Chapter 1

Question 1

Anecdotal Evidence

Answer 1

First-hand accounts that vividly describe the experiences of one or a few people, but may erroneously be assumed to be scientific evidence.

Question 2

Applied Psychologists

Answer 2

Area of psychology where the psychologist practice in many specialties, such as industrial/organizational, sports, school, rehabilitation, clinical and counseling, forensic, and environmental psychology.

Question 3

Confirmation Bias

Answer 3

The tendency to gravitate to evidence that complements and confirms our beliefs or expectations, while ignoring evidence that does not.

Question 4

Critical Thinking Skills

Answer 4

When confronting new claims, these 6 scientific questions should be asked: What is the source? Is the claim reasonable or extreme? What is the evidence? Could bias contaminate the conclusion? Does the reasoning avoid common fallacies? Does the issue require multiple perspectives?

Question 5

Emotional Bias

Answer 5

The tendency to make judgments based on attitudes and feelings, rather than on the basis of a rational analysis of the evidence.

Question 6

Experimental Psychologists

Answer 6

Psychologists who primarily do research, but often teach as well.

Question 7

Pseudo-psychology

Answer 7

Psychology that does NOT have solid evidence to back up its claim

Question 8

Psychiatry

Answer 8

A medical specialty that deals especially with mental disorders.

Question 9

Psychology

Answer 9

A science of behavior and mental processes.

Question 10

Teachers of Psychology

Answer 10

Psychologists who teach in a variety of settings, such as colleges, universities, and high schools.

Question 11

Psychology’s 6 Main Perspectives

Answer 11

biological, cognitive, behavioral, whole-person, developmental, and sociocultural perspectives

Question 12

behavioral perspective

Answer 12

A psychological viewpoint that finds the source of our actions in environmental stimuli, rather than in inner mental processes.

Question 13

behaviorism

Answer 13

A historical school (as well as a modern perspective) that has sought to make psychology an objective science by focusing only on behavior—to the exclusion of mental processes.

Question 14

functionalism

Answer 14

A historical school of psychology that believed mental processes could best be understood in terms of their adaptive purpose and function.

Question 15

cognitive perspective

Answer 15

Psychological viewpoint distinguished by an emphasis on mental processes, such as learning, memory, perception, and thinking, as forms of information processing.

Question 16

cross-cultural psychologists

Answer 16

Those who work in this specialty are interested in how psychological processes may differ among people of different cultures.

Question 17

culture

Answer 17

A complex blend of language, beliefs, customs, values, and traditions developed by a group of people and shared with others in the same environment.

Question 18

developmental perspective

Answer 18

A psychological viewpoint, distinguished by its emphasis on nature and nurture and on predictable changes that occur across the lifespan.

Question 19

humanistic psychology

Answer 19

A clinical approach emphasizing human ability, growth, potential, and free will.

Question 20

Necker cube

Answer 20

An ambiguous two-dimensional figure of a cube that can be seen from different perspectives: The Necker cube is used to illustrate the notion that there is no single “right way” to view psychological processes.

Question 21

psychoanalysis

Answer 21

An approach to psychology based on Sigmund Freud’s assertions, which emphasize unconscious processes. The term is used to refer broadly both to Freud’s psychoanalytic theory and to his psychoanalytic treatment method.

Question 22

psychodynamic psychology

Answer 22

A clinical approach emphasizing the understanding of mental disorders in terms of unconscious needs, desires, memories, and conflicts.

Question 23

sociocultural perspective

Answer 23

A main psychological viewpoint emphasizing the importance of social interaction, social learning, and culture in explaining human behavior.

Question 24

trait and temperament psychology

Answer 24

A psychological perspective that views behavior and personality as the products of enduring psychological characteristics.

Question 25

whole-person perspectives

Answer 25

A group of psychological perspectives that take a global view of the person: Included are psychodynamic psychology, humanistic psychology, and trait and temperament psychology.

Question 26

control group

Answer 26

Participants who are used as a comparison for the experimental group. The control group is NOT given the special treatment of interest.

Question 27

correlational study

Answer 27

A form of research in which the relationship between variables is studied, but without the experimental manipulation of an independent variable. Correlational studies cannot determine causeand-effect relationships.

Question 28

data

Answer 28

Pieces of information, especially information gathered by a researcher to be used in testing a hypothesis.

Question 29

dependent variable

Answer 29

The measured outcome of a study; the responses of the subjects in a study. “effect”

Question 30

empirical investigation

Answer 30

An approach to research that relies on sensory experience and observation as research data.

Question 31

case study

Answer 31

Research involving a single individual (or, at most, a few individuals).

Question 32

experimental group

Answer 32

Participants in an experiment who are exposed to the treatment of interest.

Question 33

hypothesis

Answer 33

A statement predicting the outcome of a scientific study; a statement predicting the relationship among variables in a study.

Question 34

independent variable

Answer 34

A stimulus condition so named because the experimenter changes it independently of all the other carefully controlled experimental conditions. “cause”

Question 35

negative correlation

Answer 35

A correlation indicating that the variables change simultaneously in opposite directions: As one becomes larger, the other gets smaller.

Question 36

double-blind study

Answer 36

An experimental procedure in which both researchers and participants are uninformed about the nature of the independent variable being administered.

Question 37

positive correlation

Answer 37

A correlation indicating that the variables change simultaneously in the same direction: As one grows larger or smaller, the other grows or shrinks in a parallel way.

Question 38

expectancy bias

Answer 38

The researcher allowing his or her expectations to affect the outcome of a study.

Question 39

replicate

Answer 39

In research, this refers to doing a study over to see whether the same results are obtained. As a control for bias, replication is often done by someone other than the researcher who performed the original study.

Question 40

scientific method

Answer 40

A four-step process for empirical investigation of a hypothesis under conditions designed to control biases and subjective judgments.

Question 41

theory

Answer 41

A testable explanation for a set of facts or observations. In science, a theory is not just speculation or a guess.

Question 42

zero correlation

Answer 42

When two variables have no relationship to each other.

Question 43

informed consent

Answer 43

Insures that research participants are informed of the procedures of the research, as well as any potential dangers involved, so they may opt out if desired.

Question 44

naturalistic observation

Answer 44

A form of descriptive research involving behavioral assessment of people or animals in their natural surroundings.

Question 45

placebo

Answer 45

Substance that appears to be a drug but is not. Placebos are often referred to as “sugar pills” because they might contain only sugar, rather than a real drug.

Question 46

survey

Answer 46

A technique used in descriptive research, typically involving seeking people’s responses to a prepared set of verbal or written items.

Question 47

scientific method

Answer 47

A four-step process for empirical investigation of a hypothesis under conditions designed to control biases and subjective judgments. (hypothesis, collect data, analyze results, publish/replicate)

Question 48

survey

Answer 48

A technique used in descriptive research, typically involving seeking people’s responses to a prepared set of verbal or written items.