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Psychology > Psychology (3) > Flashcards

Psychology (3) Flashcards

1
Q

What is the main goal when conducting an experiment?

A

To determine the effect of the independent variable (IV) on the dependent variable (DV)

This involves controlling the environment and manipulating the IV while measuring the DV.

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2
Q

What does controlling the world in an experiment entail?

A

Controlling the world involves manipulating the IV(s) and measuring the DV

This is essential for establishing a cause-and-effect relationship.

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3
Q

What is the relationship between IV and DV?

A

The independent variable (IV) is manipulated to observe its effect on the dependent variable (DV)

Understanding this relationship is crucial for determining causation.

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4
Q

What is a potential drawback of focusing too much on causation in experiments?

A

It can lead to tunnel vision

This means researchers may overlook other important factors or variables.

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5
Q

Fill in the blank: The search for the _______ can result from an overemphasis on causation.

A

magic bullet

This term refers to a singular solution or factor that resolves a complex issue.

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6
Q

What is reductionism?

A

The idea that everything can be reduced to its simplest form.

This concept implies that complex phenomena can be understood by examining their basic components.

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7
Q

In reductionism, how are behaviors viewed?

A

Behaviors are simply the sum of their parts.

This means that behaviors can be analyzed by breaking them down into simpler elements.

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8
Q

How does reductionism apply to physics?

A

Everything is made of particles, and can be explained via particle interactions.

This perspective focuses on the fundamental building blocks of matter.

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9
Q

How does reductionism apply to psychology?

A

A behavior can be reduced to its simplest cause.

This suggests that complex behaviors can be traced back to basic psychological triggers.

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10
Q

What is a good example of reductionism in psychology?

A

Behaviorism.

Behaviorism focuses on observable behaviors and their relationship to stimuli and responses.

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11
Q

In the context of behaviorism, what are the two main components?

A

Stimulus and Response.

This framework emphasizes the relationship between external stimuli and the behavioral responses they elicit.

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12
Q

What is the perspective of biological psychology?

A

Biological psychology could be considered reductionist

This perspective suggests that behaviors can be explained solely in terms of biology.

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13
Q

What fundamental premise does biological psychology rely on?

A

We are biological organisms

This premise underlines the belief that biological factors play a crucial role in influencing behavior.

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14
Q

How can all behaviors be explained according to biological psychology?

A

In terms of our biology

This means that psychological phenomena are linked to biological processes.

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15
Q

What is an example used to illustrate a biological process in psychology?

A

Reflex arch

A reflex arc demonstrates how biological responses occur without conscious thought.

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16
Q

What happens when a hot stimulus is contacted according to biological psychology?

A

Receptors feel the threat

This initiates a series of biological responses that lead to movement.

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17
Q

What is the sequence of events after contacting a hot stimulus?

A
  1. Nerve impulse to CNS
  2. Nerve impulse back from CNS
  3. Movement

This sequence illustrates the biological basis of reflex actions.

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18
Q

True or False: All of psychology can be reduced to biology.

A

False

While biological psychology emphasizes biology, not all psychological phenomena can be fully explained by biological factors.

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19
Q

What does Burwood et al. (1999) suggest about reductionism?

A

All behaviours need to be explainable by the lowest property

This implies that higher properties do not play a role in understanding behaviour.

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20
Q

What does the concept of reductionism imply about higher properties?

A

Higher properties don’t play a role

This perspective limits the understanding of complex behaviours.

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21
Q

What is an example of a feeling that raises questions about reductionism?

A

Feeling conscious

This suggests a conflict between biological determinism and the experience of consciousness.

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22
Q

What assumption do we make about consciousness in relation to decision-making?

A

We feel conscious and free to make decisions

This assumption challenges the reductionist perspective.

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23
Q

If biology is the only cause of behaviour, what question arises about consciousness?

A

Are we really conscious?

This question highlights the tension between biological determinism and subjective experience.

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24
Q

What term describes consciousness as a by-product of biological processes?

A

Epiphenomena

This concept suggests that consciousness may not have a causal role in behaviour.

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25
Q

Can the concept of consciousness be fully explained by biology?

A

This remains a contentious question

The relationship between biology and consciousness is complex and debated.

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26
Q

What does absolute reductionism seem inappropriate for?

A

Psychology

Absolute reductionism fails to account for the complexity of psychological phenomena.

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27
Q

What is a better approach than absolute reductionism in psychology?

A

Explanatory Pluralism

Explanatory Pluralism allows for multiple levels of description and understanding.

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28
Q

What do different levels of description in psychology include?

A
  • Physiological
  • Psychological

These levels can co-evolve and influence each other.

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29
Q

How do higher-level explanations in psychology typically explore behavior?

A

In terms of function

Higher-level explanations focus on the purpose or role of behaviors.

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30
Q

Can higher-level explanations in psychology be reduced to lower-level explanations?

A

No

Higher-level explanations exist in their own right and cannot be simplified to lower-level terms.

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31
Q

What is the effect of multiple variables in research?

A

Multiple variables can have an effect in their own right and can also affect each other

This concept allows for a more complex understanding of interactions in research settings.

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32
Q

What is known as an interaction in research?

A

An interaction occurs when variables affect each other

Interactions can lead to outcomes that are more complex than the sum of individual variable effects.

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33
Q

Why are interactions often more interesting in research?

A

Interactions are often more interesting than the effect of a single dependent variable (DV)

This is because they reveal how different variables work together to influence outcomes.

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34
Q

What is the significance of small effects in research?

A

Small effects can have important real-world implications.

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35
Q

True or False: A single independent variable with a small effect is irrelevant.

A

False

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36
Q

If a single independent variable can reduce violent crime by 1%, what should we consider?

A

It is worthwhile to consider the impact.

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37
Q

How much of an improvement in grade would be considered satisfactory?

A

5%

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38
Q

Fill in the blank: Small effects can make ______ differences.

A

big

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39
Q

What should not be ignored in research despite the size of the effect?

A

The importance of a single variable.

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40
Q

Why is control important in psychology?

A

Control is important because it helps in the understanding and explanation of behavior

Control allows researchers to isolate variables and determine causal relationships.

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41
Q

What happens when control is increased in psychological studies?

A

Increasing control leads to a focus that can ignore the bigger picture

This can result in an oversimplified understanding of complex behaviors.

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42
Q

What is a potential consequence of searching for a single variable to explain behavior?

A

It can lead to a reductionist approach

A reductionist approach simplifies complex phenomena, often missing important interactions.

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43
Q

What can considering variables in isolation lead to?

A

It can lead to missing important interactions

Interactions among variables can provide deeper insights into behaviors.

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44
Q

What is the relationship between control in experiments and ecological validity?

A

Increased control can lead to less ecological validity

Ecological validity refers to the extent to which findings can be generalized to real-world settings.

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45
Q

Why might psychology be criticized as artificial?

A

Because greater control in experiments can reduce ecological validity

Critics argue that controlled experiments do not accurately reflect real-life situations.

46
Q

Fill in the blank: Increasing control in psychological studies can lead to the search for a _______ to explain behavior.

A

single variable

47
Q

True or False: A reductionist approach is beneficial for understanding complex behaviors.

A

False

A reductionist approach often oversimplifies and misses the complexity of behaviors.

48
Q

What common complaint is often directed at Psychology?

A

Studies are not ‘real life’

This observation highlights the gap between controlled lab studies and real-world scenarios.

49
Q

Why is the observation that Psychology studies are not ‘real life’ considered fair?

A

Lab studies do not replicate real-world occurrences

In controlled environments, behaviors may be influenced differently than in natural settings.

50
Q

How do people typically behave in interviews compared to real life?

A

People rarely discuss personal ideas or experiences with strangers

This contrasts with the openness often encouraged in interview settings.

51
Q

Is the lack of ‘real world’ application a problem in Psychology?

A

Yes, it raises questions about the ecological validity of findings

Ecological validity refers to the extent to which research findings can be generalized to real-world settings.

52
Q

What is the artificial nature of psychology described as?

A

Not an accident or negligent practice

It is a method to understand complex real-world phenomena.

53
Q

What is the goal of using an artificial approach in psychology?

A

To determine what is happening in an extremely complex world

This approach helps simplify and analyze complicated human behaviors.

54
Q

Why might real-world observations not produce accurate data?

A

Because they can be influenced by the awareness of being observed

This phenomenon is often referred to as the observer effect.

55
Q

How does awareness of being filmed affect behavior?

A

It can alter how individuals behave

People may act differently when they know they are being watched.

56
Q

Fill in the blank: The artificial nature of psychology is a way to try and determine what is actually _______.

A

happening

57
Q

True or False: Real-world observations always produce accurate data.

A

False

Real-world observations can be affected by various factors, including awareness of observation.

58
Q

What is the Hawthorne Effect?

A

The observer effect where individuals modify behaviour when they know they are being observed

It emphasizes the influence of observation on performance.

59
Q

Who conducted experiments related to the Hawthorne Effect?

A

Landsberger in 1958

These experiments were conducted at the Hawthorne works.

60
Q

What was the focus of Landsberger’s experiments?

A

The productivity of workers under different levels of light

The experiments sought to understand how environmental factors impact worker productivity.

61
Q

What was the outcome of the productivity experiments conducted by Landsberger?

A

Productivity increased when research started, then decreased after it ended

This indicated that the act of being studied influenced the workers’ performance.

62
Q

Fill in the blank: The Hawthorne Effect is also known as the _______.

A

observer effect

This term highlights the impact of observation on behaviour.

63
Q

True or False: The Hawthorne Effect suggests that observation can lead to changes in individual behavior.

A

True

This effect illustrates how awareness of being observed can alter performance.

64
Q

What is often questioned when people question repressiveness?

A

The sample, not the design.

65
Q

List the issues related to sampling mentioned.

A
  • Random sampling
  • The Undergraduate student problem
  • Applied vs Basic Research
66
Q

True or False: The listed issues are unrelated to each other.

A

False

67
Q

Fill in the blank: The issues of sampling include random sampling, the ________, and applied vs basic research.

A

Undergraduate student problem

68
Q

What is the relationship between the issues of random sampling, the undergraduate student problem, and applied vs basic research?

A

These issues are inter-related.

69
Q

What is random sampling?

A

Random sampling relates to how people are chosen. Each member of the population has the same chance of being chosen to participate.

Examples include tests like questionnaires and opinion polls.

70
Q

Does psychology often employ true random sampling?

A

No, psychology doesn’t often employ true random sampling.

This suggests that psychological studies may not fully represent real-life scenarios.

71
Q

What is a common issue in psychological sampling?

A

The Undergraduate Problem.

This issue arises from the reliance on convenience samples in psychological research.

72
Q

What is the primary sampling method used in psychology?

A

Convenience sample.

Convenience samples are drawn from readily available subjects rather than through random selection.

73
Q

Are animals used in testing randomly sampled?

A

No, animals used in testing are not randomly sampled.

This practice limits the generalizability of findings in animal research.

74
Q

Do vaccine test subjects volunteer or are they randomly selected?

A

Vaccine test subjects volunteer.

This can introduce selection bias into vaccine trials.

75
Q

What is a key limitation of sampling methods in various scientific fields?

A

They often do not use true random sampling.

This limitation is common in psychology, chemistry, and animal testing.

76
Q

Fill in the blank: The sampling method commonly drawn on in psychology is a _______.

A

convenience sample.

77
Q

True or False: Chemists pull out random samples of chemicals.

A

False.

Chemists also tend to use non-random sampling methods.

78
Q

What is the Undergraduate Problem in psychological research?

A

The idea that psychological research relies too heavily on undergraduate students as participants

Also known as the College Sophomore problem.

79
Q

Who argued that the reliance on undergraduate students as participants has serious implications?

A

Sears (1986)

Sears highlighted the consequences of a narrow data base in psychological studies.

80
Q

What did Peterson’s (2001) meta-analysis reveal about students as research participants?

A

Students are a more homogenous group than non-students

Peterson’s meta-analysis included over 100,000 participants.

81
Q

True or False: The Undergraduate Problem suggests that college students provide a diverse sample for psychological studies.

A

False

The problem highlights the lack of diversity in using only undergraduate students.

82
Q

Fill in the blank: The Undergraduate Problem is also known as the _______.

A

College Sophomore problem

83
Q

What are the serious implications of relying on a narrow data base in psychological studies?

A

Potentially skewed conclusions and lack of generalizability

This can affect the validity of psychological research findings.

84
Q

What type of studies does the Undergraduate Problem primarily concern?

A

Lab-based studies

These studies often use undergraduate students as participants.

85
Q

Do UG students invalidate findings?

A

No, they encourage further testing if you wish to generalise.

86
Q

What is a common belief about demographic variation in psychological processes?

A

A lot of psychological processes are quite basic, so it is widely believed that demographic variation is not the driving factor.

87
Q

Does colour blindness relate to IQ?

A

No, colour blindness doesn’t relate to IQ.

88
Q

How representative are university students in the UK now compared to 50 years ago?

A

University students are more representative now than they were 50 years ago.

89
Q

What percentage of people went to university in the UK in 1960?

A

~4% of people went to university.

90
Q

What percentage of people go to university in the UK in 2022?

A

~37% of people go to university.

91
Q

What can significantly affect research findings according to Peterson (2001)?

A

The study sample

Peterson (2001) emphasizes the importance of the study sample in research outcomes.

92
Q

In research, why is it important to target the correct population?

A

To ensure relevant and applicable findings

Testing a different population can lead to irrelevant results.

93
Q

True or False: The study sample is less important in theoretical research compared to applied research.

A

False

The study sample is crucial for both applied and theoretical research.

94
Q

Fill in the blank: If your study targets a particular population, there is no point in testing _______.

A

UG’s who are a different population

UG refers to a specific group relevant to the research.

95
Q

What type of research is directly affected by the choice of study sample?

A

Applied research

Applied research aims to address real-world problems and requires relevant samples.

96
Q

What is the significance of basic research in applied contexts?

A

Basic research provides a foundation that can be applied to various fields

Basic research helps in understanding baseline processes that can be utilized in practical applications.

97
Q

Give an example of visual search being applied in a practical setting.

A

Airport security or medical imaging

Visual search techniques are used to enhance the effectiveness of security checks and diagnostic imaging.

98
Q

How has attention research been applied in real-world scenarios?

A

Driving with phones

Research on attention helps understand the risks associated with distracted driving.

99
Q

What theory has been applied to the Northern Ireland conflict?

A

Social Identity Theory

This theory examines how group identities can influence conflicts and social dynamics.

100
Q

What is an example of classic conditioning applied in everyday life?

A

Potty training

Classic conditioning principles are often used in behavioral training methods.

101
Q

What does UG stand for in the context of applying research?

A

Universal Grammar

UG can be used to test base theories before applying them to specific target populations.

102
Q

What does the artificiality argument originate from?

A

A misunderstanding of the scientific method

The argument suggests that scientific findings are often viewed as artificial due to the methods used.

103
Q

Why should psychologists be concerned about experimental conclusions?

A

Because they may rely on a single methodology or population

This concern highlights the importance of diverse methodologies in psychological research.

104
Q

What do researchers often comment on in their published works?

A

Issues or limitations in their studies

Acknowledging limitations helps improve the robustness of scientific findings.

105
Q

Are psychologists unaware of the artificiality criticism?

A

No, they are aware of it

Awareness of criticism is crucial for the integrity of the field.

106
Q

Is the artificiality criticism important for psychologists?

A

Yes, it needs to be considered

Understanding this criticism can lead to more thoughtful research practices.

107
Q

Fill in the blank: The artificiality criticism should be kept in _______.

A

Perspective

Maintaining perspective helps balance criticisms with the benefits of research.

108
Q

How do experiments in psychology typically compare to real life?

A

Experiments in psychology (and the other sciences) are commonly not like real life

This highlights the artificiality of controlled conditions in research settings.

109
Q

What needs to be considered when evaluating the aim of research?

A

The aim of research needs to be considered

This emphasizes the importance of understanding the purpose behind the research.

110
Q

What is an important issue in applied research?

A

Invalid environments/conditions can affect conclusions

This indicates that the context of applied research must be relevant to the real-world scenarios it seeks to address.

111
Q

How should controlled conditions be viewed in basic research?

A

Controlled conditions should be viewed as a strength, not a limitation

This suggests that the rigor of controlled conditions enhances the validity of findings in basic research.

Psychology (5 decks)

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