Unit 1/2 Revision

Question 1

Empirical evidence

Answer 1

Information acquired by observation and experimentation.

Question 2

Forer Barnum Effect

Answer 2

The Forer Barnum Effect enables the various pseudo-sciences to remain popular with so many people. They tell people what they want to hear.

Question 3

Electromagnetic energy

Answer 3

Light energy (electromagnetic energy) is converted by the rods and cones into electrochemical nerve impulses. 
Energy released into space by stars. Light energy.

Question 4

Electrochemical energy

Answer 4

Light energy (electromagnetic energy) is converted by the rods and cones into electrochemical nerve impulses.

Question 5

Quantitative data

Answer 5

Measurements (numerical information) about the variables being studied

Question 6

Qualitative data

Answer 6

Descriptions of the characteristics of what is being studied.

Question 7

Maturation

Answer 7

A predetermined biological sequence of behaviours which occur at certain ages.

Question 8

Habituation

Answer 8

When a person (usually an infant) stops looking at a stimulus due to loss of interest.

Question 9

Preferential looking

Answer 9

A technique used to determine if infants could distinguish one stimulus from another by the length of time they looked at it.

Question 10

Attitude

Answer 10

A learnt, stable and relatively enduring elevation of a person, object, even or idea that can affect an individual’s behaviour.

Question 11

Prejudice

Answer 11

An unfavourable attitude towards a group of people.

Question 12

Racism

Answer 12

Prejudice and discrimination against people on the basis of their race.

Question 13

Discrimination

Answer 13

Prejudice expressed through behaviour.

Question 14

Cognitive dissonance

Answer 14

The theory that emphasises that a person will feel uncomfortable and try to maintain an internal consistency and agreement between his/her beliefs and behaviours by altering beliefs to match behaviours.

Question 15

central route

Answer 15

The personal relevance to the topic for the audience: the more relevant the topic. The more likely it is that the central route will be taken. People who want to think about an issue will take the central route. To get people to take the central route, the message must catch and hold their attention. This is often done when their emotions are aroused.

Question 16

Peripheral route

Answer 16

The ability to pay attention: people who are distracted will take the peripheral route.

Question 17

Sample

Answer 17

The members of the population that have been chosen to take part in the research. E.g. 20 students

Question 18

Population

Answer 18

The group of people about which we wish to draw conclusions. E.g. Adult drivers in Melbourne

Question 19

Single blind experiment

Answer 19

Allocating participants to groups in such a way they do not know whether they are the E-group of the C-group.

Question 20

Double blind experiment

Answer 20

In the experimental process the method of allocating participants to groups so that neither the experimenter nor the participants are aware of whether they are in the E-group or the C-group.

Question 21

Flynn effect

Answer 21

The tendency for people’s IQ score to improve (by approximately 3 points per 10 years) from one generation to the next.

Question 22

Cultural bias

Answer 22

There is cultural and linguistic bias – people that do not live or involve themselves in a particular culture may struggle to answer questions based on that society.

Question 23

Linguistic bias

Answer 23

There is cultural and linguistic bias – people that do not live or involve themselves in a particular culture may struggle to answer questions based on that society.

Question 24

Experimental group

Answer 24

The group of research participants which is exposed to the independent variable.

Question 25

Control group

Answer 25

The group of research participants which is not exposed to variations in the independent variable.

Question 26

Developmental norms

Answer 26

Used to indicate the average age at which individuals reach certain milestones.

Question 27

Mere exposure effect

Answer 27

When repeated exposure to an object, concept or person results in greater attraction to it or the person.

Question 28

Blind spot

Answer 28

Is where the optic nerve leaves the brain. There are no rods and cones in that area.

Question 29

Perceptual set

Answer 29

is a predisposition to perceive stimuli in a specific way, that is, interpreting what we see according to certain preconceptions

Question 30

Previous experience

Answer 30

can affect visual perception, especially if the experience holds significant personal meaning. The same stimulus can be interpreted differently by different people.

Question 31

Context

Answer 31

refers to the environment in which a perceived stimulus is observed. Context sometimes has an immediate effect on our expectations.

Question 32

Motivation

Answer 32

very often we see what we want to see. On a long drive, running low on petrol, a sign reading ‘FOOD AHEAD’ could be interpreted as ‘FUEL AHEAD’.

Question 33

Emotion

Answer 33

We could interpret someone’s facial expression as showing laughing or crying, depending on how we are feeling ourselves.

Question 34

Biological approach

Answer 34

An approach in psychology that explains a person’s functioning in terms of bodily structures, biochemical processes and genetics.

Question 35

Socio-cultural approach

Answer 35

Researches the relationship between psychological-mental processes and behaviour in terms of: social norms and cultural influences.

Question 36

Behavioural approach

Answer 36

From examining the mind or unconsciousness to studying observable behavioural responses. There is classical and operant conditioning.

Question 37

Cognitive approach

Answer 37

focus on understanding the workings of the mind. It investigates thinking processes such as perception, learning, memory, reasoning and understanding.

Question 38

Conclusion

Answer 38

is the final decision about what the results mean. It must be stated in terms of the original hypothesis. A conclusion would be that the hypothesis is rejected or supported.

Question 39

Generalisation

Answer 39

is a judgement about the extent to which the research findings can be applied to the population represented by the sample. The ability to generalise from a sample relies on all the following conditions of interest:
• The sample must represent the population of interest.
• The results must reach statistical significance
• The effects of all potentially confounding variables must have been controlled.

Question 40

Operant conditioning

Answer 40

Learning in which a voluntary response comes to be controlled by its consequences.

Question 41

Direct experience

Answer 41

Direct encounters with a person, object or idea can influence the formation of an attitude. Direct experiences that are negative or unpleasant can result in strong attitudes.

Question 42

Mere exposure effect

Answer 42

Repeated exposure to an attitude object may result in a positive or negative attitude towards it.

Question 43

Classical conditioning

Answer 43

whereby an animal or other organism can passively learn to show a naturally occurring reflex action, such as salivation, in response to any stimulus – learning through association.

Question 44

Observational learning

Answer 44

is where children form their attitudes by observing those expressed by other people who are important to them, such as parents and teachers, and by the consequences for these people when they express their attitudes.

Question 45

Group

Answer 45

Two or more people who interact over a period of time, have influence on each other and share a common goal.

Question 46

Hostile aggression

Answer 46

behaviour intended to hurt another person, even if it results in damage to personal relationships or property. Usually a response to pain, perceived danger or threats, or an uncomfortable environment, such as extreme temperature.

Question 47

Instrumental aggression

Answer 47

behaviour that is the result of deliberate planning where the aggressor has no personal feeling toward the person or people they are hurting.

Question 48

Aggression

Answer 48

behaviour, directed towards another person or people, which intended to cause harm.

Question 49

ID

Answer 49

Contains the primitive ‘animal’ urges. It is instinctive, unconscious and acts according to what Freud called the pleasure principle, driving a person to act impulsively to achieve instant gratification of these desires for food, drink, sex, comfort and aggression.

Question 50

Ego

Answer 50

it makes decisions and operates according to what Freud called the reality principle. Obviously there are many occasions when it is impossible or illegal to instantly gratify the basic interests, or there would be negative social consequences; so the ego aims to delay until it is safe and socially acceptable to satisfy the urges.

Question 51

Superego

Answer 51

is the moral component of personality. The superego involves considering what is right and wrong in terms of social customs and benefits to others and to society.