Psychology study sheet CH. 1-4
Random assignment
Researchers assign participants to groups by chance.
Confidentiality
Researches are responsible for keeping all the data they gather on individuals completely confidential. Making the person completely anonymous.
Hypothalamus
Small forebrain structure located just below the thalamus that monitors three pleasurable activities. eating. drinking, and sex
Neurochemical messengers
Some neurotransmitters are both excitatory and inhibitory.
Partietal lobes
Structures at the top and toward the rear of the head that are involved in registering spatial location, attention, and motor control
temporal lobes
Structures in the cerebral cortex that are located just above the ears and are involved in hearing language processing and memory.
Occipital lobes
Structures located at the back of the head that respond to visual stimuli.
Psychology
Study of behavior & mental processes
Third variable problem
The circumstance where a variable that has not been measured accounts for the relationship between two other variables. These are known as CONFOUNDS.
External Validity
The degree to which an experimental design actually reflects the real- world issues it is supposed to address.
Internal Validity
The degree to which changes in the dependent variable are due to the manipulation of the independent variable.
Population
The entire group about which the investigator wants to draw conclusions
Thalamus
The forebrain structure that sits at the top of the brain stem in the brain's central core and serves as an important relay station
Experimenter bias
The influence of the experimenter's expectations on the outcome of research.
Dependent variable
The outcome- the factor that can change in an experiment in response to changes in the independent variable.
Neocortex
The outermost part of the cerebral cortex making 80 percent of the human brain's cortex.
Control group
The participants in an experiment who are as much like the experimental group as possible and who are treated in every way like the experimental group except for a manipulated factor.
Experimental group
The participants in an experiment who receive the drug or other treatment under study--that is, those who are exposed to the change that the independent variable represents.
Frontal lobes
The portion of the cerebral cortex behind the forehead involves in personality, intelligence and the control of voluntary muscles.
Critical thinking
The process of thinking deeply and activity, asking questions, and evaluating the evidence.
Glial cells
The second type of two types of cells in the nervous system. Provide support, nutritional benefits and other functions and keep neurons running smoothly.
limbic system
a loosely connected network of structures under the cereal cortex, important in both memory and emotion. It's two principal structures are the amygdala and hippocampus
Longitudinal design
a systematic observation, used by correlation researchers, that involves obtaining measures of the variables of interest in multiple waves over time.
Brain lesioning
abnormal disruption in the tissue of the brain resulting from injury or disease. Surgically removing tissue.
Experimental research
concerns establishing casual relationships between variables. (If we make men smile, do women perceive them as more attractive?)
Correlation research
discovering relationships between variables ( married men happier than single men?) Longitudinal design involved.
stressors
events that threaten individuals and tax their coping abilities and that cause physiological changes to ready the body.
Somatic nervous system
function is to convey info from the skin and muscles to the CNS about conditions such as pain and temperature. (breaking a bone, "it's hot outside")
Case studies
in depth look at single individual.
Amygdala
in temporal lobe involved with the discrimination of objects that are necessary for the organism's survival.
Cerebral cortex
in the forebrain (the outer layer) responsible for the most complex mental functions such as thinking and planning
Debriefing
inform the participants of its purpose and the methods they used.
neural networks
integrate sensory input and motor output.
Descriptive research
involves finding out about the basic dimensions of some variable. ( average level of happiness of men in the US) It allows getting a sense of something buy cannot answer questions about how and why things are.
Forebrain
largest division and the forward part of the brain. Understanding what all of these terms and parts of the brain mean.
Midbrain
located between hindbrain and forebrain, many nerve- fiber systems ascend and descend to connect the higher and lower portions of the brain.
HindBrain
located in the rear; has 3 main parts, medulla, cerebellum, and pons. developed first.
stress
response of individuals to environmental stressors.
Afferent nerves
sensory nerves; that carry info about the external environment to the brain and spinal cord (sensory receptors)
Functionalism
(James) Probed the functions & purposes of the mind and behavior in the individuals adaptation to the environment. (Why) (purpose of thought based on outside environment or situations occurring)
Structuralism
(Wundt's) approach to discovering basic elements , or structures of mental processes. ( structure of the mind) (What) (identifying structures)
reticular information
A system in the midbrain comprising a diffuse collection of neurons involved in stereotyped patterns of behavior such as walking , sleeping, and turning to attend to a sudden noise.
Hypothesis
A testable prediction that derives logically from a theory.
Shannon is nervous for studying a test. Terrell got in a car crash. Who is more likely to get a cold next semester. A. Shannon experienced chronic stress. B. Terrell experienced acute stress. C. Shannon experienced acute stress. D. Terrell experienced chronic stress.
A. Shannon experienced chronic stress.
The one correct statement among the following is A. there are many controversies in the field of Psychology. B. psychologists on the whole agree among themselves on most aspects of the field. C. psychologists do not engage in critical thinking. D. there are few controversies in the field of psychology.
A. There are MANY controversies in the field of Psychology.
Informed consent
All participants must know what their participation will involve and what risks might develop
Peripheral Nervous system (PNS)
All the OTHER nerves CONNECTING to the Brian and spinal cord.
Demand characteristics
Any aspects of a study that communicate to the participants how the experimenter wants them to behave.
Variable
Anything that can change.
Bob wants to determine whether emotional expression is healthy and if it has an influence on wellbeing. Jim is interested in describing the types of emotions people express and building a catalog go all the emotions and emotional expressions that exists. Bob is most like ________ Jim is most like_________ A. Wundt; James B. James; Wundt C. Wundt; Freud D. Freud; Wundt
B. Bob is most like James Jim is most like Wundt
Charles Darwin's work is relevant to psychology because A. Darwin's research demonstrates that there are few differences between humans and animals B. Darwin's principal of natural selection suggests that human behavior is partially a result of efforts to survive. C. Darwin stated that humans descended from apes, a principle that allows psychologists to understand human behavior. D. Darwin created functionalism.
B. Darwin's principal of natural selection suggests that human behavior is partially a result of efforts to survive.
Which of the following statements is correct? A. Only correlational research allows researchers to determine causality B. Only experimental research allows researchers to determine causality C. Both correlational and experimental research allow researchers to determine causality. D. Neither correlational nor experimental research allows researchers to determine causality.
B. Only experimental research allows researchers to determine causality
Paul believes that physically attractive people are selfish. He goes up to 5 good looking people and asks them for spare change. They all turn him down. Paul concludes that all attractive people are selfish. The operational definition of selfish in Paul's study is A. Physical attractiveness B. Whether people gave Paul spare change. C. Whether Paul thought the person was attractive or. D. Asking for spare change
B. Whether people gave Paul spare change.
A correlation of 2.67 indicates A. a strong positive relationship B. a strong negative relationship C. a weak positive relationship D. a weak negative relationship.
B. a strong negative relationship
The characteristics that that allow the nervous system to direct behavior are its complexity, integration, electrochemical transmission, and A. constancy B. adaptability C. sensitivity D. fight or flight response.
B. adaptability
The last step in the scientific method and one that never ends, is A. drawing conclusions B. evaluating conclusions C. testing through empirical research D. running a statistical analysis
B. evaluating conclusions.
A study on obesity had four groups, each with a different assignment. One group of participants read a brochure about diet and nutrition' another group had a 30 min nutrition counseling session; a third group read the newspaper; a fourth group watched a video about exercise and fitness. The control group is A. the group that had a counseling session B. the group that read the newspaper C. the group that read the brochure D. the group that watched the video
B. the group that read the newspaper
Central nervous system (CNS)
Brain and spinal cord
Of the following, the characteristic that is not the heart of the scientific approach is A. Skepticism B. Critical Thinking C. Prejudging D. Curiosity
C. prejudging is NOT the heart of a scientific approach.
When you are in danger, the part of the nervous system that is responsible for an increase in your heart rate is the A. CNS B. PNS. C. sympathetic nervous system D. parasympathetic nervous system
C. sympathetic nervous system
Brain imaging
CAT scans, PET scans, MRI
Descriptive Research includes Observation, surveys and interviews, and _____
Case studies.
Neurotransmitters
Chemical substances that are stored in very tiny scars within the terminal buttons and involved in transmitting information across a synaptic gap to the next neuron.
autonomic nervous system
takes messages to and from the body's internal organs, (Breathing, heart rate, and digestion)
Plasticity
the brains special capacity for change.
Axon
the part of the neuron that carries info away from the cell body toward other cells
Synapses
tiny spaces between neurons the gaps between neurons
Confederate
A person who is given a role to play in a study so that the social context can be manipulated.
Sympathetic nervous system
Nervous system allows body to mobilize (flight or fight response)
parasympathetic nervous system
Nervous system that calms the body.
Electrical recording
Records the brains electrical activity.
Independent variable
A manipulated experimental factor, the variable that the experimenter changes to see what its effects are.
Theory
A broad idea or set of closely related ideas that attempts to explain observations and to make predictions about future observations.
Operational definition
A definition that provides an objective description of how a variable is going to be measured and observed in a study. Eliminates fuzziness in a problem.
Antagonist
A drug that blocks a neurotransmitters effects
Agonist
A drug that mimics or increases a neurotransmitter's effects.
Myelin sheath
A layer of fat cells that encases and insulates most axons
Any changeable phenomenon that a scientist studies is called a A. differential B. Predictor C. Variation. D. Variable
D. Any changeable phenomenon that a scientist studies is called a Variable.
The law stating that once the electrical impulse reaches its threshold, it fires and moves down the axon without losing intensity is called. A. neurotransmission B. the action potential C. the neural impulse D. The all or nothing principal
D. The all or nothing principal
The statement " I believe this research will demonstrate that students who study in groups will get better grades than those who study alone" is an example of A. a theory B. an observation C. a conclusion D. a hypothesis
D. a hypothesis
The part of the neuron that carries information away from the cell body toward other cells is the A. dendrite B. synapse C. nucleus D. axon
D. axon
Neural networks are networks of nerve cells that integrate A. the fight or flight response B. electrochemical transmissions C. bodily processes such as heart rate and digestion D. motor output
D. motor output
Deception
Researcher deceives participants about the purpose of the study.
Behavior
Everything we do that can be directly observed.
Empirical Method
Gaining knowledge through the observation of events, the collection of data, and logical reasoning.
Research participant bias
In an experiment the influence of participants expectations, and of their thoughts about how they should behave on their behavior.
Quasi-Experimental Design
It does not include random assignment of participants to a condition, because such assignment is either impossible or unethical. Examines differences between groups of people who have different experiences.
Basal ganglia
Large neuron clusters located above the thalamus and under the cerebral cortex that work with the cerebellum and the cerebral cortex to control and coordinate voluntary movements
Efferent nerves
Motor nerves; carry info out of the brain and spinal cord to other areas of the body.
Double blind experiment
Neither the experimenter nor the participants are aware of which participants are in the experimental group and which are in the control group until the results are calculated.
Placebo effect
Participants expectations rather than the experimental treatment produce an experimental outcome.
Validity
The soundness of the conclusions that a researcher draws from a experiment.
Hippocampus
The structure in the limbic system that has a special role in the storage of memories.
sample
The subset of the population chosen by the investigator for study
Mental Processes
Thoughts, feelings, & motives
Dendrites
Treelike fibers projecting from a neuron which receive information and orient it toward the neuron's cell body.
Experiment
a carefully regulated procedure in which the researcher manipulates one or more variables that are believes to influence some other variables.
Neurons
nerve cells that handle the info processing function
Cell body
part of the neuron that contains the nucleus which directs the manufacture of the substances that the neuron needs for growth and maintenance.
Within participant design
participants serve as their own control group. A researcher has the same group of participants experience the various conditions in the study.
