Unit 1 Flashcards
Define empiricism
View that knowledge originates in experience and that science should therefore rely on observation and experimentation
Define structuralism
Theory of Wundt and Titchener
Used introspection to reveal structure of human mind
Define functionalism
Theory of James
Influenced by Darwin
Explored how mental and behavioral process function like how organisms adapt, survive, and flourish
Define experimental psychology
Study of behavior and thinking using the experimental method
Define Behaviorism
View that psychology should:
Be an objective science
Study behavior without reference to mental processes
Define humanistic psychology
Perspective that emphasized growth potential of healthy people
Define cognitive neuroscience
Study of brain activity linked with cognition
Define psychology
Science of behavior and mental processes
Define the nature-nurture isssue
Controversy over contributions that genes and experience make to development of psychological traits and behaviors
Define natural selection
Principle that among inherited trait variations, those contributing to reproduction and survival will most likely be passed on to future generations
Define levels of analysis
Differing complementary views for analyzing a phenomenon
Define the biopsychosocial approach
An approach that incorporates biological, psychological, and social-cultural levels of analysis
Define behavioral psychology
Study of observable behavior and explanation by principles of learning
Define biological psychology
Study of links between biological and psychological processes
Define cognitive psychology
Study of mental activities associated with thinking, knowing, remembering, and communicating
Define evolutionary psychology
Study of the evolution of behavioral and mind using natural selection
Define psychodynamic psychology
Study of how unconscious drives and conflicts influence behavior
Define social-cultural psycholology
Study of how situations and cultures affect our behavior and thinking using experiments
Define psychometrics
Study of the measurement of human abilities, attitudes, and traits
Define developmental psychology
Study of physical, cognitive, and social change throughout life
Define educational psychology
Study of how psychological processes affect and can enhance teaching and learning
Define personality psychology
Study of an individual’s characteristic pattern of thinking, feeling, and acting
Define social psychology
Study of how we think abt, influence, and relate to one another
Define industrial-organizational psychology
Application of psychology concepts and methods to optimize human behavior in workplaces
Define human factors psychology
Explores how
People and machines interact
Machines and environments can be made safe and easy to use
Define counseling psychology
Assist people with problems in living and in achieving well-being
Define clinical psychology
Assesses and treats people with psychological disorders
Define psychiatry
Practiced by physicians who provide medical treatments as well as psychological therapy
Define positive psychology
Study of human functioning with goal of discovering and promoting strengths and virtues to help people thrive
Define community psychology
Study how people interact with their social environments and how social institutions affect individuals and groups
Define hindsight bias
Tendency to believe, after learning an outcome, that one would have foreseen it
Define critical thinking
Thinking that does not blindly accept arguments and conclusions
Examines assumptions, assesses sources, discerns hidden values, evaluates evidence, and assesses conclusions
Define theory
Explanation using integrated set of principles that organizes observations and predicts events
Define hypothesis
Testable prediction implied by a theory
Define operational definition
Statement of the exact procedures used in a research study
Define replication
Repeating essence of a research study to see whether basic finding is generalizable
Define case study
Descriptive technique in which one individual or group is studied in depth in the hope of revealing principles
Define naturalistic observation
Observing and recording behavior in naturally occurring situations without trying to manipulate and control the situation
Define survey
Technique for ascertaining the self-reported attitudes or behaviors of a particular group
Define sampling bias
Flawed sampling process that produces an unrepresentative sample
Define population
All those in a group being studied, from which samples may be drawn
Define random sample
A sample that fairly represents a population because each member has equal chance of inclusion
Define correlation
A measure of the extent to which 2 variables change together and how well either variable predicts the other
Define correlation coefficient
A statistical index of the relationship between 2 variables (-1 to 1)
Define scatterplot
A graphed cluster of dots, each of which represents the values of 2 variables. Slope suggests direction of the relationship. Amount of scatter suggests strength of correlation
Define illusory correlation
The perception of a relationship where none exists
Define experiment
Research method in which investigator manipulates 1 or more factors to observe the effect on some behavior or mental process
By random assignment of participants, the experimenter aims to control other variables
Define experimental group
Group exposed to treatment in an experiment
Define control group
Group not exposed to treatment in experiment, serves as comparison for evaluating the effect of the treatment
Define random assignment
Assigning participants to experimental and control groups by chance, minimizing preexisting differences
Define placebo effect
Experimental results caused by expectations alone
Define independent variable
Experimental factor that is manipulated
Define confounding variable
Factor other than independent variable that might produce an effect in an experiment
Define dependent variable
Variable that may change in response to manipulations of independent variable
Define validity
Extent to which a test or experiment measures or predicts what it’s supposed to
Define descriptive statistics
Numerical data used to measure and describe characteristics of groups
Define histogram
Bar graph depicting frequency distribution
Define mode
Most frequently occurring score in a distribution
Define mean
Average of a distribution
Define median
Middle score of a distribution
Define skewed distribution
Representation of scores that lack symmetry around their average value
Define range
Difference between the highest and lowest scores in a distribution
Define standard deviation
Computed measure of how much scores vary around the mean
Define normal curve
Symmetrical bell-shaped curve that describes the distribution of many times of data:
Most scores are near the mean
Few scores near the extremes
Define inferential statistics
Numerical data that allow one to generalize or infer the probability of something being true
Define statistical significance
Statistical statement of how likely it is that an obtained result occurred by chance
Define informed consent
Ethical principle that research participants be told enough to enable them to choose whether they wish to participate
Define debriefing
Post-experimental explanation of a study including its purpose and any deceptions
Define applied research
Study that aims to solve practical problems
Define basic research
Pure science that aims to increase scientific knowledge
Define SQ3R
Study method incorporating 5 steps:
Survey, Question, Read, Retrieve, Review
Define testing effect
Enhanced memory after retrieving rather than simply reading information
Define double-blind procedure
An experimental procedure in which both the research participants and the research staff are blind about whether the participants have received the treatment or placebo
Define culture
Enduring behaviors, ideas, attitudes, values, and traditions shared by a group of people and transmitted from one generation to the next
