AP Psych Unit 0

empiricism

idea that what we know comes from experience

wundt

sought to measure “atoms of the mind” begun 1st psychological lab

structuralism

Early school prompted by Wundt, used introspection to reveal structure of human mind

functioalist

early school prompted by Jmes w/ influence of Darwin, explored mental/behavioral processes function

Experimental psychologists

study behavior and thinking using experimental method

Behaviorists

1 of 2 major forces in psych, viewed that psych should be objective science and study behavior w/out reference to mental processes

humanistic psychologist

significant perspective that emphasized growth potential of healthy people

Cognitive neuroscience

interdisciplinary study, enriched understanding of brain activity underlying mental activity/shelves to treat disorders

psychology

science of behavior and mental processes

nature-nurture debate

controversy over relative contributions that genes and experiences make to development of traits/behaviors

Darwin

species variation, natural selection

Biopsychosocial approach

considers influence of biological (traits), psychological (fears), and social-cultural (peers influence) factors

psychometric psychologists

scientific study of measurement of human abilities, attitudes, and traits

basic research

builds psychology knowledge

developmental psychology

studies, physical, cognitive, and social change throughout life

educational psych

how psychological processes affect/enhance teaching/learning

Personality psych

study individual characteristic pattern of thinking, feeling, and acting

social psych

how we view and affect one another

Applies research

aims to solve practical problems

industrial-organization (I/0)

application of psychological concepts/methods to optimize human behavior at work

human factors psych

I/O psych sub flied exploring how people and machines and environment made to be safe

counseling psych

assists people with problems in living and achieving greater well-being

clinical psych

studies, assesses, and treats people with psychological disorders

psychiatry

medicine dealing w/ psychological disorder

positive psych

study of human functions w/ goals to discover strength and virtues to make one thrive

community psych

studies how people interact w/ social environment and how it affects them/group

correlations

Measure of extent that 2 variables change together and how either variable predict the other

Correlation coefficient

stats index of relationship between 2 variables

scatter plot

Cluster of dots, amount of scatter determines strength of correlation

illusory correlation

Perception of a relationship where none exists

experiment

research method where investigator manipulates one or more factors to observe effect on behavior

experimental group

group exposed to treatment to 1 version of independent variable

control group

Group not exposed to treatment

random assignment

assign participants to experiment/control groups by chance to minimize previous differences

double-bind procedure

Experimental procedure where both research participants and staff are blind of participant got treatment or placebo

placebo affect

Experimental results caused by expectations alone, not treatment

independent variable

Manipulated, variable whose effect is being studied

Confounding variable

factor other than independent variable that could produce effect in experiment

dependent variable

Outcome factor, may change/predict what it’s supposed to do

validity

extent a test/experiemnt meassures/predicts what it’s supposed to do

descriptive stats

Data used to measure/describe characteristics of groups

histogram

Bar graph, shows frequency distribution

Mode/mean

Most frequency occurring scores in distribution

median

middle score

skewed distribution

Represents scores lacking symmetry around average valueRange

Range

Difference between high and low scores

standard deviation

computed measure of how much scores vary around mean score

normal curve/distribution

Bell shaped curve describing distribution of many types of data

Inferential stats

data allowing you to infer from sample the probability of something being true of a population

Stats significants

stats statement of how likely an obtained result occurs by chance

Behavioral

Observations, learning through conditions/reinforcement

Hindsight bias

tendency to believe that one would have foreseen outcome

critical thinking

doesn’t blindly accept arguments and conclusions but examines and assesses conclusions

Theory

explanation using inergated principles that organize observations and predict behavior/events

hypothesis

Testable prediciton

Operational defenition

carefully worded statement of procedure used in study

Replication

repeating research study to see if basic finding extends to tohers

case study

decriptive techniques where 1 individual or group is studied in depth in hopes of revealing universal principle

naturalistic observation

observing and recording behavior in naturally occurring situation without trying to manipulate/control situation

sampling bias

flawed sampling process producing an unrepresentative sample

Population

all those in group being studied

random sample

fairly represents population bc each member has equal chance of inclusion

Humanistic Psychology

Significant perspective that emphasized growth potential of healthy people

Positive Psychology

Study of human functions w/ goals to discover strength and virtues to make one thrive

Operational Definition

How you define and measure

Replication

Repeating research study to see if basic finding extends to others

Naturalistic Observation

Careful observations of animals or people in natural environment

Survey

questionare to ask large numbers of people questions, gives lots of data, distorted results bc poorly phrased questions

Correlation Coefficient

number,range from +1.00 to -1.00, closer to 1 = stronger relationship

Psychodynamic Perspective

Psychodynamic Perspective, exphasizes role of unconscious mind and early childhood experiences