PSY quiz chapter 1

cognitive perspective

Looks at mental processes to understand human nature Studies those things that are referred to as the mind Rooted in: Socrates advice, structuralism, functionalism, gestalt psychology

representation samples

allow generalization of findings

Ethics of research with humans

According to the APA's ethical standards, psychologists may use deception when: they believe the benefits outweigh the harm they believe the individuals might have been willing to participate if they had understood the benefits of the research participants are debriefed later Ethics review committee and ethical standards: review proposed studied according to ethical guidelines before granting approval weigh the potential benefits of research against the potential harm Individuals need to provide informed consent before participation records of research participants and clients are kept confidential.

Theory

Allows one to: Propose reasons for relationships among events, derive explanations, make predictions psychological theories combine statements about behavior, mental processes, and biological processes

As the founder of psychoanalysis, who is often the first person that comes to mind when people are asked to name a psychologist?

Aristotle Socrates Charles Darwin Sigmund Freud

Ancient Contributors to Psychology

Aristotle: Science could rationally treat only information gathered by the senses. Explored the nature of cause and effect Democritus: Think of behavior in terms of a body and a mind Socrates: Introspection: Deliberately looking into one's own cognitive processes to examine one's thoughts and emotions

What do Psychologist do?

Conduct research (Pure research and Applied research), practice psychology, teach.

We know the importance of critical thinking in experimentation and in science but does it apply to daily living? Why is it important to use critical thinking processes when using the Internet for research? How can we be sure the research we are finding is valid, accurate, and an unbiased source of information?

Critical thinking applies to many aspects of daily living, and certainly to the use of the Internet. Be skeptical if information on the Internet and know your sources. Do they use evidence, are terms defined and used correctly? What point of view does the argument take, and is the opposite point of view considered? Is information generalized or taken out of context? There are many ways to apply critical thinking skills to your use of the Internet.

correlation coefficient

Expresses strength and direction of the relationship between variables Suggests but does not prove, cause and effect

Steps in the scientific method

Formulate a research question state the hypothesis test the hypothesis draw conclusions based on findings- apply critical thinking do not confuse correlation with cause and effect consider the selection factor in correlations

Behaviorism

Founded by John Broadus Warson Focus is on learning observable behaviors (behaviors measured by specialized instruments) B.F. Skinner believed that learned behavior is behavior that is reinforced Reinforcement: stimulus that follows a response and increases frequency of the response

Gestalt Psychology

Founded by Max Wertheimer, Kept Koffka and Wolfgang Kohler Focuses on perception and its influence on thinking and problem solving perceptions are more than the sum of their parts learning is active and purposeful accomplished by insight and not mechanical repetition

Which field of psychology is most likely to predict how we shop and what influences our buying behaviors?

Human factors Consumer Social Personality

Charles Darwin

Most adaptive organism manages to mature and reproduce

Sample and populations

Sample-segment of population. sample must be drawn in a way that it accurately represents that population. if you wanted a sample of 20-25 year olds, using university students would not be an accurate sample

Structuralism

School of psychology that argues that the mind consists of three basic elements sensations feelings images Wilhelm Wundt

Biological Perspective

Seeks relationships between: Brian, hormones, heredity, and evolution behavior and mental processes

People who offer or volunteer to participate in research studies differ systematically from people who do not. How might such volunteers differ from the population at large? How might such differences slant or bias the research outcome?

Studies may be influenced by volunteer bias. People who offer or volunteer to participate in research studies differ systematically from people who do not. Volunteers may also be more interested in research than other people, as well as have more spare time. How might such volunteers differ from the population at large? How might such differences slant or bias the research outcomes?

Why is it important to maintain the highest in ethical standards during research? Can you offer examples of when research was conducted and participants did not know they were part of a research project? Does informed consent do enough to insure ethical standards are met in research?

While each of us has different experience with experimentation and the concept of informed consent, think about the consent you give on a regular basis. When visiting a website do you "agree" or "accept" all the information so that you can continue on the site? Did you actually read it? Think about how informed a person really is, when they agree to or accept the notion of informed consent.

ethics of research with animals

animals are used when research cannot be carried out with humans animals may be harmed only when: there is no alternative, benefits of the research justify the harm

methods of observation

case studies- gather information about individuals or small groups- clinical studies- often used to examine rare situations or uncommon occurrences ' surveys- used to collect information that cannot be observed directly or studied experimentally

Population

complete group of interest

Principles of critical thinking

critical thinking- a way of evaluating the claims and comments of other people that involve skepticism and examination of evidence Be skeptical: Keep an open mind. Accept nothing is true until you have examined the evidence. Insist on evidence: Is everything you see online true. How do you decide? Examine definitions of terms: somethings are true in one context but not another Examine the assumptions or premises of arguments. Be cautious in drawing conclusions from evidence: Be sure you really have cause and effect before drawing conclusions Be skeptical of anecdotes: what makes this true or correct? Consider alternative interpretations of research evidence: Look for a true correlation, and look for reason why something might not be true Do not oversimplify: Human behavior is complex and reasons for a behavior vary by person Do not overgeneralize: while animals are often used in experiments, they are not humans Apply critical thinking to all areas of life

What is the preferred method for answer questions about cause and effect relationships?

d. Experiments The preferred method for answering questions about cause and effect is the experiment. A well conducted experiment will consider independent and dependent variables and include the experiment group in addition to a control group. The use of a placebo should be included as well. Experiments can be blind studies, or double blind studies?

the experimental method

demonstrates cause and effect through scientific method with the help of: independent and dependent variables, experimental and control groups, blind studies, placebo which as administered on the participants, double blind study- both participants and observers are unaware of who is receiving a treatment and who is taking placebo

The sociocultural perspective

focuses on the influence of ethnicity gender culture and socioeconomic status on behavior and mental processes Ethnicity: members of an ethnic group share, cultural heritage, race, language, or history Gender: Culturally defined concepts of masculinity and femininity, involves cultural expectations and social roles

correlation

follows observation correlation allows psychologist to investigate relationship between learned behavior or measured traits

Psychoanalysis

founded by Sigmund Freud Theory of personality: Proposes that people lives are influenced by unconscious ideas Method of psychotherapy:helps patients gain insight, seeks socially acceptable ways to express wishes and gratify need

Functionalism

founded by William James Focused on behavior in addition to the mind or consciousness used direct observations to supplement introspection influenced by Darwins theory of evolution

the humanistic-existential perspective

humanism- stresses on human capacity for self-fulfillment, roles of consciousness, self-awareness, and decision making existentialism- stresses on free choice and holds people responsible for the choices made based on the works of carl Rogers and Abraham Maslow

the psychodynamic Perspective

neoanalysts- contemporary psychologists who follow theories derived from freud Famous psychologists include Karen Horney and Erik Erikson Focus more on conscious choice and self direction than unconscious processes

naturalistic observation

observe subjects in their natural environment, unobtrusive measure

Adaptive behavior

patterns are learned and maintained

Problems in generalizing psychological research

random sample- each member of a population has an equal chance of selection stratified sample: subgroups are represented proportionally volunteer bias: bias represented by studying people who to volunteer to participate

Psychology

the scientific study of behavior and mental processes. Goals: to describe, explain, predict and control behavior and mental processes