Flashcards in Exam 1 Deck (57)
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1
the study of behavior and mental processes across the lifespan using a scientific approach
psychology
2
defined by empiricism and appropriate skepticism; produces facts
science
3
an abstract concept that refers to ways in which questions are asked and the logic and methods used to gain answers; used by psychologists with empiricism and skepticism
scientific method / approach
4
claims based on evidence and evidence derived from observation and experimentation / emphasizes direct observation and experimentation as a way of answering questions; the most important characteristic of the scientific method; using this, psychologists focused on behaviors and experiences that could be observed directly
empiricism / empirical approach
5
skeptical of all types of claims, especially personal anecdotes, experiences, and/or gut intuitions (but not to the point of ignoring when evidence converges)
"appropriate" skepticism
6
the spirit of the times; the trend of the time; reflects how people are thinking; attitude toward different things
zeitgeist
7
Western, Educated, Industrialized, Rich, and Democratic countries; where most of the participants in psychological research come from; this skews research findings, and therefore, we need to be cautious about our interpretations of findings
WEIRDos
8
can occur when researchers fail to recognize when experiences and values of their own culture affect their interpretations of behavior observed in other cultures (eg: research involving Americans applied to other cultures leads to potential of this)
ethnocentric bias
9
our natural tendency to seek evidence that's consistent with our intuitions and ignore or deny contradictory evidence; selectively accepting evidence that confirms an already held belief and dismissing evidence that counters that belief; must try to disprove "facts," which is where the null hypothesis comes in; influences the choices people make and motivates them to avoid info that challenges them, even when doing so causes them to be wrong
confirmation bias
10
a tendency to perceive relationships between events when none exists (eg: remembering things that are consistent w/ expectation in a memory test -- gender stereotype test)
illusory correlation
11
a claim, belief, or practice presented as scientific, but which does not adhere to the scientific method; a field, practice, or body of knowledge can reasonably be called pseudoscientific when it is presented as consistent with the norms of scientific research, but it demonstrably fails to meet these norms
pseudoscience
12
1) description
2) prediction
3) explanation
4) application
goals of the scientific method
13
when two different variables measuring the same people, events, or things vary together
correlation
14
when scores on one variable tend to be associated with scores on another variable; when two events vary together; when one changes, the other must also change; when particular scores on one variable tend to be associated with particular scores on another variable; first condition of a causal inference
covariation
15
aka contingency; the presumed cause must occur before the presumed effect; 2nd condition of a causal interference
time-order relationship
16
occurs when two potentially effective IVs are allowed to covary simultaneously; when this happens, it's impossible to determine what variable is responsible for any obtained difference in performance
confounding variable
17
psychologists primarily seek to understand behavior and mental processes; seeking knowledge for its own sake, typically carried out in a lab setting with the goal of testing a theory about a phenomenon
basic research
18
psychologists conduct research in order to change people's lives for the better; done in a variety of settings
applied research
19
searching for an answer using various research methodologies and measures of behavior; any one method or measure of behavior may be flawed or incomplete in its ability to answer research questions fully, and when researchers use multiple methods, the flaws associated with any particular method are surmounted by other methods that "fill in the gaps"; enables researchers to obtain a more complete understanding of behavior and mental processes
multimethod approach
20
a concept or idea (intelligence, memory, depression, aggression, etc.); given meaning through an OD
construct
21
explains a concept solely in terms of the observable procedures used to produce and measure it; facilitates communication
operational definition
22
tentative explanation for a phenomenon; often stated in form of a prediction for some outcome along with an explanation for the prediction
(starts with a grasp of the existing research; offers a relationship between variables; must be testable/constructs adequately defined; is not circular; is falsifiable / ideas are recognized by science)
hypothesis (and what makes a good hypothesis)
23
indicated by consistency (works consistently, results show high level of agreement, etc.); just bc something is this doesn't mean it's the other
reliability
24
truthfulness of a measure; measures what it claims to measure; supported when people so as well on it as on other tasks presumed to measure the same construct
validity
25
connection to the real-world; the extent to which the results of a study can be generalized to other situations and to other people
external validity
26
produces verbal summaries of research findings with few statistical summaries or analysis; focuses on events and their context
qualitative research
27
studies in which the findings are described using statistical summary and analysis; used more frequently than the other; research that is translated into and analyzed as numerical
quantitative research
28
scientists manipulate one or more factors and observe the effects of this manipulation on behavior
experiment
29
element investigated in studies that is manipulated, compared, or controlled; a factor that changes
variable
30
