Chapter 1 Thinking Critically With Psychological Science

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dependent variable

The experimental factor that is being measured; the variable that may change in response to manipulations of the independent variable

random assignment

assigning participants to experimental and control conditions by chance, thus minimizing preexisting differences between those assigned to the different groups

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

testing efect

enhanced memory after retrieving, rather than simply rereading, information

informed consent

giving potential participants enough information about a study to enable them to choose whether they wish to participate

Humanistic Psychology

historically significant perspective that emphasized human growth potential.

independent variable

in an experiment, the factor that is manipulated; the variable whose effect is being studied

The __________________ refers to the most frequent score in a set.

mode

basic research

pure science that aims to increase the scientific knowledge base

Replication

repeating the essence of a research study, usually with different participants in different situations, to see whether the basic finding extends to other participants and circumstances

applied research

scientific study that aims to solve practical problems

Levels of analysis

the differing complementary views, from biological to psychological to social-cultural, for analyzing any given phenomenon.

Culture

the enduring behaviors, ideas, attitudes, values, and traditions shared by a group of people and transmitted from one generation to the next.

Cognitive neuroscience

the interdisciplinary study of the brain activity linked with cognition (including perception, thinking, memory, and language)

Nature-nurture issue

the longstanding controversy over the relative contributions that genes and experience make to the development of psychological traits and behaviors. Today's science sees traits and behaviors arising from the interaction of nature and nurture.

debriefing

the post-experimental explanation of a study, including its purpose and any deceptions, to its participants

Natural selection

the principle that those chance inherited traits that better enable an organism to survive and reproduce in a particular environment will most likely be passed on to succeeding generations.

Psychology

the science of behavior and mental processes.

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.

Evolutionary Psychology

the study of the evolution of behavior and the mind, using principles of natural selection.

Behavior Genetics

the study of the relative power and limits of genetic and environmental influences on behavior.

hindsight bias

the tendency to believe, after learning an outcome, that one would have foreseen it.

Behaviorism

the view that psychology 1) should be an objective science that 2) studies behavior without reference to mental processes. Most psychologists today agree with 1) but not with 2).

Correlation

A measure of the extent to which two factors vary together, and thus of how well either factor predicts the other.

experiment

A research method in which an investigator manipulates one or more factors to observe the effect on some behavior or mental process

Hypothesis

A testable prediction, often implied by a theory

A __________________ psychologist might study ways that we can change schools and neighborhoods to reduce bullying.

Community

Functionalism

Early school of thought promoted by James and influenced by Darwin; explored how mental and behavioral processes function-how they enable the organism to adapt, survive, and flourish.

Structuralism

Early school of thought promoted by Wundt and Titchener; used introspection to reveal the structure of the human mind.

Which psychological perspective uses Darwin's principles of natural selection to help understand human behavior and the mind?

Evolutionary psychology

The purpose of laboratory experiments is to re-create the exact behaviors that people demonstrate in everyday life.

False

There are safeguards in place to protect the well-being of ________________ in research.

Humans and animals

experimental group

In an experiment, the group that is exposed to the treatment, that is, to one version 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.

Psychologists must be very careful about how they phrase their survey questions because subtle differences in wording can affect how people answer these questions.

True

The first female president of the American Psychological Association (APA) was ________________.

Mary Whiton Calkins

The careful statement or description of the exact procedures that a psychologist uses in a research study is called a(n):

Operational definition

A person who feels more energetic and alert after drinking a decaffeinated coffee (a coffee that does not contain the stimulant caffeine) is experiencing a(n):

Placebo effect

Although you are usually a "B" student, you have one amazing (though unusual) week where you received all perfect scores on your papers and exams. The next week, your scores return back to all "Bs." This return to your average can be explained by:

Regression toward the mean.

Critical thinking

Thinking that does not blindly accept arguments and conclusions. Rather, it examines assumptions, appraises the source, discerns hidden biased, evaluates evidence, and assesses conclusions.

psychiatry

a branch of medicine dealing with psychological disorders; practiced by physicians who sometimes provide medical (for example, drug) treatments as well as psychological therapy

counseling psychology

a branch of psychology that assists people with problems in living (often related to school, work, or marriage) and in achieving greater well-being

community psychology

a branch of psychology that studies how people interact with their social environments and how social institutions affect individuals and groups

clinical psychology

a branch of psychology that studies, assesses, and treats people with psychological disorders

operational definition

a carefully worded statement of the exact procedures used in a research study

survey

a descriptive technique for obtaining the self-reported attitudes or behaviors of a particular group, usually by questioning a representative, random sample of the group

case study

a descriptive technique in which one individual or group is studied in depth in the hope of revealing universal principles

natural selection

a descriptive technique of observing and recording behavior in naturally occurring situations without trying to manipulate and control the situation

confounding variable

a factor other than the independent variable that might produce an effect in an experiment

random sample

a sample that fairly represents a population because each member has an equal chance of inclusion

correlation coefficient

a statistical index of the relationship between two things (from -1 to +1)

SQ3R

a study method incorporating five steps: Survey, Question, Read, Retrieve, Review

Population

all those in a group being studied, from which samples may be drawn

intuition

an effortless, immediate, automatic feeling or thought, as contrasted with explicit, conscious reasoning

double-blind procedure

an experimental procedure in which both the research participants and the research staff are ignorant (blind) about whether the research participants have received the treatment or a placebo. Commonly used in drug-evaluation studies.

theory

an explanation using an integrated set of principles that organizes observations and predicts behaviors or events

biopsychosocial approach

an integrated approach that incorporates biological, psychological, and social cultural levels of analysis.


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