Introduction to Psychology and Scientific Inquiry

These vocabulary flashcards cover the scientific attitude, psychological perspectives, research methodologies, and statistical concepts found in the introductory lecture notes.

Psychology as a Science

A discipline that moves beyond speculation and uninformed opinions by using research and interpretation of data to reach examined conclusions.

Curiosity (Scientific Attitude)

The element of the scientific attitude where researchers ask if predictions can be confirmed when put to the test.

Skepticism (Scientific Attitude)

A healthy attitude used to shift reality from fantasy by not doubting everything, but not believing everything either.

Humility (Scientific Attitude)

A researcher's willingness to be surprised, follow new ideas, and admit that their beliefs are not always right.

Critical Thinking

A deep way of thinking that involves diving into evidence and context while being aware that people and animals don't always behave as predicted.

Hindsight Bias

The tendency to believe, after learning an outcome, that one would have foreseen it; also known as the "I knew it all along" phenomenon.

Overconfidence Bias

The tendency for people to be more confident than they are correct, where confidence drives quick rather than correct thinking.

Confirmation Bias

The act of recalling or interpreting information to match pre-existing beliefs while ignoring evidence that contradicts them.

Psychodynamic / Psychoanalytic Perspective

A perspective focused on how unconscious urges, violent conflicts, and early childhood experiences shape human behavior.

Evolutionary Perspective

A perspective based on Darwin's theory where human behavior is seen as adapted traits necessary for survival.

Behavioral Perspective

The study of how actions are shaped by rewards and punishments in the world around us, emphasizing nurture over nature.

Biological Perspective

An approach that attributes behavior to brain functions, hormones, genetics, and other physical factors like the amygdala.

Cognitive Perspective

The study of how the mind processes information, interpretations, logic, and beliefs to influence behavior.

Social-Cultural Perspective

An approach looking at how behavior and thoughts are influenced by social norms, social roles, and cultural expectations.

Humanistic Perspective

A school of thought focused on human growth, potential, and self-actualization, often associated with Maslow's theory.

Bio-Psycho-Social / Eclectic Perspective

An integrated approach that looks at how biological, past experiences, cognition, and social factors combine to influence behavior.

Theory

An explanation using an integrated set of principles that organizes observations and predicts behavior or events.

Hypothesis

A testable prediction, often implied by a theory, used to confirm or deny an idea.

Falsifiability

The possibility that a theory or hypothesis can be disproven by observation or experiment.

Operational Definition

A carefully worded statement of the exact procedures used in a research study to ensure it is concrete, observable, and replicable.

Replication

Repeating the essence of a research study, usually with different participants and situations, to see if the basic finding extends to other circumstances.

Peer Review

The process where experts evaluate a study's theory, originality, and accuracy to help a journal editor decide if it deserves publication.

Case Study

A non-experimental technique where one individual or small group is studied in depth to reveal universal principles.

Naturalistic Observation

A research method involving watching and recording behavior in real-world environments without trying to manipulate or control the situation.

Correlational Study

A type of research that looks at two or more variables to see if a relationship or link exists between them without changing the variables.

Meta-Analysis

A statistical procedure for analyzing the results of multiple studies to reach an overall conclusion.

Survey

A data collection tool that asks people to report their behavior or opinions.

Wording Effects

How the specific phrasing or order of questions in a survey can change the responses given by participants.

Social Desirability Bias

A bias where people respond to surveys in ways they think will please the researcher or make themselves look good.

Self-Report Bias

A bias that occurs when people report their behavior inaccurately or fail to remember their behavior correctly.

Population

The total group being studied from which samples may be drawn.

Sample

A small group of people chosen from the total population to participate in a research study.

Sampling Bias

A flawed sampling process that produces an unrepresentative sample of a population.

Representative Sample

A small group that accurately reflects the whole population by displaying the same distribution of traits.

Random Sampling

A procedure that fairly represents a population because each member has an equal chance of being included in the study.

Convenience Sampling

Collecting research from an easily available group rather than a group that represents the whole population.

Correlation

A measure of how closely two things vary together and how well either one predicts the other; range is from $r = -1.00$ to $r = +1.00$.

Illusory Correlation

Perceiving a relationship between variables when none actually exists, such as a gambler's belief in lucky roles.

Regression Toward the Mean

The tendency for extreme or unusual scores or events to fall back toward the average over time.