Upgrade to remove ads
Only $2.99/month

Psychology 206 chapter 1 test

Terms in this set (51)

psychology
the scientific study of behavior and mental processes
psychiatry
medical specialty area focused on the diagnosis, treatment, causes, and prevention of mental and behavioral disorders
William James (1842-1910)
First American psychologist and author of the first psychology textbook
Scientific Method
A series of steps followed to solve problems including collecting data, formulating a hypothesis, testing the hypothesis, and stating conclusions.
Hypothesis
a supposition or proposed explanation made on the basis of limited evidence as a starting point for further investigation.
operational definition
a carefully worded statement of the exact procedures used in a research study
meta-analysis
a procedure for statistically combining the results of many different research studies - coming to a conclusion
replicate
to repeat, to copy, or to duplicate
Theory
A hypothesis that has been tested with a significant amount of data
descriptive research
research methods that involve observing behavior to describe that behavior objectively and systematically
naturalistic observation
observing and recording behavior in naturally occurring situations without trying to manipulate and control the situation
case study
an observation technique in which one person is studied in depth in the hope of revealing universal principles
correlational study
a research project designed to discover the degree to which two variables are related to each other
negative correlation
as one variable increases, the other decreases
independent variable
The experimental factor that is manipulated; the variable whose effect is being studied.
confounding variable
a factor other than the independent variable that might produce an effect in an experiment
Exerimental Group
the participants in an expriment who receives the drug or other treatment under study- that is those who are exposed to the change that the independent variables represent
Placebo
a fake drug used in the testing of medication
critical thinking
thinking that does not blindly accept arguments and conclusions. Rather, it examines assumptions, discerns hidden values, evaluates evidence, and assesses conclusions.
Wilhelm Wundt (1832-1920)
Father of psychology. German physiologist who founded psychology as a formal science; opened first psychology research laboratory in 1879.
Psychoanalysis
Sigmund Freud's therapeutic technique. Freud believed the patient's free associations, resistances, dreams, and transferences - and the therapist's interpretations of them - released previously repressed feelings, allowing the patient to gain self-insight.
humanistic psychology
an approach to understanding human nature that emphasizes the positive potential of human beings
Culture
the enduring behaviors, ideas, attitudes, values, and traditions shared by a group of people and transmitted from one generation to the next
individualistic culture
A culture in which people believe that their primary responsibility is to themselves.
confirmation bias
a tendency to search for information that supports our preconceptions and to ignore or distort contradictory evidence
American Psychological Association (APA)
preferred reference manual for social science communication scholars
Sigmund Freud (1856-1939)
Austrian neurologist known for his work on the unconscious mind. Father of psychoanalysis.
G. Stanley Hall (1844-1924)
American psychologist who established the first psychology research laboratory in the U.S.; founded the American Psychological Association
Abraham Maslow
Humanistic psychologist known for his "Hierarchy of Needs" and the concept of "self-actualization"
empirical evidence
data collected through direct observation
Variable
A factor that can change in an experiment
statistically significant
refers to a result that is statistically unlikely to have occurred by chance
Carl Rogers (1902-1987)
Humanistic psychologist who developed client-centered therapy and stressed the importance of acceptance, genuineness, and empathy in fostering human growth
B.F. Skinner (1904-1990)
- Expanded the basic ideas of behaviorism to include the idea of reinforcement and punishment -- environmental stimuli that either encourage or discourage certain responses
- Helped establish and popularize the operant conditioning model of learning
- Skinner's intellectual influence lasted for decades
Francis Sumner (1895-1954)
first African American awarded Ph.D. in psychology
survey
the collection of data by having people answer a series of questions
Sample
A relatively small proportion of people who are chosen in a survey so as to be representative of the whole.
representative sample
a sample that accurately reflects the characteristics of the population as a whole
positive correlation
A correlation where as one variable increases, the other also increases, or as one decreases so does the other. Both variables move in the same direction.
experimental research
gathering primary data by selecting matched groups of subjects, giving them different treatments, controlling related factors, and checking for differences in group responses
dependent variable
The outcome factor; the variable that may change in response to manipulations of the independent variable.
control group
In an experiment, the group that is not exposed to the treatment; contrasts with the experimental group and serves as a comparison for evaluating the effect of the treatment.
double-blind technique
An experimental control in which neither the participants nor the researchers interacting with the participants are aware of the group or condition to which the participants have been assigned.
placebo effect
experimental results caused by expectations alone; any effect on behavior caused by the administration of an inert substance or condition, which the recipient assumes is an active agent.
John Watson
behaviorism; emphasis on external behaviors of people and their reactions on a given situation; famous for Little Albert study in which baby was taught to fear a white rat
Mary Whiton Calkins (1863-1930)
American psychologist who conducted research on memory, personality and dreams. First woman president of the American Psychological Association. Developed theory of self-psychology and a technique for studying verbal learning.
Behaviorism
the science of behavior that focuses on observable behavior only
positive psychology
the scientific study of human functioning, with the goals of discovering and promoting strengths and virtues that help individuals and communities to thrive
cross-cultural psychology
investigates the similarities and differences in psychological functioning in and across various cultures and ethnic groups
collectivist cultures
societies that prize social harmony, obedience, and close family connectedness over individual achievement
ethics in research
informed consent, freedom from coercion, protection from harm, risk-benefit analysis, deception, debriefing, confidentiality
YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE...