Introduction to Psychology - Foundations and Research Flashcards

This set of flashcards covers the foundations of psychology, including various schools of thought, major theorists, types of psychologists, and psychological research methods and ethics based on the C180 study guide.

How is psychology defined in the foundations of the discipline?

The scientific study of mind and behavior.

What are the three levels of analysis used in psychology?

The Brain, the person, and the group.

Which school of thought in psychology assumes people have positive values, free will, and deep inner creativity, and who are its primary theorists?

Humanism; associated with Abraham Maslow and Carl Rogers.

What is the focus of Gestalt psychology, and who is its primary theorist?

It focuses on the macro-level of psychology, considering behavior as a whole rather than the micro-level view of parts; associated with Max Wertheimer.

Which school of thought is concerned with analyzing the mind by looking at its smallest and simplest components, and who is its primary theorist?

Structuralism; associated with Wilhelm Wundt.

What was the goal of Functionalism as a school of thought, and who is its primary theorist?

To understand how the mind helps individuals adapt to the world and function effectively; associated with William James.

Which school of psychology focuses on how a specific stimulus evokes a specific response, and who are its primary theorists?

Behaviorism; associated with John B. Watson and B. F. Skinner.

What are the core ideas of the Psychodynamic school of thought, and who is its primary theorist?

It specifies that mental events involve continual push and pull interactions between conscious and unconscious thoughts; associated with Sigmund Freud.

What are the three major types of psychologists in practice today?

Clinical and counseling psychologists (helping with personal problems/stress), academic psychologists (teaching and conducting research), and applied psychologists (solving specific practical problems).

What three variations does descriptive research include?

Naturalistic observation, case studies, and surveys.

What is the purpose of correlational research?

To study the relationship between two potentially connected variables without actually altering either variable.

In psychological research, what is the difference between an experimental group and a control group?

The experimental group receives the complete procedure including the treatment (manipulation of the independent variable), while the control group is treated the same except it does not receive the treatment.

What is a case study?

A deep, contextual analysis of a specific individual, group, or situation.

In research ethics, what is confidentiality and why is it important?

Ensuring participants' personal data remains private to protect identities and prevent unauthorized access, which builds trust and allows for honest participation.

What are withdrawal procedures in ethical research?

Ensuring participants have the absolute right to leave a study at any point without penalty or pressure.

Compare independent and dependent variables in an experiment.

The independent variable is the factor the researcher manipulates (the cause), whereas the dependent variable is the measured outcome affected by those changes (the effect).

What is the difference between positive and negative correlations?

In a positive correlation, variables move in the same direction; in a negative correlation, variables move in opposite directions (an inverse relationship).

How are validity and reliability distinguished in research?

Validity refers to accuracy, while reliability refers to consistency.

Distinguish between random sampling and random assignment.

Random sampling refers to how individuals are selected from a population for a study, while random assignment refers to how those participants are placed into specific groups, such as experimental or control.

What is the difference between a hypothesis and a theory in psychology?

A hypothesis is a proposed prediction or education guess based on limited evidence; a theory is a well-established explanation supported by a large body of evidence and rigorous testing.

What does IRB stand for and what is its role?

Institutional Review Board; it reviews research studies to examine all safety and ethical issues.

What is informed consent in research?

A procedure where participants are told of their rights to withdraw without penalty and are informed of the study's purpose, procedures, risks, and benefits, often via a written document.