Unit 1 Flashcards
the application of psychological concepts and methods to optimizing human behavior in workplaces
industrial-organizational psychology
numerical data that allow one to generalize-to infer from sample data the probability of something being true of a population
inferential statistics
Known for his theory of cognitive development in children
Jean Piaget
A research method in which an investigator manipulates one or more factors to observe the effect on some behavior or mental process
experiment
In an experiment, the group that is exposed to the treatment, that is, to one version of the independent variable.
experimental group
Thinking that does not blindly accept arguments and conclusions. Rather, it examines assumptions, discerns hidden values, evaluates evidence, and assesses conclusions
Critical thinking
Early school of thought promoted by James and influenced by Darwin; explored how mental and behavioral processes function-how they enable the organism to adapt, survive , and flourish
Functionalism
the enduring behaviors, ideas, attitudes, values, and traditions shared by a group of people and transmitted from one generation to the next
Culture
as one variable increases, the other decreases
negative correlation
The scientific study of behavior and mental processes
Psychology
the longstanding controversy over the relative contributions that genes and experience make to the development of psychological traits and behaviors. Today’s science sees traits and behaviors arising from the interaction of nature and nurture
nature-nurture issue
the scientific study of the links between biological and psychological processes
biological psychology
a bar graph depicting a frequency distribution
Histogram
a statement of the procedures used to define research variables
operational definition
repeating the essence of a research study, usually with different participants in different situations, to see whether the basic finding extends to other participants and circumstances
Replication
a branch of psychology that studies how unconscious drives and conflicts influence behavior, and uses that information to treat people with psychological disorders
psychodynamic psychology
a computed measure of how much scores vary around the mean score
standard deviation
founder of functionalism; studied how humans use perception to function in our environment
William James
pure science that aims to increase the scientific knowledge base
basic research
the study of the evolution of behavior and the mind, using principles of natural selection
evolutionary psychology
English natural scientist who formulated a theory of evolution by natural selection
(1809-1882)
Charles Darwin
a descriptive technique in which one individual or group is studied in depth in the hope of revealing universal principles
case study
1902-1987; Field: humanistic; Contributions:
founded person-centered therapy, theory that emphasizes the unique quality of humans especially their freedom and potential for personal growth, unconditional positive regard, fully functioning person
Carl Rogers
giving potential participants enough information about a study to enable them to choose whether they wish to participate
informed consent
Having to do with morals, values, right and wrong
ethical
a study method incorporating five steps:
Survey, Question, Read, Retrieve, Review
SQ3R
Average
mean
A measure of the extent to which two factors vary together, and thus of how well either factor predicts the other.
Correlation
all those in a group being studied, from which samples may be drawn
Population
numerical data used to measure and describe characteristics of groups. Includes measures of central tendency and measures of variation.
descriptive statistics
Structuralism; a student in Wundt’s lab
Edward Tichener
A symmetrical, bell-shape that describes the distribution of many types of data; most scores fall near the mean (68 percent fall within one standard deviation of it) and fewer and fewer near the extremes.
normal curve
the study of how psychological processes affect and can enhance teaching and learning
educational psychology
Watson’s assistant in Little Albert experiment (small child develops fear of rats)
Rosalie Rayner
the scientific study of human functioning, with the goals of discovering and promoting strengths and virtues that help individuals and communities to thrive
positive psychology
Austrian physician whose work focused on the unconscious causes of behavior and personality formation; founded psychoanalysis.
Sigmund Freud
the act of holding information in confidence, not to be released to unauthorized individuals
Confidentiality
a branch of psychology that studies physical, cognitive, and social change throughout the life span
developmental psychology
the condition of an experiment that contrasts with the experimental condition and serves as a comparison for evaluating the effect of the treatment
control condition
American psychologist who conducted research on memory, personality, and dreams;
first woman president of the American
Psychological Association
Mary Whiton Calkins
a statistical index of the relationship between two things (from -1 to +1)
correlation coefficient
First female to be awarded a PhD in psychology; 2nd president of the APA (1921)
Margaret Floy Washburn
American psychologist who established the first psychology research laboratory in the United States and founded the American
Psychological Association
G. Stanley Hall
the principle that, among the range of inherited trait variations, those contributing to reproduction and survival will most likely be passed on to succeeding generations
natural selection
a descriptive technique of observing and recording behavior in naturally occurring situations without trying to manipulate and control the situation
naturalistic observation
a statement of the procedures used to define research variables
operational definition
The experimental factor that is manipulated; the variable whose effect is being studied.
independent variable
The act of looking into one’s own thoughts and feeling
Introspection
a statistical statement of how likely it is that an obtained result occurred by chance
statistical significance
the scientific study of behavior and mental processes
Contemporary Psychology
a flawed sampling process that produces an unrepresentative sample
sampling bias
the interdisciplinary study of the brain activity linked with cognition (including perception, thinking, memory, and language )
cognitive neuroscience
the extent to which a test measures or predicts what it is supposed to
Validity
A correlation where as one variable increases, the other also increases, or as one decreases so does the other. Both variables move in the same direction.
positive correlation
the middle score in a distribution; half the scores are above it and half are below it
median
the study of how situations and cultures affect our behavior and thinking
social-cultural psychology
a descriptive technique for obtaining the self-reported attitudes or behaviors of a particular group, usually by questioning a representative, random sample of the group
survey
the post-experimental explanation of a study, including its purpose and any deceptions, to its participants
Debriefing
assigning participants to experimental and control conditions by chance, thus minimizing preexisting differences between those assigned to the different groups
random assignment
a branch of medicine dealing with psychological disorders; practiced by physicians who sometimes provide medical (for example, drug) treatments as well as psychological therapy
psychiatry
A measure of the extent to which two factors vary together, and thus of how well either factor predicts the other.
Correlation
The view that knowledge originates in experience and that science should, therefore, rely on observation and experimentation
Empiricism
perceiving a relationship where none exists, or perceiving a stronger-than-actual relationship
illusory correlation
an integrated approach that incorporates biological, psychological, and social-cultural levels of analysis
biopsychosocial approach
a statistical measure of the extent to which two factors vary together, and thus of how well either factor predicts the other
correlation coefficient
the study of mental processes, such as occur when we perceive, learn, remember, think, communicate, and solve problems
cognitive psychology
A testable prediction, often implied by a theory
Hypothesis
enhanced memory after retrieving, rather than simply rereading, information
testing effect
the scientific study of how we think about, influence, and relate to one another
social psychology
in an experiment, the outcome that is measured; the variable that may change when the independent variable is manipulated
dependent variable
the study of the relative power and limits of genetic and environmental influences on behavior
behavior genetics
the most frequently occurring score(s) in a distribution
Mode
A reformer and pioneer in the movement to treat the insane as mentally ill, beginning in the 1820’s, she was responsible for improving conditions in jails, poorhouses and insane asylums throughout the U.S. and Canada. She succeeded in persuading many states to assume responsibility for the care of the mentally ill. She served as the Superintendant of Nurses for the Union Army during the Civil War.
Dorothea Dix
a branch of psychology that studies, assesses, and treats people with psychological disorders
clinical psychology
A hypothesis that has been tested with a significant amount of data
Theory
a branch of psychology that explores how people and machines interact and how machines and physical environments can be made safe and easy to use
human factors psychology
the tendency to be more confident than correct-to overestimate the accuracy of our beliefs and judgments.
Overconfidence
a branch of psychology that studies how people interact with their social environments and how social institutions affect individuals and groups
community psychology
a branch of psychology that assists people with problems in living (often related to school, work, or marriage) and in achieving greater well-being
counseling psychology
A theory developed by Freud that attempts to explain personality, motivation, and mental disorders by focusing on unconscious determinants of behavior
psychoanalytic theory
gathering primary data by asking people questions about their knowledge, attitudes, preferences, and buying behavior
survey research
discovered classical conditioning; trained dogs to salivate at the ringing of a bell
Ivan Pavlov
a graphed cluster of dots, each of which represents the values of two variables
Scatterplot
improvement resulting from the mere expectation of improvement
placebo effect
the view that psychology (1) should be an objective science that (2) studies behavior without reference to mental processes. Most research psychologists today agree with (1) but not with (2).
Behaviorism
developed the scientific method
Francis Bacon
In an experiment, the group that is not exposed to the treatment; contrasts with the experimental group and serves as a comparison for evaluating the effect of the treatment.
control group
A reformer and pioneer in the movement to treat the insane as mentally ill, beginning in the 1820’s, she was responsible for improving conditions in jails, poorhouses and insane asylums throughout the U.S. and Canada. She succeeded in persuading many states to assume responsibility for the care of the mentally ill. She served as the Superintendant of Nurses for the Union Army during the Civil War.
Dorothea Dix
behaviorism: emphasis on external behaviors of people and their reactions on a given situation; famous for Little Albert study in which baby was taught to fear a white rat
John B. Watson
when a specific word used in a question affects how respondents answer the question
wording effects
use of force to get someone to obey
coercion
historically significant perspective that emphasized the growth potential of healthy people and the individual’s potential for personal growth
Humanistic Perspective
scientific study that aims to solve practical problems
applied research
Father of psychology; opened the first psychology lab in 1879 Germany;
introspection, structuralism
Wilhelm Wundt
anything that can vary and is feasible and ethical to measure
Variable
the difference between the highest and lowest scores in a distribution
range
the scientific study of the measurement of human abilities, attitudes, and traits
Psychometrics
the study of an individual’s characteristic pattern of thinking, feeling, and acting
personality psychology
Humanistic psychologist known for his
“Hierarchy of Needs” and the concept of “self-actualization”
Abraham Maslow
Behaviorist that developed the theory of operant conditioning by training pigeons and rats
B.F. Skinner
an early school of psychology that used introspection to explore the elemental structure of the human mind
Structuralism
the tendency for extreme or unusual scores to fall back (regress) toward their average.
regression toward the mean
a factor other than the independent variable that might produce an effect in an experiment
confounding variable
a sample that fairly represents a population because each member has an equal chance of inclusion
random sample
the tendency to believe, after learning an outcome, that one would have foreseen it
hindsight bias
an experimental procedure in which both the research participants and the research staff are ignorant (blind) about whether the research participants have received the treatment or a placebo. Commonly used in drug-evaluation studies.
double-blind procedure
the scientific study of observable behavior, and its explanation by principles of learning
behavioral psychology
