Unit One: Research Methods Flashcards
Empiricism
- Knowledge originates in experience
- Science should rely on observation and experimentation
Structuralism
Uses introspection (self-reflective, looking inward) to explore the structural elements of the human mind
Functionalism
how our mental and behavioral processes function-how they enable us to adapt, survive+flourish
Experimental Psychology
The study of behavior+thinking using the experimental method
Behaviorism
Psychology should ONLY study observable behavior
Humanistic Psychology
Emphasizes: -Growth potential of healthy peeps -Individual potential for personal growth
Cognitive Neuroscience
The study of brain activity linked with thinking, memory, perception+langauge
Psychology
The study of behavior+mental processes
Nature-Nurture Issue
Controversy over general contributions genes+experiences make to the development of traits+behavior
Natural Selection
Organisms with the most desirable trait survive to reproduce
Levels of Analysis
DIffering complementary views
Biopsychosocial Approach
Includes biological, social and cultural approach
Biological Psychology
Studies neurotransmitters, genes, and links b/t psychological and biological processes
Evolutionary Psychology
The study of the roots of behavior and mental processes using natural selection
Psychodynamic Psychology
Studies how unconscious drives and conflicts influence behavior and uses that info to treat psychological disorders
Behavioral Psychology
The study of observable behavior and its explanation by principles of learning
Cognitive Psychology
The study of all mental activities associated with thinking, knowing, remembering, and communicating
Socio-Cultural Psychology
The study of how situations and cultures affect our behavior and thinking
Psychometrics
The scientific study of the measurement of human abilities attitudes and traits
Basic Research
Pure science that aims to increase the scientific knowledge base
Developmental Psychology
The study of physical, cognitive, and social change throughout a persons life span
Educational Pyschology
The study of how psychological processes affect and can enhance teaching and learning
Personality Psychology
An individuals characteristic pattern of thinking feeling and acting
Social Psychology
The study of how we think about, influence and relate to one another
Applied Research
Scientific study that aims to solve practical problems
Industrial-organization Psychology
The application of psychological concepts and methods to optimizing human behavior in work places.
Human factors Psychology
The study of how people and machines interact and the design of safe and easily used machines and env.
Counseling Psychology
A branch of psychology that assists people with problems in living and in achieving greater well being
Clinical Psychology
A branch of psychology that studies assesses and treats people with psychological disorders
Psychiatry
A branch of medicine dealing with psychological disorders; practiced by physicians who often provide medical and psychological therapy
Hindsight bias AKA the i knew it all along phenomenon
The tendency to believe after learning an outcome that one would have foreseen it
Critical thinking
Thinking that does not blindly accepts arguments and conclusion assumption discerns hidden values evaluates evidence assesses conclusions
Theory
An explanation using an integrated set of principles and explains observations and predicts behavior/events.
Hypothesis
A testable prediction often implied by a theory
Operational Definition
A statement of the procedures/ operations used to define research variables
Replication
Repeating
Case study
An observation technique in which one person is studied in depth in the hope of revealing universal principles
Survey
A technique for ascertaining the self-reported attitudes/behavior of a particular group.
Population
All the cases in a group being studied from which samples may be drawn
Random Sample
A sample that fairly represents a population b/c each number has an equal chance of inclusion
Naturalistic Observation
Observing behavior without human interaction
Correlation
A measure of the extent to which two factors vary together *predicts the other
Correlation Coefficient
A statistical index of the relationship b/w two things from -1 to 1
Scatterplots
A graphed cluster of dots, each of which represents the values of two variables
Illusory Correlation
The perception of a relationship where none exists
Overconfidence
We tend to think we know more than we actually do
Experiment
A research method in which an investigator manipulates one or more factors to observe the effect some behavior/mental process
Random Assignment
Assigning participants to experimental+control groups by chance, minimizing differences b/w those assigned to different groups
Double-Blind Procedure
An experimental procedure in which both of the participants and scientists are blind about whether the participants have received the placebo or not
Placebo Effect
Experimental results caused by expectations alone
Experimental group
The group that is exposed to the treatment, to one version of the I.V.
Control Group
The group that is not exposed to the treatment,
Independent Variable
The experimental factor that is manipulated, the variable whose effect is being studied
Confunding Varibable
A factor other than the independent variable that might produce an effect in an experiement
Dependent Variable
The outcome that is measurable, the variable that may change in response to manipulation of the I.V.
Mean
Average
Median
The number in the middle
Range
The biggest number minus the smallest number
Standard Deviation
A measure of how much scores vary around the mean score
Normal Curve`
A bell shaped curve that describes the distribution of many types of data *most scores fall near the mean
Statistical Significance
A statistical statement of how likely it is that an obtained result occurred by chance
Mode
The # that occurs the most
Culture
Behavior, ideas, attitudes, + traditions shared by a group of people + transmitted from one generation to the next
Informed Consent
An ethical principle that research participants be told enough to enable them to whether they wish to partcipate
Debriefing
The post experimental explanation of a study, including its purpose +any deceptions to its participants
