This site is 100% ad supported. Please add an exception to adblock for this site.

Psychology Chapter 1

Terms

undefined, object
copy deck
Reliability
A test that gives the same answer no matter who measures it
Finding a lost wallet in the mall is an example of what kind of observation?
Structured observation
What is the range of a correlation coefficient?
0-1, 1 being the strongest relationship
What are the four descriptive methods of research psychologists use?
Naturalistic observation, participant observation, case study, survey research
Case study
A researcher studies an individual in depth over an extended period of time
Sociocultural perspective
Specifically focuses on the impact of other people and our culture as the major determiner of behavior and mental processing
Positive correlation
indicates a direct relationship between 2 variables (when height goes up, weight goes up and vice versa)
What is the range of a correlation coefficient?
0-1, 1 being the strongest relationship
Operational definition
A description of the operations or procedures that a researcher uses to manipulate or measure a variable (ex. aggression= biting, kicking, punching)
Scatterplot
A visual depiction of correlational data in which each data point represents the scores on the two variables for each participant
Participant observation
The observer becomes part of the group being observed
Representative sample
Sample that represents the entire population. A random sample is a representative sample.
Inferential statistical analyses
Statistical analyses that allow researchers to draw conclusions about the results of their studies
Independent variable
The variable that is the hypothesized cause and is manipulated by the experimenter
Operant conditioning
If a person is reinforced for their behavior, there is an increase of occurance. Punished, on the other hand means a decrease of occurance.
When did psychological science begin?
The 1890's
Variable
A quantity that is different between different people, or different within the same person over time
What type of frequency distribution has a high amount of low scores?
Left-skewed
Behavioral perspective
Emphasizes conditioning of our behavior by environmental events, and there is more emphasis on explaining observable behavior than unobservable mental processes
Correlaton coefficient
A statistic that tells us the type and strength of the relationship between two variables
Experimental group
The group exposed to the independent variable
Case study
A researcher studies an individual in depth over an extended period of time
Biological perspective
Our psychological hardware (especially the brain and nervous system) is viewed as the major determiner of behavior and mental processing
What are the four major research perspectives psychologists use?
Biological perspective, cognitive perspective, Behavioral perspective, Sociocultural perspective
Cognitive perspective
Our mental processes, such as perception, memory, and problem solving, work and impact our behavior
Classes skipped and grade have what kind of correlation?
Negative correlation
Scatterplot
A visual depiction of correlational data in which each data point represents the scores on the two variables for each participant
Naturalistic observation
A type of descriptive methods where the behavior of interest is observed in its natural setting, and the researcher doesn't intervene
Random assignment
A control measure in which participants are randomly assigned to groups in order to equalize characteristics across experimental groups
Random assignment
A control measure in which participants are randomly assigned to groups in order to equalize characteristics across experimental groups
Negative correlation
indicates an inverse relationship between 2 variables (hours spent watching TV and SAT scores- one goes up, other goes down)
Third-variable problem
Another variable may be responsible for the relationship observed between two variables
Parsimonious
The simpler theory
What are the 2 things an experiment must have?
1) Manipulation- 2 (or more) groups treated differently. 2) Random assignment of individual participants to groups
What is the range of a correlation coefficient?
0-1, 1 being the strongest relationship
Independent variable
The variable that is the hypothesized cause and is manipulated by the experimenter
Operant conditioning
If a person is reinforced for their behavior, there is an increase of occurance. Punished, on the other hand means a decrease of occurance.
Correlation coefficient
A statistic that tells us the type and strength of the relationship between 2 variables
% numbers in normal dist. (SD's away)
68%, 95%, 99%
What makes a good theory?
It fits the known facts. It makes predictions. It's falsifiable. It's parsimonious.
Independent variable
The variable that is the hypothesized cause and is manipulated by the experimenter
Placebo effect
Improvement due to expectation of improving because they're receiving treatment
Case study
A researcher studies an individual in depth over an extended period of time
What is the problem with a naturalistic research design?
Lowest amount of control and subject reactivity
What kind of correlation does calorie intake and weight loss have?
Negative correlation
Third-variable problem
Another variable may be responsible for the relationship observed between two variables
What kind of correlation does height and weight have?
Positive correlation
Correlaton coefficient
A statistic that tells us the type and strength of the relationship between two variables
Classical conditioning
A kind of behavioral perspective that pairs 2 events (like when a dog salivates when he hears the sound associated with a bone)
Control group
The group not exposed to the independent variable
Naturalistic observation
A type of descriptive methods where the behavior of interest is observed in its natural setting, and the researcher doesn't intervene
Participant observation
The observer becomes part of the group being observed
Participant observation
The observer becomes part of the group being observed
Placebo group
Think they're receiving treatment, but they're not. They're given a placebo, inactive pill
Operant conditioning
If a person is reinforced for their behavior, there is an increase of occurance. Punished, on the other hand means a decrease of occurance.
Standard deviation
Average extent to which the scores vary from the mean of the scores
Falsifiable
Checkable; able to be proven false
What is a hypothesis evaluated with?
Data
Height and weight have what kind of correlation?
Positive correlation
Dependent variable
Hypothesized to be affected by the independent variable, measured by the experimenter
Third-variable problem
Another variable may be responsible for the relationship observed between two variables
Scatterplot
A visual depiction of correlational data in which each data point represents the scores on the two variables for each participant
Dependent variable
Hypothesized to be affected by the independent variable, measured by the experimenter
Dependent variable
Hypothesized to be affected by the independent variable, measured by the experimenter
Double-blind procedure
Neither the experimenters nor the participants know which participants are in the experimental and control groups
What does a theory generate?
A hypothesis
Validity
A test that says what it measures (IQ tests are not valid because they don't really measure intelligence)
What does a theory allow us to do?
Describe, explain, predict, manipulate
Levels of variable
Value that a variable takes on (green, 120 pounds, etc.)
Example of a correlation test
IQ test, depression test (in between survey and experiment)
What kind of correlation does head circumference and GPA have?
No correlation
Random assignment
A control measure in which participants are randomly assigned to groups in order to equalize characteristics across experimental groups
Hindsight bias
the tendency, after learning about an outcome, to be overconfident in one's ability to have predicted it
Correlaton coefficient
A statistic that tells us the type and strength of the relationship between two variables
Naturalistic observation
A type of descriptive methods where the behavior of interest is observed in its natural setting, and the researcher doesn't intervene
The mean is greater than the median in what kind of frequency distribution?
Right-skewed

Deck Info

76

permalink