscience
The science of behavior and mental processes.
Psychology
The longstanding controversy over the relative contributions that genes and experience make to the development of psychological traits and behaviors. Today’s psychological science sees traits and behaviors arising from the interaction of nature and nurture.
Nature-Nurture Issue
The principle that, among the range of inherited trait variations, those contributing to reproduction and survival will most likely be passed on to succeeding generations.
Natural Selection
The differing complementary views, from biological to psychological to social-cultural, for analyzing any given phenomenon.
Levels of Analysis
An integrated approach that incorporates biological, psychological, and social-cultural levels of analysis.
Biopsychosocial Approach
Pure science that aims to increase the scientific knowledge base.
Basic Research
Scientific study that aims to solve practical problems.
Applied Research
A branch of psychology that assists people with problems in living (often related to school, work, or relationships) and in achieving greater well-being.
Counseling Psychology
A branch of psychology that studies, assesses, and treats people with psychological disorders.
Clinical Psychology
A branch of medicine dealing with psychological disorders; practiced by physicians who sometimes provide medical (for example, drug) treatments as well as psychological therapy.
Psychiatry
The scientific study of human functioning, with the goals of discovering and promoting strengths and virtues that help individuals and communities to thrive.
Positive Psychology
Enhanced memory after retrieving, rather than simply rereading, information. Also sometimes referred to as a retrieval practice effect or test-enhanced learning.
Testing Effect
A study method incorporating five steps: Survey, Question, Read, Retrieve, Review.
SQ3R
The tendency to believe, after learning an outcome, that one would have foreseen it. (Also known as the I-knew-it-all-along phenomenon.)
Hindsight Bias
Thinking that does not blindly accept arguments and conclusions. Rather, it examines assumptions, discerns hidden values, evaluates evidence, and assesses conclusions.
Critical Thinking
An explanation using an integrated set of principles that organizes observations and predicts behaviors or events.
Theory
A testable prediction, often implied by a theory.
Hypothesis
A statement of the procedures (operations) used to define research variables. For example, human intelligence may be operationally defined as “what an intelligence test measures”.
Operational Definition
Repeating the essence of a research study, usually with different participants in different situations, to see whether the basic finding extends to other participants and circumstances.
Replication
An observation technique in which one person is studied in depth in the hope of revealing universal principles.
Case Study
Observing and recording behavior in naturally occurring situations without trying to manipulate and control the situation.
Naturalistic Observation
A technique for ascertaining the self-reported attitudes or behaviors of a particular group, usually by questioning a representative, random sample of the group.
Survey
All those in a group being studied, from which samples may be drawn. (Note: Except for national studies, this does not refer to a country’s whole population.)
Population
A sample that fairly represents a population because each member has an equal chance of inclusion.
Random Sample
A measure of the extent to which two factors vary together, and thus of how well either factor predicts the other.
Correlation
A statistical index of the relationship between two things (from -1 to +1).
Correlation Coefficient
A research method in which an investigator manipulates one or more factors (independent variables) to observe the effect on some behavior or mental process (the dependent variable). By random assignment of participants, the experimenter aims to control other relevant factors.
Experiment
In an experiment, the group exposed to the treatment, that is, to one version of the independent variable.
Experimental Group
In an experiment, the group not exposed to the treatment; contrasts with the experimental group and serves as a comparison for evaluating the effect of the treatment.
Control Group
Assigning participants to experimental and control groups by chance, thus minimizing preexisting differences between the different groups.
Random Assignment
An experimental procedure in which both the research participants and the research staff are ignorant (blind) about whether the research participants have received the treatment or a placebo. Commonly used in drug-evaluation studies.
Double-Blind Procedure
Experimental results caused by expectations alone, any effect on behavior caused by the administration of an inert substance or condition, which the recipient assumes is an active agent.
Placebo Effect
The experimental factor that is manipulated; the variable whose effect is being studied.
Independent Variable
A factor other than the independent variable that might produce an effect in an experiment.
Confounding Variable
The outcome factor; the variable that may change in response to manipulations of the independent variable.
Dependent Variable
The enduring behaviors, ideas, attitudes, values, and traditions shared by a group of people and transmitted from one generation to the next.
Culture
Giving potential participants enough information about a study to enable them to decide whether they wish to participate.
Informed Consent
The postexperimental explanation of a study, including its purpose and nay deceptions, to its participants.
Debriefing
