Psychology - Chapter 1: Psychology in Your Life

psychology

the scientific study of mental activity and behavior, which are based on brain processes

empiricism

an evidence-based approach to gaining knowledge by conducting research that systematically investigates and measures phenomena of interest

science of learning

research in psychology and other fields that suggests how you can improve your study skills, learning, and academic performance

critical thinking

systematically evaluating information to reach conclusions based on the evidence that is presented

domains of psychology

the five interconnected areas of empirical research in modern psychology: biological, cognitive, developmental, social and personality, and mental and physical health domains

diversity

any difference between people that becomes apparent in a specific context

culture

the beliefs, values, rules, and customs that exist within a group of people who share a common language and environment, which are transmitted through learning from one generation to the next

ethics

accepted standards of right and wrong that guide people’s behavior

institutional review board (IRB)

group of people responsible for reviewing proposed research to ensure that it meets the accepted ethical standards of science and provides for participants’ physical and emotional well-being

scientific method

a continuous five-step process that allows systematic observation and measurement of phenomena to reach one or more scientific goals

theory

a series of interconnected ideas or concepts that explains what is observed in research and that makes predictions about future events

hypothesis

a specific, testable prediction of what should be observed in a study if a theory is correct

replication

repetition of a research study to confirm or contradict the results

descriptive methods

research methods that provide a systematic and objective snapshot of what is occurring at a certain point in time

correlational methods

research methods that examine how variables are naturally related in the real world without altering the variables and without revealing whether one factor causes changes in another

experimental methods

research methods that can reveal causality by manipulating independent variables and measuring the effects on dependent variables

dependent variable

in an experiment, the variable that is measured to determine how it was affected by the manipulation of the independent variable

control group

in an experiment, a group of participants that receives either no treatment or a baseline manipulation that is expected to have little or no impact; this group serves as a comparison to the experimental group

random sample

a sample of participants that fairly represents the population because each member of the population has an equal chance of being included

random assignment

placing research participants into the conditions of an experiment in such a way that each participant has an equal chance of being assigned to any level of the independent variable

case studies

allow in depth investigation of one or a few people or an organization

observational studies

allow researcher to watch what participants do in a natural environment or laboratory

self reports

use surveys, questionnaires, or interviews to gather information directly from participants

observer bias

errors in observation occur because of the observers expectations

reactivity

a change in behavior as a result of being observed

self report bias

people may not reveal personal information that casts them in a negative light

directionality problem

the direction of the relationship between variables is not known

third variable problem

the challenge of establishing a causal relationship between variables because a third, unmeasured variable could be the actual case of both

operational definitions

qualify (describe) and quantify (measure) variables so they can be understood objectively

subjective

thoughts on topics that are very personal

objective

impersonal, scientific insight in understanding people’s behaviors and thoughts

between-groups design

different groups receive different treatments

within-subject design

the same people receive all treatments but perhaps in different orders

confound

anything that affects a dependent variable and that may unintentionally vary between the study’s different experimental conditions

biological domain

how does activity in the brain and body give rise to thoughts, feelings, and actions

cognitive domain

how do mental activities affect your thoughts, feelings, and actions

developmental domain

how does change occur over life; birth to old age (in terms of thoughts, feelings, and actions)

social and personality domain

how do social factors and personal characteristics impact thoughts, feelings, and actions

mental and physical health domain

what impacts mental and physical health; how to develop healthy behaviors