Empiricism
Knowledge comes from experiences via
the senses. You must observe and do
experiments.
Structuralism
Early school of thought that studies the
elemental structures of the human mind
Functionalism
Early school of thought that studied how
mental and behavioral processes
function.
William James
An early functionalist
William Wundt
Created the first psych lab/experiment
Edward Titchener
An early structuralist
John Watson
Father of behaviorism
Psychology
Science of behavior and mental
processes
Nature/Nurture
Debate on whether we are more a
product of our genes or our
environment
Natural Selection
The stronger traits will survive and be
passed down to future generations
Basic Research
Research that aims to increase scientific
knowledge
Applied Research
Research that is used to study and solve
practical problems.
Clinical Psychology
A branch of psychology that studies,
assesses and treats people with
psychological problems
Psychiatry
A branch of medicine that provides
treatments (such as drugs).
Hindsight Bias
I –Knew –it –all –along phenomenon
Theory
An explanation that organizes and
interprets observations
Hypothesis
A testable prediction
Operational Definitions
A statement of the procedures used to
define research variables. Needed for
replication.
Replication
Repeating the research study, with new
participants in different situations, to
see whether the basic findings extend to
other participants and circumstances.
Case study
Studies one person in depth
Survey
A technique for ascertaining the self
reported attitudes or behaviors of
people, by questioning a representative,
random sample of people
False Consensus Effect
The tendency to overestimate the
extent to which others share our beliefs
and behaviors
Population
All the cases in a group from which
samples may be drawn for a study.
Random Sample
A sample that fairly represents a
population because each member has
an equal chance of inclusion.
Naturalistic observation
Observing and recording behaviors in a
natural setting
Correlation Coefficient
A statistical measure of the extent to
which 2 factors vary together, and thus
how well they can predict each other
Scatterplot
A graphed cluster of dots, each of which
represents the values of 2 variables.
Little scatter indicates high correlation.
Illusory Correlation
The perception of a relationship where
none exists.
Experiment
A research method that can establish a
cause and effect relationship
Double blind procedure
An experimental procedure in which
both the research participants and the
research staff are ignorant about who
was given the treatment or placebo.
Commonly used in drug trials
Placebo effect
Experimental results caused by
expectations alone; any effect on
behavior caused by the administration
of an inert substance or condition, which
is assumed to be an active agent.
Experimental Condition
The group of people who receives the
independent variable or placebo in an
experiment
Control Condition
The group of people that contrasts with
the experimental condition and serves
as a comparison.
Random Assignment
Assigning participants to experimental
and control conditions by chance, thus
minimizing preexisting differences
between those assigned to the different
groups
Independent Variable
The experimental factor that is
manipulated; the variable whose effect
is being studied
Dependant Variable
The experimental factor that is being
studied or measured. In psych it is
usually a mental process.
Mode
The most frequently occurring number
in a distribution.
Mean
The average
Median
The middle score in a distribution.
Range
The difference between the highest and
lowest scores in a distribution.
Standard Deviation
A computed measure of the how scores
vary around the mean
American Psychological
Association (APA)
is a scientific and professional
organization that represents
psychologists in the United States.
Sets ethical standards for the field of
psychology.
Obtain consent of potential participants
Ethical Guidelines set by the
APA- (need to find all 4)
Protect from harm
Make sure info is kept confidential
Fully explain research after the study has
been completed.
Biological Perspective
How our brain and body chemistry
enable emotions, memories, and
sensory experiences.
Evolutionary Perspective
How the natural selection of traits
promoted the survival of genes. Darwin
Psychodynamic Perspective
How behavior springs from unconscious
drives and conflicts. Freud.
Behavioral Perspective
How we learn observable responses.
Skinner
Cognitive Perspective
How we encode, process, store and
retrieve information
Humanistic Perspective
How we meet our needs for love and
acceptance and achieve self-fulfillment
Social-Cultural Perspective
How behavior and thinking vary across
situations and cultures