UNIT 1: SCIENTIFIC FOUNDATIONS

Question 1

What is psychology?

Answer 1

Psychology is the science of behavior and mental processes

Question 2

Why is psychology is a science?

Answer 2

Psychology is a science due to the use of empirical evidence and the scientific method.

Question 3

What are psychology’s foundations?

Answer 3

Psychology’s foundations were in philosophy and physiology.

Question 4

Structuralism

Answer 4

Was an early approach focused on the structure of the mind.

Question 5

Introspection

Answer 5

(the process of looking inward) Edward Titchener

Question 6

Functionalism

Answer 6

Was focused on the purpose of the mind. Developed by William James.

Question 7

Nature & Nurture Debate

Answer 7

Nature is your genetics & Nurture is your enviroment.

Question 8

Basic Research

Answer 8

Builds psychology’s knowledge.

Question 9

Applied Research

Answer 9

Is application of existing knowledge in the real world

Question 10

Operational Definition

Answer 10

Is a way of measuring or quantifying a variable. (MOST LIKELY WILL BE USED ON A RESEARCH FRQ).

Example:

Variable: Happiness
Operational Definition: The number of smiles a person emits during an observation period of specified length.

Question 11

Replication

Answer 11

Is repeating an experiment with different participants. This will determine if the results can be generalized to other participants & other situations.

Question 12

Case Study

Answer 12

Examine one person or group in depth.

Example: Phineas Gage survived an accident with a large iron rod through his head (one person studied in depth).

Question 13

Naturalistic Observation

Answer 13

Describes behavior in its most natural state without interference or intervention.

Question 14

Survey

Answer 14

Is self-reported data, questions influenced by wording.

Question 15

Random Sampling

Answer 15

Gives every member of a population an equal chance of being selected for the sample (use a random number generator to select).

Question 16

Random Assignment

Answer 16

Randomly (by chance) assigning participants to the control group or experimental group to help establish cause and effect. It would eliminate or reduce the impact of specific individual differences/confounding variables in a study. THIS TERM WILL MOST LIKLEY BE ON THE RESEARCH FRQ.

Question 17

Correlation is not…..

Answer 17

Correlation is not causation.
Correlations predict

Question 18

No correlation = ?

Answer 18

No correlation=0. Correlation coefficient close to 0=weaker, closer to 1=stronger (+/-).

Question 19

Independent Variable

Answer 19

Is the variable you think is the cause

Question 20

Dependent Variable

Answer 20

Is the effect person or group in depth.

Question 21

Confounding Variable

Answer 21

Is a factor other than the factor being studied that might influence a study’s results.

Question 22

Experimental Group

Answer 22

Is the treatment group.

Question 23

Control Group

Answer 23

Is the comparison group (no treatment).

Question 24

Placebo Effect

Answer 24

Seems to be a “real” medical treatment — but isn’t.

Question 25

Single Blind Procedure

Answer 25

Is when participants don’t know if they get the treatment or placebo.

Question 26

Double Blind Procedure

Answer 26

Is when neither the researcher or participants know who received the treatment or placebo.

Question 27

Experiments establish_______. Experiments manipulate ________.

Answer 27

Experiments establish cause and effect. Experiments manipulate variables.

Question 28

Descriptive Statistics

Answer 28

Describes sets of data.

Question 29

Inferential Statistics

Answer 29

Draw conclusions about the sets of data.

Question 30

Mean=?
Median=?
Mode=?

Answer 30

Mean= Average Value
Median= Middle Value
Mode= Occurs Most

Question 31

Standard Deviation

Answer 31

How scores vary around the mean score

Question 32

Statistical Significance

Answer 32

How likely that a result occurred by chance (p value less than 0.05).

Question 33

Ethics

Answer 33

Rules of Conduct

Question 34

American Psychological Association (APA)

Answer 34

Establishes ethic codes

Question 35

Institutional Review Board

Answer 35

Review proposals for research, approval needed for experiment.

Question 36

Informed Consent

Answer 36

All subjects given necessary information to decide to participate in study, or not.

Question 37

Confidentiality

Answer 37

Any data collected in the experiment should remain confidentiality (use pseudonyms).

Question 38

Debriefing

Answer 38

Experimenter tells the subject more information about the study’s purpose and procedures after the study is completed.

(SCIENTIFIC FOUNDATIONS IS REALLY IMPORTANT DUE TOO THE FRQ’S BEING BASED ON RESEARCH METHODS).