Psychology SAC 2

Question 1

Dependent Variable (DV)

Answer 1

the aspect of a participants’s behaviour or experience that is assumed and expected to change as a result of the manipulation of the IV selected by the researcher.

Question 2

Controlled Variable

Answer 2

Is one that is considered to have an effect on the dependent variable in an experiment so it needs to be held constant (‘controlled’) to remove its potential effects.

Question 3

Independent variable (IV)

Answer 3

Referred to as the ‘treatment’ variable to which participants may be exposed (or not exposed).

Question 4

What do systematic errors affect?

Answer 4

Systematic errors will reduce accuracy.

Question 5

Accuracy

Answer 5

How close it is to the true value of the quantity being measured.

Question 6

Cofounding variables

Answer 6

A variable other than the IV that has an effect on the DV, but cannot be separated from the IV.

Question 7

Placebo

Answer 7

A false treatment used so that none of the participants know whether they are being exposed to the experimental condition.

Question 8

Placebo effect

Answer 8

Occurs when there is a change in a participants behaviour due to their expectations about the treatment.

Question 9

Single-blind procedure

Answer 9

When the participants do not know whether they have been assigned to the control or experimental group(s)

Question 10

Double-blind procedure

Answer 10

When the participants or the experimenter know which participants have been allocated to the control and the experimental group(s)

Question 11

Ethics

Answer 11

Refers to the moral principles and codes of behaviour that apply to all psychologists, regardless of the field in which they work.

Question 12

What are the different parts of ethics?

Answer 12

-Beneficence
-Non-maleficence
-Respect
-Justice
-Integrity

Question 13

Beneficence

Answer 13

Where research is considered through the scope of maximising the benefits to society while minimising harm to others.

Question 14

Non-maleficence

Answer 14

In the medical profession, the principle of non-maleficence involves avoiding causing any kind of harm at all.

Question 15

Respect

Answer 15

The research is shown through the consideration of an individuals welfare.

Question 16

Justice

Answer 16

Ensures fair treatment for all, from selection through to result collection.

Question 17

Integrity

Answer 17

Involves the researcher’s commitment to the honest conducting and reporting of research.

Question 18

Ethical Guidelines are?

Answer 18

-Voluntary participation
-Informed consent
-Withdrawal rights
-Confidentiality
-Deception
-Debriefing

Question 19

Voluntary participation

Answer 19

Ensures that a participant willingly decides to take part in an experiment.

Question 20

Informed consent

Answer 20

Needs to be obtained before an experiment commences.

Question 21

Withdrawal rights

Answer 21

refers to the right of the participant to cease their participation in a study at anytime without negative consequences or pressure to continue.

Question 22

Confidentiality

Answer 22

Is a participant’s right to privacy with regard to access, storage and disposal of information collected about them that is related to research.

Question 23

Deception

Answer 23

In research should not occur unless it is necessary. It is used in some cases where giving participants information about an experiment beforehand might influence their behaviour during the study and thus affect the accuracy of results.

Question 24

Debreifing

Answer 24

involves participants being informed of the study’s true purpose once the experiment has ended.

Question 25

The role of attention

Answer 25

The role of attention (sustained, divided, selective) in making sense of the world around us.

Question 26

Attention

Answer 26

refers to actively focusing on particular information while simultaneously ignoring other information.

Question 27

Internal stimuli

Answer 27

Information or sensations originating from within our body.

Question 28

External stimuli

Answer 28

Information or sensations that originate outside our body.

Question 29

Sustained attention

Answer 29

allows us to fully process information or complete a task.
Example: Watching a movie without needing to pause or rewind to understand the plot.

Question 30

Divided attention

Answer 30

Allows us to process multiple sources of information or stimuli more efficiently.
Example: Driving while following directions from your navigation system.

Question 31

Selective attention

Answer 31

Acts as a filter that helps us to prioritise incoming information according to its performance.
Example: Focusing on what one person says and ignoring the sounds of other conversations or stimuli that may distract you.

Question 32

Sensation

Answer 32

involves receiving sensory information from the environment. This is done via sensory receptors (specialised cells in your sense organs).

Question 33

What do sensory receptors receive?

Answer 33

Sensory receptors receive specific types of raw information. Eg. eye = photoreceptors = receive electromagnetic light.

Question 34

3 steps involved in sensation:

Answer 34

-Reception
-Transduction
-Transmission

Question 35

Extraneous Variables

Answer 35

Is any variable other than the IV that can cause a change in the DV.

Question 36

Order effects

Answer 36

Occurs when participants’ responses in the various conditions are affected by the order of conditions to which they were exposed.