Psychology - Exam Revision

Includes AOS1, AOS2, AOS3 and AOS4

Psychology

Psychology is the scientific study of behaviour and the mind.

Behaviour

Behaviour refers to any observable action made by a living person or animal.

Mental Processes

Mental Processes refers to the experiences emotions or thoughts that occur within an individual, which cannot be directly observed.

Psychologist

6 years at university. They cannot prescribe medication. Jobs include counselling & psychological therapies.

Psychiatrist

13 years at university. They can prescribe medication. Jobs include performing medical procedures and prescribing medication.

Clinical Psychology

Concerned with assessment / diagnosis /treatment / prevention of a wide range of mental health problems.

Health Psychology

Focuses on the psychological factors associated with physical health and illness. Work in prevention of illness (develop educational programs).

Neuropsychologist

Studies the structure and function of the brain as they relate to specific psychological processes and behaviours.

Sport Psychology

Assists athletes to achieve peak performance and develop personal wellbeing and life adjustment skills.

Forensic Psychology

Applies psychological knowledge to assessment, intervention and research in the legal system and correctional services.

Educational and Developmental Psychology

Combines educational psychology (ie learning in an educational setting) and development psychology (studies changes in behaviour and mental processes with age).

Counselling Psychology

Assessing individuals and groups to deal effectively with a variety of personal and relationship issues that impact on their mental health and wellbeing.

Social Psychology

Studies how people's thoughts, feelings and behaviour can change in different social situations and the influence of others.

Organisational Psychology

Allows organisations to become more effective and productive while maintaining the wellbeing of their employees.

Biological Psychology

Focuses on the role and influences of the brain / nervous system on other bodily systems and structures.

Cognitive Psychology

Focuses on how people acquire, process, remember and use information to solve problems and make decisions.

Empirical Research

It is through objective observation and controlled experimentation that we can find out how things work.

Pseudoscience

A collection of beliefs or practices mistakenly regarded as being based on scientific method.

Scientific Method

A series of systematic and orderly steps which researchers use to plan, conduct and report research.

Variable

Any event, characteristic or behaviour that can be different at different times or in different places.

Independent Variable (IV)

The variable in an experiment that is systematically manipulated, changed or varied in some way by the researcher in order to assess its effects on the dependant variable.

Dependent Variable (DV)

Shows any effects of the independent variable. It is the variable that is observed or measured and is expected to change as a result of the manipulation of the independent variable.

Hypothesis

A testable prediction of the possible relationship between two or more variables.

Extraneous Variable

A variable other than the IV that could cause changes in the value of the DV. It is undesirable as it may negatively influence the results.

Population

The group about which we wish to draw conclusions.

Sample

Refers to the members of the population that have been chosen to take part in the

research.

Representative Sample

Participants are selected to represent each strata/group from the population.

Convenience Sample

Most readily available participants selected from the population.

Random Sample

Everyone has an equal chance of being selected from the population.

Naturalistic Observation

Involves collecting data by carefully watching and recording behaviour as it occurs.

Advantage: Accuracy of information

Enables researchers to gain more accurate info about the typical behaviours.

Disadvantage: Observer Bias

The researcher’s responses may be influenced by their own expectations, previous experience, motives or other personal factors.

Survey

Involves asking participants to respond to a set of questions, either face-to-face, by mail, over the internet or by telephone.

Advantage: Speed

Useful for gathering information quickly from a large number of people.

Disadvantage: Wording

Wording can sometimes be confusing. Questions may therefore be interpreted

differently.

Case Studies

Obtaining detailed and valuable descriptive information on behaviour and mental

processes. Gives insight into how others might think, feel or behave under similar

circumstances.

Advantage: Useful early in the research process

Can be useful in the initial stages of researching a topic. It can help a psychologist identify particular areas that might be followed up using other research methods.

Disadvantage: Observer bias

It is a risk that psychologists may focus selectively on information that fits with their expectations.

Safety (in an experiment)

No risk of harm or injury to the

participants during or after the research has

been conducted

Emotional Wellbeing (in an experiment)

No risk of severe distress for the participants during and after the research has been conducted.

Confidentiality

Ensures that personal research results and personal information remain private unless written consent is obtained.

Voluntary Participation

Requires that people not be coerced into participating in research and they choose to participate.

Withdrawal Rights

Participants can leave from the study at any time without penalty.

Informed Consent

Participants are to be outlined the type & purpose of the study (when appropriate) and this should be documented.

Participants must then give permission to participate in the research (sign document).

Deception

Sometimes it is necessary to deceive/hold the truth from the participants about the true nature of a study so as not to bias their responses.

Debriefing

Participants should have any mistaken attitudes or beliefs about the study corrected

at the end of the research.

Advantages of using animals in psychological research

• They age much faster than humans

• They can breed much faster

Disadvantages of using animals in psychological research

• Humans should respect animals and not exploit them

• Humans do not have the right to dominate other species

Ethical Guidelines for animals in psychology

• Research objectives must be justified

• Painful/stressful experiments are only allowed if there is no other possible way

• Anaesthesia is required in cases of surgery or other painful experiments

• Termination of an animal must be as quick and painless as possible

Central Nervous System (CNS)

Transmits and receives info from the Peripheral NS.

Brain (NS)

Responsible for all our mental processes and behaviour.

Spinal Cord

Connects the brain to the PNS.

Cerebral Cortex

Structure: Convoluted outer layer

Function: The cerebral cortex is involved in information processing activities