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1
Q

What is Empiricism?

A

The belief that knowledge comes from experience and observation.

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2
Q

Define the Scientific Method.

A

A systematic process of testing hypotheses through observation and experimentation.

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3
Q

What is a Theory?

A

A well-supported explanation of phenomena based on evidence.

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4
Q

What does Critical Thinking involve?

A

Analyzing information objectively to make reasoned judgments.

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5
Q

What is an Operational Definition?

A

A precise explanation of how a variable is measured in a study.

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6
Q

Differentiate between Reliability and Validity.

A

Reliability is consistency in measurement; validity is accuracy in measuring what it intends to measure.

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7
Q

What is Naturalistic Observation?

A

Observing subjects in their natural environment without interference.

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8
Q

Define a Case Study.

A

An in-depth analysis of a single person or small group.

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9
Q

What are Demand Characteristics?

A

Cues in a study that influence participants’ behavior.

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10
Q

What is a Double-Blind Experiment?

A

Neither participants nor researchers know who is in the experimental or control group, reducing bias.

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11
Q

What is a Frequency Distribution?

A

A table or graph showing how often values appear in a dataset.

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12
Q

Fill in the blank: The _______ is the most frequent value in a dataset.

A

Mode

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13
Q

What is the Median?

A

The middle value in a dataset.

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14
Q

Define Mean.

A

The average of a set of values.

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15
Q

What does Range refer to?

A

The difference between the highest and lowest values.

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16
Q

What is Correlation?

A

A relationship between two variables.

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17
Q

What characterizes a Positive Correlation?

A

Both variables increase or decrease together.

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18
Q

Define Negative Correlation.

A

One variable increases while the other decreases.

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19
Q

What is Natural Correlation?

A

A correlation observed in the real world, without manipulation.

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20
Q

What is Third-Variable Correlation?

A

A false correlation caused by an unmeasured third variable.

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21
Q

What does the Correlation Coefficient indicate?

A

A number between -1 and +1 showing the strength and direction of a correlation.

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22
Q

Advantage of Experiments vs. Correlational Studies?

A

Experiments determine causation, while correlational studies only show relationships.

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23
Q

Define Independent Variable.

A

The manipulated variable in an experiment.

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24
Q

What is a Dependent Variable?

A

The measured outcome in an experiment.

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25
What distinguishes Experimental Groups from Control Groups?
Experimental group receives treatment; Control group does not, for comparison.
26
What is Random Assignment?
Randomly placing participants in groups to reduce bias.
27
What is Random Sampling?
Selecting participants randomly from a population to ensure a representative sample.
28
What is Normal Distribution?
A bell-shaped curve where most values cluster around the mean.
29
Define Population in research.
The entire group a researcher wants to study.
30
What are Neurons?
Cells that transmit information in the nervous system.
31
What is the function of Axons?
Long fibers that carry signals away from the cell body.
32
What do Dendrites do?
Branch-like structures that receive signals from other neurons.
33
What is the Cell Body (Soma)?
The neuron’s main part that contains the nucleus.
34
What is the Myelin Sheath?
A fatty layer that insulates axons and speeds up neural signals.
35
What is Multiple Sclerosis (MS)?
A disease where the immune system damages the myelin sheath, slowing down neural communication.
36
Define Synapse.
The gap between neurons where neurotransmitters pass messages.
37
What are Sensory Neurons?
Carry signals from sensory organs to the brain.
38
What do Motor Neurons do?
Carry signals from the brain to muscles for movement.
39
What are Interneurons?
Connect sensory and motor neurons within the brain and spinal cord.
40
What are Neural Electro-Chemical Actions?
Neurons send electrical signals within and use chemicals (neurotransmitters) to communicate between cells.
41
What is the Sequence of Firing of Neurons?
Resting potential → Action potential → Refractory period → Return to resting state.
42
Define Conduction in neural communication.
The movement of an electrical signal along the axon.
43
What are Neurotransmitters?
Chemicals that transmit signals between neurons (e.g., dopamine, serotonin).
44
What are Agonists?
Drugs that increase neurotransmitter activity.
45
Define Antagonists.
Drugs that block neurotransmitter activity.
46
What is the Pituitary Gland known as?
The 'master gland' that controls other glands and regulates growth, stress, and hormones.
47
What are Hormones?
Chemical messengers that regulate body functions, released by glands like the thyroid, adrenal, and pancreas.
48
What comprises the Central Nervous System (CNS)?
The brain and spinal cord.
49
What is the Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)?
Nerves outside the CNS.
50
What does the Somatic Nervous System control?
Voluntary movements.
51
What does the Autonomic Nervous System regulate?
Involuntary processes (e.g., heartbeat).
52
What is the role of the Sympathetic Nervous System?
Activates the body for 'fight or flight.'
53
What does the Parasympathetic Nervous System do?
Calms the body ('rest and digest').
54
What does the Hindbrain control?
Basic survival functions like breathing and heart rate.
55
What is the function of the Midbrain?
Involved in movement and arousal.
56
What role does the Thalamus play?
The brain’s relay station, sending sensory signals to the cortex.
57
What does the Hypothalamus regulate?
Hunger, thirst, temperature, and hormones.
58
What is the Cerebral Cortex involved in?
Thinking, perception, and voluntary movement.
59
What does the Limbic System control?
Emotions and memory.
60
What function does the Occipital Lobe serve?
Processes visual information.
61
What is the role of the Frontal Lobe?
Involved in reasoning, decision-making, and movement.
62
What does the Parietal Lobe process?
Touch and spatial awareness.
63
What are Mirror Neurons?
Neurons that activate when observing others, linked to learning and empathy.
64
Define Brain Plasticity.
The brain’s ability to reorganize and adapt after injury or learning.
65
What is Sensation?
The process of detecting stimuli (e.g., light, sound).
66
Define Perception.
The brain’s interpretation of sensory information.
67
What is Top-Down Processing?
Using prior knowledge to interpret sensory input.
68
What is Bottom-Up Processing?
Building perception from raw sensory data.
69
What is Transduction?
The conversion of sensory input into neural signals.
70
What is Absolute Threshold?
The minimum stimulus needed for detection 50% of the time.
71
What does Sensory Adaptation refer to?
The tendency of sensory receptors to stop responding to constant stimuli.
72
What is a Blind Spot?
The area in the retina without photoreceptors, where the optic nerve exits the eye.
73
What is Colour Blindness?
A condition where individuals cannot distinguish certain colors, usually due to defective cones in the retina.
74
Define Perceptual Constancy.
The ability to recognize objects as the same despite changes in lighting, distance, or angle.
75
What is the Opponent Colour Theory?
The idea that color perception is controlled by opposing pairs (red-green, blue-yellow, black-white).
76
List the Parts of the Eye.
* Cornea * Pupil * Iris * Lens * Retina * Optic nerve
77
What is Visual Form Agnosia?
A condition where a person can see objects but cannot recognize or identify them.
78
Define Illusory Conjunction.
A perceptual mistake where features from different objects are incorrectly combined.
79
What is Selective Attention?
The ability to focus on one stimulus while ignoring others.
80
What are Gestalt Principles?
Rules of perception that help us group elements into meaningful wholes (e.g., proximity, similarity, closure).
81
Define Figure-Ground.
The ability to distinguish an object (figure) from its background (ground).
82
What is Inattentional Blindness?
Failing to notice visible objects when attention is focused elsewhere.
83
What are Sound Waves?
Vibrations in air or another medium that are perceived as sound.
84
What is Pain in sensory processing?
The body’s way of signaling harm, processed by nociceptors.
85
What do Thermoreceptors detect?
Temperature (hot/cold).
86
What do Pressure Receptors detect?
Physical pressure on the skin.
87
What is Taste?
The sense detecting sweet, sour, salty, bitter, and umami through taste buds on the tongue.
88
What is Olfaction?
The sense of smell, connected directly to the olfactory bulb and the limbic system.

psych test 1 (2 decks)

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