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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 (63 cards)

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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
illusory correlation
perceiving a relationship where none exists, or perceiving a stronger-than-actual relationship
26
experiment
a series of observations conducted under controlled conditions to study a relationship with the purpose of drawing causal inferences about that relationship
27
random assignment
assigning the participants to the groups in an experiment entirely by chance
28
single-blind procedure
the participants in the study are uninformed about the treatment, if any, they are receiving
29
double-blind procedure
the participants and the researcher are uninformed about which group receives the treatment and which does not
30
placebo effect
causes experimental results simply from expectations/assumptions that medication is being taken
31
experimental group
subjects who receive the treatment
32
control group
subjects do NOT receive the treatment
33
independent variable
in an experiment, the factor that is being studied
34
dependent variable
in an experiment, the outcome that is being measured
35
confounding variable
a factor other than the one being studied that might influence the results of the study
36
mode
the most frequently occurring data point in a distribution
37
mean
the mathematical average of a set of numbers; add the scores and divide by the amount of scores
38
median
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
range
the difference between the highest and lowest values in a distribution
40
standard deviation
a computed measure of how much scores vary from the mean
41
normal curve/distribution
symmetrical, bell-shaped distribution; mean, median and mode are all the same
42
positively-skewed distribution
skewed to the right
43
negatively-skewed distribution
skewed to the left
44
statistical significance
statistical statement of how likely it is that a result occurred by chance
45
p value
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
coercion
attempting to influence another person's actions through negative forms of power
47
confidentiality
a principle of professional ethics, keeping data received from an experiment or patient private
48
informed consent
asking permission to perform an experiment and providing an explanation of the means of said experiment
49
debriefing
when temporary deception is necessary to the research, it must be fully explained at the conclusion of the experiment
50
psychoanalytic perspective
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
key figures of psychoanalysis
Sigmund Freud, based on his theory
52
behavioral perspective
focuses on observable behavior and facts rather than unseen mental processes
53
key figures of behaviorism
John B. Watson, based on his theory Ivan Pavlov, B.F Skinner
54
cognitive perspective
focuses on memory, intelligence, perception, thought processes, problem solving, language and learning - counterargument to behaviorism; views behaviors as more than rewards and punishments
55
key figures of cognitive study
Jean Piaget, Noam Chomsky
56
neurobiological perspective
focuses on influences of hormones, brain structures and chemicals, diseases, etc.
57
key figures of neurobiology
James Olds, Roger Sperry, George Miller
58
evolutionary perspective
focuses on humans thoughts and actions in terms of natural selection
59
key figures of evolutionary study
Charles Darwin, David Buss
60
humanistic perspective
focuses on human potential, free will, and the possibility of self-actualization - personal growth and the triumph over adversity
61
key figures of humanism
Carl Rogers, Abraham Maslow
62
socio-cultural perspective
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
key figures of socioculturalism
Lev Vygotsky, Albert Bandura

AP Psychology (5 decks)

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