Unit 1

Question 0

Define serial learning.

Answer 0

The tendency to recall facts in the order in which they were learned.

Question 1

What is armchair psychology?

Answer 1

An understanding of behavior and mental processes that DID NOT come from a detailed knowledge of psychological literature.

Question 2

Define serial position effect.

Answer 2

The tendency for items at the beginning and end of a list to be easier to recall than items in the middle.

Question 3

What is peer review?

Answer 3

Process in which experts in the field first evaluate the merit of a work BEFORE it is published.

Question 4

What are learning styles?

Answer 4

The notion that some students will learn better in one modality than another and therefore they have certain perceptual strengths, and weaknesses.

Question 5

What evidence does experimental evidence state about learning styles?

Answer 5

There is virtually no experimental evidence to support the idea that differing learning styles are important for learning new material.

Question 6

Sleep learning and the Mozart Effect

Answer 6

Broad point: Despite our strong desire to find a “get smart quick” solution, there is no shortcut to learning and being passively exposed to material will do little to enhance your mental skills.

Question 7

Define fluency:

Answer 7

When one has reached a level of performance that is both accurate and fast so that knowledge, skills, and abilities can be performed automatically and are not lost when they are not being used.

Question 8

Fluency vs. Accuracy

Answer 8

Note that fluency involves going beyond just accuracy alone and involves timing the speed of your performance.

Question 9

Define psychology:

Answer 9

The discipline that scientifically studies behavior and/or mental processes.

Question 10

What is empirical evidence?

Answer 10

Information gathered by systematic observation and careful measurements.

Question 11

What is pseudoscience?

Answer 11

A set of statements and assertions that appear scientific but are not supported by evidence or based on the scientific method.

Question 12

Define replication

Answer 12

The reproduction of a previously obtained result from a research study, preferably by an independent researcher.

Question 13

Four goals of psychology.

Answer 13

1. Description
2. Prediction
3. Explanation
4. Control

Question 14

What is an operational definition?

Answer 14

Precise predictions of the phenomena to allow for agreement in observations.

Question 15

Representative sample:

Answer 15

A selected group that matches the population on relevant charactistics.

Question 16

Dependent variable:

Answer 16

Variable that an experimenter measures to see if there has been an effect.

Question 17

Independent variable:

Answer 17

A variable that an experimenter manipulates.

Question 18

What is a control group?

Answer 18

A group in an experiment that is not exposed to a treatment or does not experience a manipulation of the independent variable.

Question 19

What is the experimental group?

Answer 19

A group n an experiment that is exposed to a treatment of experiences a manipulation of the independent variable.

Question 20

What is the placebo effect?

Answer 20

A change in behavior in the absence of experimental manipulation.

Question 21

What is a placebo control?

Answer 21

An experimental condition in which treatment is not administered; it is used in cases where a placebo effect might occur.

Question 22

Placebo control vs. placebo effect

Answer 22

Placebo control is the inactive substance or no treatment is administered to the experimental group to account for the placebo effect of expectation or behavior change in manipulation of the experiment.

Question 23

Define case study:

Answer 23

Research design that examines 1 person or small number of people in depth, often over an extended period of time.

Question 24

Laboratory observation:

Answer 24

Watching behavior in laboratory settings without trying to manipulate the situation.

Question 25

Naturalistic observation:

Answer 25

Watching behavior in real-world settings without trying to manipulate the settings.

Question 26

Difference between naturalistic and laboratory observation method & experimental design:

Answer 26

Naturalistic and laboratory observation is something being observed (no manipulation) where as an experimental design is a research design involving the manipulation of a variable to discover if there is a corresponding effect on another variable. (manipulation)

Question 27

Describe self-report measure:

Answer 27

Ones behavior, identified though ones own observations and reports. Self-reports may be influenced by social desirability causing a favorable or unfavorable response.

Question 28

Reliability:

Answer 28

The degree to which a test produces similar scores each time it is used; stability or consistency of the scores produced by an instrument. (results should be consistently reproducible.)

Question 29

Validity:

Answer 29

The extent to which a test measures what it was intended to measure. (Tests and experiments can be RELIABLE without being valid)

Question 30

Why does correlation not establish a cause and effect relationship between two variables?

Answer 30

Correlation does not ensure that one variable causes another. There could be a third variable that brings about a correlation.
*Correlation does NOT imply causation. (or deny causation)

Question 31

Three potential interpretations of the relation between 2 correlated variables:

Answer 31

1) A-> B
2) B-> A
3) C-> AB

Question 32

How are correlations helpful?

Answer 32

Correlations help predictions.

Question 33

What is the correlational method?

Answer 33

Research methodology that determines to what extent 2 variables, traits, or attributes are related. ( A predictable relation ) graph example.

Question 34

Correlation coefficient:

Answer 34

Measures HOW strongly 2 variables are related to one another.

Question 35

Expectancy effect:

Answer 35

Results that occur due to a researcher or observer subtly communicates to the participant to get their desired outcome or reaction.

Question 36

Confounding variables:

Answer 36

When something other than what an experimenter purposely introduces into a research setting changes a participants behavior and adds confusion to the interpretation of the data.

Question 37

Experimental method:

Answer 37

Researchers manipulate an independent variable to look for an effect on a dependent variable.

Different than other methods because the independent variable is being MANIPULATED to research the cause and effect.

Question 38

Guidelines of critical thinking:

Answer 38

1. All opinions are NOT created equal; some theories have more value than others.
2. Ask questions of everything; healthy skepticism is okay & it’s okay to question claims and source.
3. Consider that alternative interpretations may be correct; I may not have the only correct assumption.
4. Analyze your personal assumptions and biases; stay open-minded and realize that you could be wrong despite prior thought.
5. Tolerate a lack of immediate or simple answers; not all questions may be answered and may be uncertain or complex.

Question 39

Occam’s razor:

Answer 39

The guideline which suggests that the best theory or explanation is the one that best accounts for all the evidence while also making the fewest unconfirmed assumptions. (used to get rid of unnecessary information from our explanations)

Question 40

Principle of falsifiability:

Answer 40

The potential of a theory to be proven false or refuted. It is important to realize that scientists are not necessarily trying to prove everything false, just that if a theory is wrong it could be proven false. It may not be proven wrong, but it may be ABLE to be proven wrong.

Question 41

Harms of pseudoscience:

Answer 41

1. Harm by lost income, time, and life.
2. Harm of mental and physical damage. (incorrect therapy techniques)
3. Harm by preventing people from utilizing therapies and techniques that have actual benefit.
4. Brings us further from our quest to discover truth about how our world works.
5. Can make people more vulnerable to exploitation. (ie. palm readers, trance experts, etc.)

Question 42

Replication & their importance:

Answer 42

The reproduction of a previously obtained result from a study by partial or complete replication of the procedure.
*It implies that it is critical that a finding be replicated before we put too much confidence in any given finding.

Question 43

The scientific method:

Answer 43

1. Develop a research problem; something we wish to study and to investigate, something we value.
2. Design a study; to approach your research question.
3. Collect and analyze data; according to our study’s design, observe, measure.
4. Draw conclusions; analyze & interpret collected data, compare results.
5. Communicate findings; have it peer reviewed, show it to others, people won’t find it valid unless its been submitted properly.

Question 44

SAFMEDS:

Answer 44

Acronym & study technique;
Say- the words answers out loud.
All- practice with ALL the flash cards instead of some.
Fast- goal of fluency, quick, and timed.
Minute
Every
Day- study and restudy everyday. Short periods.
Shuffle- shuffle the deck of flash cards so that you aren’t learning them in order, this will prevent serial learning.

Question 45

Nature vs. Nurture Debate

Answer 45

Revolves around whether we are products of nature (evolution, physiology, & biology) or we are products of nurture (factors such as the current situation, social influences, learning history, & culture) a false debate since both are interrelated

Question 46

Between-subject designs vs. within-subjects design

Answer 46

Between: participants are randomly assigned by chance procedures to an experimental control or to a control condition.
Within: uses participants as the control.

Question 47

Informed consent:

Answer 47

Patient are informed about the procedures they will experience as well as risks and benefits.
When a study or research can be affected by the patients bias, than the patient does not need to hear the part that would make them bias.

Question 48

Guidelines and restrictions to deception in patient informed consent:

Answer 48

1) the study must have significant scientific and educational importance to warrant it.
2) you can’t deceive the participant if there is a high likelihood of causing physical pain or emotional distress.
3) must demonstrate that no equally effective procedures excluding deception are available.
4) the deception must be explained to the participants by the conclusion of the research.
5) participants must have the option to withdraw their data once the deceptions has been revealed.