terminology Ch 1-2 Flashcards
consciousness
subjective awareness of ourselves and our environment
Variables
- subjects of observation
- how two or more items are related to each other
Correlation Coefficient
- A statistical measure helps us figure out how closely two things vary together and this how well either one predicts the other
Corelate
Naturalistic observation and surveys often show us that one trait or behaviour tends to coincide with another shows that the two correlate.
Case study
examines one individual or group in depth in the hope of revealing things true of all of us.
Meta-analysis
is a procedure for statistically synthesizing a body of scientific evidence. By combining the results of many studies, researchers avoid the problems of small samples and arrive at a bottom-line result.
Preregistration
Psychologists publicly communicate their planned study design, hypothesis, data collection, and analysis. Prevents modifications later.
Replicate
Test can be repeated with the original observations but in different settings and people and it will generate similar results.
Operational Definitions
Psychologist report their research with precise, measurable operational definitions of research procedure and concepts.
Hypothesis
A good theory procedures testable predictions
Theory
Explains behaviours or events by offering ideas that organize observations
Hindsight bias
- example: after a war it was easy to see the winner
- Knowing something after being explained
- when two answers can seem to be both common sense there is a problem.
Naturalistic Observation
is observation of people, animals or nature in their natural environments.
survey
looks at many cases, asking people to report their behaviours
Random Sample
Randomly choosing people of a large group to participate in the experiment/survey
Evidence Based
Policies, strategies, and programs have been shown by research to be effective in achieving specified objectives
Population
sample group- Ex: college student population
range
the gap between the lowest and highest scores
Mean
The average score: all the totals added together and divided by the number of scores
Standard Deviation
How much scores deviate (differ) from one another
Median
The middle
- if you arrange the numbers from lowest to highest the middle would be the median
- 123456789 the median would be 5
- 12345678 the median would be 4.5
Mode
the most frequently occurring score or scores
Pituitary Gland
- Pea sized located in the brain.
- growth hormones, Oxytocin, which enables labour contractions, milk flow and orgasms.
- stress hormone cortisol.
Adrenal Glands
On top of the kidneys to release epinephrine and norepinephrine.
- these raise heart rate, blood pressure and blood sugar providing a surge of energy.
Hormones
Hormones travel through the bloodstream and affect other tissues including the brain.
- when hormones act on the brain they influence our interest in sex food and aggression.
Endocrine System
contains glands and fat tissue that secrete another form of chemical messenger (hormones)
Reflexes
- our automatic responses to stimuli
- The spinal cord is a two-way information highway
- a simple reflex pathway is composed of a single sensory neuron and a single motor neuron: Ex a knee jerk reflex.
Parasympathetic Nervous system
will produce the opposite effects (slowing down) conserving energy as it calms you.
- after a shock this system will help lower the adrenaline in the system.
Sympathetic nervous system
Arouses and expends energy
- accelerate heart rate, raise blood pressure, slow your digestion.
- endorphins- to excite