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Chapter 1 & 2 Exam
Defining Aspects and Goals of Psychology & Discussing Research Methods
100
Psychology
Undergraduate 1
09/13/2011

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Cards

Term
4 Aspects of Psychology
Definition
Scientific, Mental, Behavior, Individual
Term
Psychology
Definition
The scientific study of the behavior of individuals and their mental processes.
Term
Scientific Methdod
Definition
the set of procedures used for gathering and interpreting objective information in a way that minimizes error and yields dependable generalizations.
Term
Behavior
Definition
The actions by which an organism adjusts to its environment.
Term
Scientific Aspect of Psychology
Definition
It requires that psychological conclusions be based on evidence collected according to the principles of the scientific method.
Term
Mental Processes
Definition
The workings of the human mind.
Term
Goals of Psychology
Definition
Describing what happens, Explaining what happens, Predicting what will happen, and Controlling what happens
Term
What is the first task in psychology?
Definition
The first task in psychology is to make accurate observations about behavior.
Term
Behavioral Data
Definition
observational reports about the behavior of organisms and the conditions which the behavior occurs or changes.
Term
Levels of Analysis & Objectivity
Definition
When researchers undertake data collection, they must choos an appropriate level of analysis and devise measures of behavior that ensures objectivity
Term
What do explanations do?
Definition
Explanations in psychology usually recognize that most behavior is influence by a combination of factors.
Term
What are predictions in psychology?
Definition
Predictions in psychology are statements about he likelihood that a certain behavior will occur or that a given relationship will be found.
Term
What is a central and powerful goal of psychology?
Definition
Control means making behavior happen or not happen - starting it, maintaining it, stopping i, and influencing its form, strength, or rate of occurence.
Term
Herman Ebbinghaus
Definition
One of the first experimental psychologists. "Psychology as a long past, but only a short history"
Term
Predictions must be...
Definition
Predictions must be accurate, comprehensive, precise and testable.
Term
DEPC
Definition
Describe, explain, predict and control - the 4 goals of psychology.
Term
Isolating and controlling behaviors
Definition
Isolating and controlling behaviors can help determine casuality or give specifics on when, why, how a behavior occurs.
Term
Psychology as Philosophy
Definition
In early centuries, psychology was really forms of philosophy.
Term
Empiricist
Definition
Mind is a blank slate or vessel that is impressed upon.
Term
John Locke
Definition
Influenced by Aristotle, believed in blank slate mentality.
Term
Nativist
Definition
A philosophical basis of psychology, where individuals begin life with mental structures that shape the way their world is interpreted.
Term
Kant
Definition
Inspired by Plato, Nativist approach, believed that people begin like with innate desires and mental structures that help them make sense of the world
Term
Wilhelm Wundt
Definition
Critical figure in the evolution of modern psychology, founded the first formal lab devoted to experimental psychology.
Term
Edward Titchener
Definition
became one of the first psychologists in the US, founding the lab at Cornell Univserity, worked under Wundt
Term
William James
Definition
Brother of Henry James, wrote the Principles of Psychology
Term
G. Stanley Hall
Definition
Founded the American Psychological Association in 1892
Term
Introspection
Definition
Individuals systematic examination of their own thoughts and feelings.
Term
Structuralism
Definition
The study of the structure of the mind and behavior; the view that all human mental experience can e understood as a combination of simple elements or events.
Term
Gestalt Psychology
Definition
A school of psychology that maintains that pscyhological phenomena can be understood only when viewed as organized, structured wholes, not when broken down into primitive perceptual elements.
Term
Functionalism
Definition
The perspective on mind and behavior that focuses on the examination of their functions in an organisms interactions with their environment.
Term
Structuralism
Definition
Studies the structure of the mind and behavior, reactions to stimuli; answers "what is happening"; analyzed elements of the mind.
Term
Critiques of Structuralism
Definition
Reductionist - reduced the complex into simplistic
Elemental - combined parts into whole rather than focusing on complexity
Mentalistic - based only on individuals report of concsious awareness
Term
Functionalism
Definition
James and Dewey; Properties of the mind and interactions with the environment
Sought to explain
Adapting to the environment
What is the purpose?
Uniqueness of the individual, more complex and not reduced to formulas
Term
Mary Whiton Calkins
Definition
Studied with William James, First woman president of APA, Completed PhD requirements but not granted a diploma
Term
Margaret Floy Washburn
Definition
First woman to received a PhD in Psychology, wrote the Animal Mind, 2nd woman president of APA
Term
Helen Thompson Wooley
Definition
Researched differences in sexes, attached personal biases in research
Term
Leta Stetter Hollingsworth
Definition
Studied gender differences, attached idea that men are genetically superior to women
Term
Psychodynamic perspective
Definition
a psychological model in which behavior is explained in terms of past experiences and motivational forces; actions are viewed as stemming from inherited instincts, biological drives and attempts to resolve conflicts between personal needs and social requirements
Term
Freud
Definition
Psychodynamic Perpsective
Believed that people seek pleasure/avoid pain
Inner and outside forces lead to conflict of the individual
Human nature is not always rational and not always in conscious awareness
Term
Watson
Definition
Behaviorists Perspective
Term
Skinner
Definition
Behaviorist Perspective
Term
Rogers
Definition
Humanistic perspective
Term
Maslow
Definition
Humanistic perspective
Term
Chomsky
Definition
cognitive perspective
Term
Piaget
Definition
cognitive perspective
Term
Psychodynamic Perspective
Definition
Behavior is driven by inner forces
Resolve personal and social demands/expectations, resulting in anxiety, Neo Freudians beliefs include interactions of many influences over the lifetime
Term
Behaviorist Perspective
Definition
Behv is driven by environmental stimuli
Antecedent Behavior (leading up)
Behavioral Response (action)
Consequences of Behavior (follows behv)
Watson (sought laws that govern behavior through species)
Skinner (looked past Watson's perspective to include consequence)
Focuses on evidence based practice
Gives support to supportive parenting practices and modifying behaviors across the lifespan
Term
Humanistic Perpsective
Definition
Patterns in Behavior related to life history
Term
Rogers
Definition
He believed that individuals have natural path towards psycholigical growth and health
Positive regard by others reinforces this
Term
Maslow
Definition
Self actualization
Individuals strive to reach fullest potential
Term
Holistic
Definition
Body/Mind/Behavior bio-psychosocial
Term
Humanistic
Definition
Psychology is not just scientific, but integrates many disciplines into understanding the individual (or, the human-get it?)
Term
Cognitive
Definition
Attending, Thinking, Remembering, Understanding
Term
Cognitive
Definition
We think therefore we act
Term
Cognitive
Definition
Behavior can emerge through the novel ways an individual thinks about something
Term
Biological Perspective
Definition
Biological cause for behavior, changing hormones, genes, the brain, nervous system.
Biochemicals in cells promote behaviors.
Analyze and reduce all behaviors into simpler parts related to biochemical processes
Behavioral Neuroscience
Term
Evolutionary Perpsective
Definition
Adaptation based
Natural Selection
Behaviors that contribute most positively to the environment and individual survive
Hard to establish as evidence based
Term
Sociocultural perpsective
Definition
CRoss cultural differences in behavior
Term
Steps in the Research Process
Definition
1. Initial Observation
2. Form a Hypothesis
3. Design the Study
4. Analyze the Data or Draw Conclusions
5. Report the Findings
6. Consider Open Questions
7. Act on Open Questions
Term
Theory
Definition
An organized set of concepts that attempts to explain a phenomenon or set of phenomena.
Term
Key Concepts of Research
Definition
Public Verifiability
Peer Review
Challenge to Objectivity
File Drawer Effect
Term
Observer Bias
Definition
Act as a filter
Term
False Negative
Definition
Produced by observer bias, researcher believes that something didn't happen when it did (statistical error or design flaw)
Term
False Positive
Definition
Researcher believes something happened when it didn't. Caused by observer bias.
Term
How do we counteract biases/beliefs?
Definition
Standardizing, Operational Definition
Term
Independent Variable
Definition
Manipulated by the researcher, causal part of the research model, changes the dependent variable
Term
Dependent Variable
Definition
Measured by the researcher, Effect of the research model, relies on the independent variable for effect
Term
Confounding Variable
Definition
Alternative explanation
It is another variable that is not accounted for by the model (not introduced by the researcher) might be contributing to the findings
Term
Expectancy Effects
Definition
It is subtle communication to participants or other researchers regarding the intent of the study that influences results.
Term
Placebo Effect
Definition
Behavior changes in absence of behavioral manipulation
THe participant can perceive an expected reaction (whether correct or not) and act accordingly - not great with your results.
Term
Double Blind
Definition
Control Procedure where assistants and participants are blind to the expectations of the study or the experimental group of the participants.
Term
Placebo Control
Definition
Control Procedure where experimental procedures are not carried out in a group to get a control group to compare to.
Term
Determinism
Definition
The doctrine that all events - physical, behavioral, and mental - are determined by specific causal factors that are potentially knowable.
Term
Hypothesis
Definition
A tentative and testable explanation of the relationship between two or more events or variables; often stated as prediction that certain outcome will result from specific conditions.
Term
Observer Bias
Definition
The distortion of evidence because of the personal motives and expectations of the viewer.
Term
Standardization
Definition
A set of uniform procedures for treating each participant in a test, interview, or experiment, or for recording data.
Term
Operational Definition
Definition
A definition of a variable or condition in terms of the specific operation or procedure used to determine its presence.
Term
Variable
Definition
in an experimental setting, a factor that varies in amount and kind.
Term
Independent Variable
Definition
In an experimental setting, a variable that the researcher manipulates to assess the impact on values of the dependent variable.
Term
Dependent variable
Definition
In an experimental setting, a variable that the researcher measures to assess the impact of a variation in an independent variable.
Term
Experimental Method
Definition
Research methodology that involves the manipulation of independent variables to determine their effects on the dependent variables.
Term
Between-Subjects Design
Definition
A research design in which different groups of participants are randomly assigned to experimental conditions or to control conditions.
Term
Random Assignment
Definition
A procedure by which participants have an equal likelihood of being assigned to any condition within an experiment.
Term
Experimental Group
Definition
A group in an experiment that is exposed to a treatment or experiences a manipulation of the independent variable.
Term
Control Group
Definition
A group in an experiment that is not exposed to a treatment or does not experience a manipulation of the independent variable.
Term
Population
Definition
The entire set of individuals to which generalizations will be based on an experimental sample.
Term
Sample
Definition
A subset of a population selected as participants in an experiment.
Term
Representative Sample
Definition
A subset of population that closely matches the overall characteristics of the population with respect to the distribution of males and females, racial and ethnic groups, and so on.
Term
Random Sampling
Definition
A procedure that ensure that every member of a population has an equal likelihood of participating in an experiment.
Term
Within-Subjects Design
Definition
A research design that uses each participant as his or her own control; for example, the behavior of an experimental participant before receiving treatment might be compared to his or her behavior after receiving treatment.
Term
Correlational Methods
Definition
Research methodology that determines to what extent two variables, traits, or attributes are related.
Term
Correlation coefficient
Definition
A statistic that indicates the degree of relationship between two variables.
Term
Reliability
Definition
The degree to which a test produces similar scores each time it is used; stability or consistency of the scores produced by an instrument.
Term
Validity
Definition
The extent to which a test measures what it was intended to measure.
Term
Self Report Measures
Definition
A self-behavior that is identified through a participants own observation and reports.
Term
Behavioral measure
Definition
overt actions or reaction that is observed and recored, exclusive of selfreported behavior
Term
Naturalistic Observation
Definition
A research technique in which unobtrusive observations are made of behaviors that occur in natural environments.
Term
Case Study
Definition
intensive observation of a particular individual or small group of individuals
Term
Informed Consent
Definition
The process through which individuals are informed about experimental procedures, risks, and benefits before they provide formal consent to become research participants.
Term
Debriefing
Definition
A procedure at the end of an experiment in which the researcher provides the participants with as much info about the study as possible and makes sure that no participant leaves feeling confused, upset, or embarrassed.
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