Critical Thinking Flashcards
(26 cards)
What is an independent variable?
The factor that is manipulated or controlled by the experimenter
What is an dependent variable?
The factor that is measured by the experimenter
Define Monism
The mind and brain function as one
Define Dualism?
The mind and brain function separately
Define the Mind Body Problem?
How do mental states and physical states (human body is physical but the mind is not)
Name the theorist and concept of Phrenology
Franz Gall states that the shape and size of the human brain determines our cognitive and mental abilities
What is statistical significance in an experiment?
What percentage is set of the chance of a result occurring?
What does it mean if it is or is not significant?
Means that it is very unlikely that a given finding occurred by chance.
Psychologists set chance at a result occurring 5 times out of 100, or 5%.
Changed significantly - we assess that what we manipulated has had meaningful consequence.
Changed but no significant - may be related to just change fluctuation, can’t assert with confidence that it’s the thing we manipulated that caused the change.
List our Unconscious and Conscious motivations (Psychodynamic)
ID: Unconscious desires and impulses
EGO: Conscious decision maker, weighs ID and Super Ego
SUPER EGO: Conscious moral value store
What is the cognitive approach to psychology?
The brain is a processor thats mental processes effects beaviour. These processes can be measured by performance and ability
What is the biological approach to psychology?
The brain processes bodily functions to regulate behaviours (genetic factors apply)
Define Neuroscience
Physiological functions underly mental processes involving neurotransmitters
What is the behavioural perspective of psychology?
Environmental control of learning through behaviour
List the types of behavioural psychology and their theorists
Tabula Rose - Locke
Classical Conditioning - Pavlov/Watson
Law of Effect - Thorndike
Operant Conditioning - Skinner
What is behaviour modification?
Decreasing a person’s problem behaviours and increasing their positive behaviours through a manipulation of the environment
Define Psychology (modern)
The scientific study of behaviour and the mind
Define Behaviour
An action/response that can be observed by another person
Define the mind (modern)
Our mental states and processes which can be approached biologically and cognitively
What is standard deviation?
How much of that data is close to that mean?
What is a t-test?
What does p<0.5 and p>0.5 mean?
A value, t, representing the size of difference between conditions
p<0.5= not significant
p>0.5 = significant
Name a strength and limitation of correlational study
S: Tests predictions, evaluates theories
L: Can’t confirm casual relationships
What is the purpose of an observational study
Observes particular behaviours within naturalistic and unobtrusive environments
Name a strength and limitation of observational study
S: Descriptive data for behaviours
L: Observer effect, participants can be self-aware
What is the purpose of a case study
An intensive study on a particular person, group and event by using archival research
Name a strength and limitation of case studies
S: Detailed
L: Hard to generalise
