Unit one Flashcards
Independent variable def
Dependent
Controlled
A variable that is manipulated by the researcher in an experiment to determine how the subject or subjects will react. A change in value.
An aspect of the subjects performance that is measured in an experiment to determine what effect the independent variable has on it
Variables not under study that are controlled during the experiment for all subjects . Controlled so they don’t affect the performance of the experimental or control group.
Between subject studies
Within subject design
Between- compares the responses between different groups under different conditions
Within- compare responses made by the same subject or group under different conditions
- Subjects change via?
An abrupt change in a gene is called_____. Those that occur in ____ cells are passed on to offspring.
Reflex definition
Sensitization vs habituation
Natural selection
2. Mutation, reproductive/germ cells
Reflex is a relationship between a specific event/stimulus and a simple behavior/ response
Sensitization involves an increase in the probability or intensity of a reflex response, habituation is a decrease in probability and intensity,
Fixed action patters differ from reflexes how ?
The color red is what for male stickle-back
An event an organism tends to avoid?
Fixed action potentials involve the whole entire organism and are more complex and variable
Releaser
Aversive
The fox breeding study selected foxes on the basis of ?
The chief problem with natural selection ?
Natural selection helps who adapt to change ?
Learning ability evolved why?
Behavior ( looked for more dog like behavior )
That it is slow
The species NOT THE INDIVIDUAL
Survival value
Kuos experiment showed that whether cats killed rats depended on?
Whether they saw their mothers kill rats
Natural selection
Features that are advantageous for survival are “ selected by the environment”
Are reflexes always helpful?
No for example allergic reactions of epileptic seizures
Ex sensitization and habituation
Sensitization - hear a loud noise and then are more likely to jump at the next noise
Habituation -ex repeated loud noise noise eventually gets ignored
How are FAP similar to reflexes?
Example of one
Both have strong genetic basis and little variation between individuals
Ex cat archess back and hisses, mating dance with birds
Releasers def
Specific events that elicit s fixed action potential
Fixed action potentials in humans?
Few if any- debated
General behavior traits definition
General behavior tendencies including activity level, aggression, introversion, anxiety, hoarding, and sexual practices .
Strongly influenced by genes
What cause General behavior traits
How’s this diff than FAP
Aversives- things that organisms stride to avoid. They occur in s wide variety of situations unlike releasers which are more environment specific.
How are FAP AND behavior traits also different
The behavior with FAP are pretty much the same between individuals whereas behavior traits have plastic behavior ( note that genetics affect the expression of these traits )
____ twins vs ___ twins are more likely to both have manic depression or anxiety
Identical over fraternal
Evolution of adaptive characteristics occurs over ? Means what?
Occur over generations which means are of limited value coping with abrupt changes
Def learning
Change in behavior due to experience
Is learning s product of evolution
Yes
Nature nurture debate surrounds which idea
Whether behavior is inherited of learned . In reality both influence
Who said change is the only constant
Roman philosopher Lucretius
When was origin of the species published?
Who discovered the genetic basis of the theory
1859
Mendel
Pebbly beach analogy displays what for Darwins theory
How natural selection creates order out of disorder snd that eventually the pebbles settle in an order
Two examples where natural selection selected for different traits based on s changing environment
Peppered moth
And the grants observations of the Galapagos finches
How may the blushing reflex have s survival advantage
May protect us from injury of those that we have insulted
What were FAPS used to be called and why aren’t they any more
Instincts- however suggests that it’s only automatic
BF skinner said people are hostages of their genetic history why
Ex with craving sweet and fatty foods because of ancestors it had survival advantage
Sven says that he was nervous at the beginning of college and now isn’t - the loss of anxiety is an example of?
Learning
When behavior is defined by the procedure used to measure it it is called
Operational
An analogy for using ABA research design
Light switch
The school of thought that rejects scientific method and claims science is really s debate about an unknowable reality is called
Constructivism
In her study of baboons Shirley strum found that the most successful males were
Less aggressive then other males
In within subject experiments , each subject’s performance is compared with its performance during a
Baseline period
Teenagerus americsnus s two legged ape breaks out in s cold sweat when exposed to elevator music this is a result of
Learning
A golly pod breaks out in s cold sweat whenever it is exposed to the sun this rxn is most likely a
Reflex
In a group design experiment researchers often use what to reduce differences among participants
Matched sampling
Is it difficult to distinguish between behavior and physiology
Yes
Who was the first person to record data cumulatively
James a slonaker
What does the natural science approach emphasize
Physical events
Stimulus definition
An event that is capable of affecting behavior
Response latency definition
The time that passes before s response occurs
Why is learning said to be s change in behavior
Does not always mean acquiring something but change . Ex quitting smoking
Two problems with saying that learning is neurological change
We don’t totally know what changes take place with learning
Denies the importance of behavior
Ex of operational definition
Ex saliva as the number of mg of saliva absorbed by cotton balls for a specific period of time and specific size
Fear as an increase in heart rate, breathing, and electrical activity
Behavior definition
Anything an organism does that can be measured
What’s reduction in errors method of measuring learning
Make fewer and fewer errors as training progresses
Topography as a measure of learning
Can be used with mirror tracing . Gets easier with practice snd this change is learning.
Change in intensity as a measure of learning
Speed?
Ex speak vs whisper
Push on a lever with more force
Speed- ex the rest runs faster as it learns the maze
NOTE COULD ALSO LEARN TO DO SOMETHING SLOWLY
Change in rate or frequency
The number of instances of behavior pet unit of time
Cumulative recorder
Every instance of behavior is recorded by an ink pen. The higher the rate of behavior the steeper the slope. Allows us to see subtle changes
Cumulative record
A given point on the line indicates the total number of occurrences at that point ( therefore it is a cumulative record)
Fluency is a measure of
Combo of error and rate - number correct per unit of time
Anecdotal evidence
Challenge .
Pro?
First or secondhand reports of personal experience
Hard to sort out which ones to believe and cannot fully be trusted
Can be used as a lead and to see populate opinion
Case study def.
Problems
Examines a particular individual in great detail
Probs: time intensive ,not necessarily representative of the group, cannot answer certain questions about behavior,
The person is reporting about someone’s behavior and ghost can be unreliable
Chief difference between anecdotal snd Cade study
Other diff?
Anecdotal casual observations and Case study one individual in great detail
Case study more systematic
Descriptive study definition
The researcher tries to explain a group by gathering dats from its members and then analyze with statistics
Ex questionionare
Downfall of descriptive studies
Cannot test hypothesis!
Experiment definition
A researcher manipulates one or more variables and measures the effect on one or more variables
Random assignment example
Matched sampling definition
Ex coin flip
Identify participants with identical features Ie ses, age, sex, demographic, ethnicity, and randomly assign one to each treatment
Baseline period definition
Initial period which a participant’s behavior is monitored
ABA reversal design definition
Reinstate baseline (a) then experimental (b) and then baseline to solidify effects of experimental
Other differences with between vs within design
Between requires larger numbers and statistical analysis . Controlled with random assignment and matching
With within its assumed the main area of focus is the changes with the individual snd not between participants
Limits of experimental design
Some say artificial conditions and thus behavior but it is often more simple and artificial to really understand the effect of the env on the behavior
Can use field experiments to test the experiment in s natural setting
Three main reasons for animal research
1) get control over heredity, reduce variance and uncertainty
2) can control their past experience and history
3) possible to do research that can’t ethically do on humans
Four main criticisms for animal research
1) had nothing to do with humans - researchers make sure not to generalize snd are aware of differences
2) has no practical value : however trestments for depression, dyslexia, brain damage , Tourette’s etc have all been using animals
3) intrinsically unethical however conditions set by the state and federal laws as well as apa . Standards for aversive food work etc.
4) unnecessary and can use programs - however the programs are not useful unless research and the effects are known before
Flat record with the cumulative record means what
No behavior occurring
