Week 1: Introduction to Psychology and Research Methods Flashcards
What is psychology?
The scientific study of behaviour and mental processes.
What are the main goals of psychology?
To describe, explain, predict, and influence behaviour.
What is a hypothesis?
A testable prediction about the relationship between two or more variables.
What is an independent variable?
The variable that is manipulated by the researcher in an experiment.
What is a dependent variable?
The variable that is measured to see the effect of the independent variable.
What is a control group?
A group in an experiment that does not receive the treatment, used for comparison.
What is a case study?
An in-depth analysis of an individual or small group.
Define “naturalistic observation.”
Observing subjects in their natural environment without interference.
What is a survey?
A research method that collects data from participants through questionnaires or interviews.
What is a correlation?
A measure of the relationship between two variables.
What does a positive correlation indicate?
As one variable increases, the other also increases.
What does a negative correlation indicate?
As one variable increases, the other decreases.
What is the purpose of random sampling?
To ensure every member of a population has an equal chance of being selected for the study.
What is random assignment?
Assigning participants to experimental or control groups by chance to reduce bias.
What is the placebo effect?
A change in behavior due to participants’ expectations, not the treatment itself.
