Chapter 1 Intro to Psychology Terms

Question 1

Psychology

Answer 1

The scientific study of behaviour and mental processes

Question 2

Theory

Answer 2

A general principle or set f principles that explains how a number of separate facts are related to one and other.

Question 3

Basic Research

Answer 3

Research conducted for the purpose of advancing knowledge than for its practical application.

Question 4

Applied Research

Answer 4

Research conducted for the purpose of solving practical problems.

Question 5

Naturalistic Observation

Answer 5

A research Method in which researchers observe and record behaviour without trying to influence or control it

Question 6

Case Study

Answer 6

An in-depth study of one or more or a few participants consisting of information gathered through observation., interviews and psychological testing.

Question 7

Survey

Answer 7

A method whereby the researchers use interviews and or questionnaires to gather information about the attitudes beliefs, experiences, or behaviours of a group of people

Question 8

Population

Answer 8

The entire group of interest to researchers to which they wish to generalize their findings; the group from which a sample is selected

Question 9

Sample

Answer 9

The portion of any population that is selected for study and from which generalizations are made about the larger populations

Question 10

Representative Sample

Answer 10

A sample of participants selected from the larger population in such a way that important subgroups within the population are included in the sample in the same proportions as they are found in the larger population.

Question 11

Correlational Method

Answer 11

A research method used to establish the relationship (correlation) between two characteristics, events, or behaviours.

Question 12

Correlation coefficient

Answer 12

A numerical value that indicates the strength and direction of the relationship between two variables; ranges from +1.00 a perfect correlation to -1.00 a perfect negative correlation.

Question 13

Experimental Method

Answer 13

The Research Method whereby researchers randomly assign participants to groups and control all conditions other than one or more independent variables, which are then manipulated to determine their effect on some behaviour measured - the dependent variable in the experiment.

Question 14

hypothesis

Answer 14

A prediction about the relationship between two variables

Question 15

Independent Variable

Answer 15

In an experiment, the factors or conditions that the researcher manipulates (the treatment) in order to determine their effect on ano0ther behaviour or condition, known as the dependent variable.

Question 16

Dependent Variable

Answer 16

The variable that is measured at the end of an experiment and that is presumed to vary as a result of manipulations of the independent variable

Question 17

Experimental Group

Answer 17

In an Experiment, the group of participants that is exposed to the independent variable or treatment.

Question 18

Control Group

Answer 18

In an experiment, a group that is similar to the experimental group and that is exposed to the same experimental environment but is not exposed to the independent variable; used for purposed of comparison.

Question 19

Selection Bias

Answer 19

The assignment of participants to experimental or control groups in such a way that systematic differences among the groups are present at the beginning of the experiment.

Question 20

Random Assignment

Answer 20

In an experiment, the assignment of participants to experimental and control groups through a chance procedure, which guarantees that all participants have an equal probability of being placed in any of the groups; a control for selection bias.

Question 21

Placebo Effect

Answer 21

The phenomenon that occurs when a persons response to a treatment (or response to the independent variable in an experiment) is due to expectations regarding the treatment rather than to the treatment itself.

Question 22

Placebo

Answer 22

Some inert substance, such as a sugar pill or an injection of saline solution, given to the control group in an experiment as a control for the placebo effect.

Question 23

Experimenter Bias

Answer 23

A phenomenon that occurs when the researchers preconceived notions in some way influence the participants behaviour and/or the interpretation of experimental results

Question 24

Double-blind study

Answer 24

An experimental procedure in which neither the participants not the experimenters know who is in the experimental group and control groups until the results gave been gathered; a control for experimenter bias.

Question 25

Reliability

Answer 25

The ability of a test to yield nearly the same scores when the same people are tested and then retested using the same test or an alternative form of the test.

Question 26

Validity

Answer 26

The ability of a test to measure what it is intended to measure.

Question 27

Structuralism

Answer 27

The first formal school of psychology, aimed at analyzing the basic elements, or the structure of conscious mental experiences through the use of introspection.

Question 28

Functionalism

Answer 28

An early school of psychology that was concerned with how mental processes help humans and animals adapt to the environments; developed as a reaction against structuralism.

Question 29

Gestalt Psychology

Answer 29

The school of psychology that emphasizes that individuals perceive objects and patterns as whole units and that the perceived whole is more than just a sum of its parts.

Question 30

Behaviourism

Answer 30

The school of psychology founded by John B. Watson that views observable, measurable behaviour as the appropriate subject matter for psychology and emphasizes the role of environment as a determinant of behaviour.

Question 31

Psychoanalysis

Answer 31

The term Freud used for both his theory of personality and his theory for the treatment of psychological disorders; the unconscious is the primary focus of psychoanalytic theory.

Question 32

Humanistic Psychology

Answer 32

The school of psychology that focuses on the uniqueness of human beings and their capacity for choice, growth, and psychological health.

Question 33

Cognitive Psychology

Answer 33

A specialty that studies meant processes such as memory, problem solving, reasoning and decision making, language, perception, and other forms of cognition; often used the information- processing approach.

Question 34

Biological Perspective

Answer 34

A perspective that emphasizes biological processes and heredity as the keys to understanding behaviour.

Question 35

Evolutionary Perspective

Answer 35

A perspective that focuses on how humans have evolved and adapted behaviours required for survival against various environmental pressures over the long course of evolution.

Question 36

Sociocultural Perspective

Answer 36

A perspective that emphasizes social and cultural influences on human behaviour and stresses the importance of understanding those influences when we interpret the behaviour of others.