PSYCH 1100 CH 2, 3, 6

Scientific method, neuroscience, memory

The Scientific Method

description of a property in concrete measureable terms

Naturalistic Study

• study of behaviour in its own context

• no interference/manipulation with subjects

Correlation statistics

The statistic calculated to see if a relationship exists

The experimental study

• The method that tells us why behaviour occurs

• Manipulate the environment

The Independent group

The manipulated group (special treatment)

The Dependent vairable

Effects measured from the independent variable

Placebo effect

• Fake procedure meant to look like real medical treatment

• Can’t cure physical diseases

Summary data

Measures of central tendency

• Mean = avg

• Median = the middle number btween small and large

• Mode = most frequent scored

Confirmation bias

• We seek and notice events that support what we already believe

• Ignoring evidence against what we already believe

The Overconfidence bias

Overestimating our knowledege, accuracy and ability to predict

The Hindsight bias

Our current knowledge influences how we remember our past views

Theory

hypothetical explanation of a phenomenon

Hypothesis

falsible prediction made by a theory

Rule of Parsimony

simplest theory that explains that all the evidence is the best one

Psychologist instrument

reliability

Double - blind observation

hide the purpose from both the observer and the person being observed

Human nervous system

1. Peripheral

2. Central (Brain + Spinal Cord)

Peripheral

• Autonomic

• Organs and glands

Somatic

Muscles

Sympathetic

Fight or flight

Neurons

• Nerve cells that communicate information

• They don’t touch

• Messages passed from 1 tp the other by electrical signal

Order of signals

Dendrite - Cell - Axon

Dendrite

Receives info

Axon

Sends info

Synaptic Gap

Gap between neuron cells where neurons talk