Experimental Psychology Exam One Flashcards
(74 cards)
What are the three key components emphasized in scientific research?
Curiosity, creativity, and commitment
These components are essential for driving scientific inquiry and exploration.
Define science in the context of research.
A combination of rationalism and empiricism
Science is not defined by technology or accomplishments but by its way of thinking.
List the methods used to acquire knowledge.
- Tenacity
- Intuition
- Authority
- Rationalism
- Empiricism
- Science
Each method represents a different perspective on how knowledge can be gained.
What is rationalism?
Using reason (logic) to derive new knowledge from old knowledge
Reliable conclusions can be derived from established facts using logic.
What is the limitation of rationalism?
Has no way of verifying the accuracy of the facts
While it helps in deriving conclusions, it cannot confirm if the initial facts are correct.
What does empiricism emphasize?
Observational evidence
It allows for the study of both observable phenomena and indirect evidence.
True or False: Science is often thought of as the opposite of art.
True
However, this dichotomy is false as both share a creative drive to understand reality.
What significant contributions did the Greeks make to science?
- Thales combined rationalism and empiricism
- Strato introduced experimentation
- Emphasis on rationalism by Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle
Greek philosophers laid foundational principles for scientific thought.
What was the focus of medieval science?
Research in the service of religion
It aimed to demonstrate the hand of God, though it often clashed with scientific inquiry.
Who established the first psychology laboratory and when?
Wilhelm Wundt in 1879
This marked a significant milestone in the establishment of psychology as a scientific discipline.
What perspective in psychology focuses on the structure of consciousness?
Structuralism
Primarily associated with Wundt and his students.
What is Functionalism in psychology?
Understanding the function and practical applications of human behavior
This perspective was primarily an American approach to psychology.
Fill in the blank: The first African American to earn a Ph.D. in psychology was _______.
Francis Cecil Sumner
He paved the way for future generations of psychologists.
What did Kenneth and Mamie Phipps Clark study?
Racial identity in children
Their research was influential in the Supreme Court’s decision to outlaw school segregation.
What is the role of ethics in scientific research?
Critical in modern science, including psychology
Psychologists must understand and respect their ethical obligations.
Who is known as the father of clinical psychology?
E. L. Whitmer
He established the first psychological clinic for treating mentally retarded and disturbed children.
What is the systematic, objective study of behavior known as?
Science of Psychology
This definition emphasizes the importance of rigorous methods in psychological research.
What are the assumptions of science?
- A true, physical universe exists
- The universe is essentially orderly
- The principles that define the functioning of the universe can be discovered
- All ideas are tentative, potentially changed by new information
These assumptions underlie all scientific thinking.
Define ‘facts’ in the context of psychology.
Events that can be observed
Most “facts” of psychology are behaviors.
What is a ‘construct’ in psychological research?
Inferred from observations and constructed by researchers to explain the observations
Examples include memory, emotion, and personality.
What is reification of a construct?
Incorrectly believing the construct is a fact.
What is inductive thinking?
From the specific instance to the general theory.
What is deductive thinking?
From the general theory to the specific instance to make predictions.
