Psychology Key Terms

Question 1

Methodology

Answer 1

The type of scientific procedures- or methods- used to study/ investigate behaviour and cognitive processes. EG experiments, observations, surveys, correlations.

Question 2

Generalisability

Answer 2

Can the research findings be generalised from the sample to the target population, was the sample representative enough to be generalised.

Question 3

Operationalisation

Answer 3

Defining the variables to be measured precisely so that they can be tested/ measured.

Question 4

Objectivity

Answer 4

Research that is unbiased, value free, impartial, usually from quantitative data, not open to different interpretations.

Question 5

Subjectivity

Answer 5

Research that is open to interpretation, can be interpreted in more than one way, usually associated with qualitive data.

Question 6

Reliability

Answer 6

Is the research generating consistent findings/ results?

Question 7

Validity

Answer 7

Does the research accurately measure the behaviour/ cognitive processes/ attitudes etc. Is it investigating?

Question 8

Credible

Answer 8

Is the research trustworthy; has the research been conducted and interpreted in a manner that meets the criteria of science, is it well-planned, controlled, accurate, generalisable etc?

Question 9

Control

Answer 9

Eg over factors that might influence results, biases, subjectivity, culture, previous experiences.

Question 10

Empiricism

Answer 10

Formulated by John Locke, the idea that scientific research should be based on what is directly observable and therefore testable, all knowledge should be based on measurable experience, you cannot measure what you cannot see/ observe/ experience.

Question 11

Reductionism

Answer 11

To focus one small area in isolation rather than look at the whole area, reducing something to its constituent parts in order to establish casual relationships: cause and effect.

Question 12

Holism

Answer 12

The opposite of reductionism- looking at behaviour as a whole, not just some of the parts.

Question 13

Nomothetic

Answer 13

Establishing general principles that can be applied or generalised more broadly eg to the target population as a whole.

Question 14

Idiographic

Answer 14

Studying individuals in terms of their uniqueness, eg the uniqueness of their personal experiences, thus not able to generalise.

Question 15

Peer Review

Answer 15

A process whereby researchers submit their investigations to relevant scientific journals; publishers will then use peers who are experts in the relevant area to review the submitted research, recommend any changes and advise whether the research is suitable credible for publication. This ensures scientific rigour, credibility, high quality and standards. peer review could be checking methodological issues, originality, contribution, relation to previous research and looking for plagarism.

Question 16

Falsification

Answer 16

Karl Popper(1935)- the only way to prove a theory is we to look for disproof, rather than proof. Eg all swans are white cannot be probed unless you can see all of them, one black swan disproves the theory. If something cannot be proved right or wrong, it is not scientifically credible.

Question 17

Hypothesis Testing

Answer 17

A prediction, what you expect to happen/find out

Question 18

Ethnocentric Bias

Answer 18

The tendency to view your own ethnic group and it’s social standards as the basis for evaluative judgements concerning the practices, attitudes and behaviour for other cultures- with the assumption that your own culture and standards are superior. It is hard to avoid as we’re influenced by our own in bringing and expectations of our belief.

Question 19

Emic

Answer 19

Knowledge and interpretations are those existing within a culture, an emic account comes from a person within the culture, almost anything within a culture can provide an emic account. Eg determined by local custom, meaning and belief- Ager and Loughry 2004, best described as native of the culture.

Question 20

Etic

Answer 20

Knowledge refers to generalizations about human behaviour that are considered universally true and commonly links cultural practices to factors of interest to the researcher, that cultural insiders may not consider very significant or relevant (Morris et al 1999). An etic account is a description of a behaviour or belief by a researcher in terms that can be applied across cultures.

Question 21

IMPOSED Etic

Answer 21

Where an idea or construct from one culture is imposed/applied inappropriately to another. Eg something with is an emic in one culture is assumed to be universal.

Question 22

Andrecentric

Answer 22

Research representing a male perspective

Question 23

Alpha-Bias

Answer 23

Research that exaggerated the differences between men and women. Eg evolutionary psychology often highlights differences men and women in terms of power, strength and dominance; Freud suggested males were morally superior to females; Bowlby suggested women were more important in terms of attachment and maternal care. Alpha Bias perpetuates gender stereotypes that are an oversimplification. This is compounded by the tendency of scientific journals to only publish positive results.

Question 24

Beta-Bias

Answer 24

Research that minimises the differences between males and females when such differences to exist. Eg a lot of psychology research was initially carried out using males but the results are generalised to both females and males.