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AP Psychology > Unit 2: The Scientific Foundations of Psychology > Flashcards

Unit 2: The Scientific Foundations of Psychology Flashcards

terms, definitions, and key figures of important psychological perspectives

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1
Q

psychology

A

the scientific study of the behavior and mental processes of humans and animals

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2
Q

Why is psychology considered scientific?

A

Psychology is scientific because it uses empiricism (first-hand experience) and the scientific method to critically evaluate evidence

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3
Q

empiricism

A

true knowledge or justification coming from first-hand experience
–> related to the “blank slate”/nurture perspective

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4
Q

structuralism

A

an early school of psychology focused on identifying the elements of thought and mind (structures) the way early chemists developed the periodic table to classify elements

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5
Q

introspection

A

the process of looking inward to directly observe one’s own psychological processes

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6
Q

functionalism

A

assumes a purpose to all of our behaviors as serving a necessary function
–> related to natural selection

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7
Q

positive psychology

A

the scientific study of optimal human functioning; aims to discover and promote strengths that enable individuals and communities to thrive

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8
Q

nature vs. nurture issue

A

the debate that behavior and mental processes occur because they are innate, nature, or as a result of experience and our environment, nurture

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9
Q

natural selection

A

survival of the fittest; those with the traits best suitable for survival in an environment will continue and reproduce

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10
Q

basic research

A

scientific inquiry that aims to increase psychology’s knowledge base; pure science

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11
Q

applied research

A

scientific inquiry that aims to use psychology to solve practical problems; real-world application of science

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12
Q

hindsight bias

A

the tendency to believe, after learning an outcome, that we would have foreseen it; We knew it all along!
–> after a couple breaks up, friends say “they were never a good match”

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13
Q

overconfidence

A

the tendency to think we know more than we actually do

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14
Q

theory

A

a principle or body of interrelated principles that explains or predicts a number of interrelated phenomena

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15
Q

hypothesis

A

an empirically testable position, usually based on theory, that states an unexpected outcome resulting from specific conditions or assumptions

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16
Q

operational definition

A

a description of an experiment in terms of the operations by which it could be observed and measured

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17
Q

replication

A

the repetition of an original experiment or research study to verify or bolster confidence in its results

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18
Q

case study

A

an in-depth investigation of a single individual or group in order to find revealing universal principles

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19
Q

survey

A

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

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20
Q

random sample

A

a sample that fairly represents a population because each member has an equal chance of inclusion

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21
Q

naturalistic observation

A

a descriptive technique of observing and recording behavior in naturally occurring situations without trying to manipulate or control the situation

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22
Q

correlation

A

a measure of the extent to which two factors vary together, and how well either factor predicts the other
–> if we look at study skills and GPA, we might say there is a correlation between studying and strong grades

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23
Q

correlation coefficient

A

a statistical index of the relationship between two variables
–> variables that are positively correlated are measured from r=0.1 to r=1.0, while variables that are negatively correlated are measured from r=-0.1 to r=-1.0

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24
Q

scatter plot

A

a graphed cluster of dots, each of which represents the values of two variables

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25
Q

illusory correlation

A

perceiving a relationship where none exists, or perceiving a stronger-than-actual relationship

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26
Q

experiment

A

a series of observations conducted under controlled conditions to study a relationship with the purpose of drawing causal inferences about that relationship

27
Q

random assignment

A

assigning the participants to the groups in an experiment entirely by chance

28
Q

single-blind procedure

A

the participants in the study are uninformed about the treatment, if any, they are receiving

29
Q

double-blind procedure

A

the participants and the researcher are uninformed about which group receives the treatment and which does not

30
Q

placebo effect

A

causes experimental results simply from expectations/assumptions that medication is being taken

31
Q

experimental group

A

subjects who receive the treatment

32
Q

control group

A

subjects do NOT receive the treatment

33
Q

independent variable

A

in an experiment, the factor that is being studied

34
Q

dependent variable

A

in an experiment, the outcome that is being measured

35
Q

confounding variable

A

a factor other than the one being studied that might influence the results of the study

36
Q

mode

A

the most frequently occurring data point in a distribution

37
Q

mean

A

the mathematical average of a set of numbers; add the scores and divide by the amount of scores

38
Q

median

A

the middle score in a distribution; arrange scores from highest to lowest with half of the data above and half below this number
–> if there is an even number of scores, add the two middle numbers and divide by 2 to find the median

39
Q

range

A

the difference between the highest and lowest values in a distribution

40
Q

standard deviation

A

a computed measure of how much scores vary from the mean

41
Q

normal curve/distribution

A

symmetrical, bell-shaped distribution; mean, median and mode are all the same

42
Q

positively-skewed distribution

A

skewed to the right

43
Q

negatively-skewed distribution

A

skewed to the left

44
Q

statistical significance

A

statistical statement of how likely it is that a result occurred by chance

45
Q

p value

A

the mechanism to report statistical significance
–> a p value of .05 or less means that it is 95% likely the results did not occur by chance

46
Q

coercion

A

attempting to influence another person’s actions through negative forms of power

47
Q

confidentiality

A

a principle of professional ethics, keeping data received from an experiment or patient private

48
Q

informed consent

A

asking permission to perform an experiment and providing an explanation of the means of said experiment

49
Q

debriefing

A

when temporary deception is necessary to the research, it must be fully explained at the conclusion of the experiment

50
Q

psychoanalytic perspective

A

focuses on the role of the unconscious mind and its influence on unconscious behavior
- repressed memories from early childhood
- primitive drives that are incompatible with socially accepted norms

51
Q

key figures of psychoanalysis

A

Sigmund Freud, based on his theory

52
Q

behavioral perspective

A

focuses on observable behavior and facts rather than unseen mental processes

53
Q

key figures of behaviorism

A

John B. Watson, based on his theory
Ivan Pavlov, B.F Skinner

54
Q

cognitive perspective

A

focuses on memory, intelligence, perception, thought processes, problem solving, language and learning
- counterargument to behaviorism; views behaviors as more than rewards and punishments

55
Q

key figures of cognitive study

A

Jean Piaget, Noam Chomsky

56
Q

neurobiological perspective

A

focuses on influences of hormones, brain structures and chemicals, diseases, etc.

57
Q

key figures of neurobiology

A

James Olds, Roger Sperry, George Miller

58
Q

evolutionary perspective

A

focuses on humans thoughts and actions in terms of natural selection

59
Q

key figures of evolutionary study

A

Charles Darwin, David Buss

60
Q

humanistic perspective

A

focuses on human potential, free will, and the possibility of self-actualization
- personal growth and the triumph over adversity

61
Q

key figures of humanism

A

Carl Rogers, Abraham Maslow

62
Q

socio-cultural perspective

A

focuses on the behavior of individuals as a result of the presence (real or imagined) of other individuals, as part of groups, or as part of a larger culture

63
Q

key figures of socioculturalism

A

Lev Vygotsky, Albert Bandura

AP Psychology (5 decks)

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