Exam Review: Research Methods, Biological Bases of Behavior, Cognition, Development, Social Psychology, and Personality

Flashcards generated from lecture notes on research methods, biological bases of behavior, cognition, development, social psychology, personality, motivation, emotion, and mental health.

What is experimental research design?

Requires random assignment to groups to establish cause-and-effect relationships.

What are examples of non-experimental research designs?

Case study, correlation, meta-analysis, and naturalistic observation.

What is a falsifiable hypothesis?

A testable statement or prediction.

What are operational definitions?

Defining variables in measurable terms.

What is random sampling?

Each member of the population has an equal chance of being selected.

What is convenience sampling?

Selecting participants based on availability.

What is sampling bias?

Systematic error in selecting participants, leading to a non-representative sample.

What are some crucial ethical features in research?

Informed consent, protection from harm, confidentiality, and debriefing.

What is the independent variable?

The variable being manipulated by the researcher.

What is the dependent variable?

The variable being measured in response to the manipulation.

What are confounding variables?

Variables that could affect the dependent variable but are not the focus of the study.

What is the control group?

A group that does not receive the experimental treatment.

What is the experimental group?

A group that receives the experimental treatment.

What is a placebo?

An inert substance or treatment given to the control group to control for expectations.

What is random assignment?

Assigning participants to groups randomly to minimize pre-existing differences.

What is a single-blind procedure?

Participants are unaware of their assigned group.

What is a double-blind procedure?

Both participants and researchers are unaware of the assigned groups.

What is a scatter plot?

A graph showing the relationship between two variables.

What is a correlation coefficient (r value)?

A numerical value indicating the strength and direction of a correlation.

What is the directionality problem in correlational studies?

The results of a correlational study can't determine which variable causes the change in the other variable.

What is a third variable problem in correlational studies?

A third, unmeasured variable is responsible for the observed correlation.

What is the mean?

The average value of a dataset.

What is the median?

The middle value in a dataset.

What is the mode?

The most frequent value in a dataset.

What is the range?

The difference between the highest and lowest values in a dataset.

What is the normal curve?

A symmetrical distribution where most scores cluster around the mean.

What is negative skew?

Scores are clustered toward the higher end of the distribution.

What is positive skew?

Scores are clustered toward the lower end of the distribution.

What is a bimodal distribution?

Distribution with two distinct peaks.

What is a percentile?

The percentage of scores falling below a certain point.

What is standard deviation?

The average distance of scores from the mean.

What is regression toward the mean?

The tendency for extreme scores to move closer to the mean upon retesting.

What is effect size?

The magnitude of the effect of an intervention or variable.

What is statistical significance?

The probability of obtaining results as extreme as, or more extreme than, the observed results.

What is nature vs. nurture?

Individual variations (genes) compared to environmental influences.

What is natural selection?

Traits and behaviors that increase the chance of survival get passed down.

What are twin studies?

Study of genetic and environmental influences on behavior, often using twins.

What is the central nervous system?

Brain and spinal cord.

What is the peripheral nervous system?

Sensory and motor neurons connecting the CNS to the rest of the body.

What are neurons?

Nerve cells that transmit information.

What is the Glia?

Cells that support and protect neurons.

What is the correct order of a reflex arc?

Sensory neuron, interneuron, motor neuron.

What is the Axon?

Transmits signals away from the cell body.

What is the Dendrite?

Receives signals from other neurons.

What is the Myelin Sheath?

Covers the axon of some neurons and helps speed neural impulses.

What is the Synapse?

The point of communication between two neurons.

What is Action Potential?

Electrical signal that travels down the axon.

What is the Refractory Period?

Period during which a neuron cannot fire.

What are Neurotransmitters?

Chemical messengers that cross the synaptic gap.

What is an excitatory neurotransmitter?

Transmitter that excites the next neuron.

What is an Inhibitory neurotransmitter?

Transmitter that inhibits the next neuron.

What is Reuptake?

Reabsorbing neurotransmitters.

What is Dopamine?

Affects movement, learning, attention, and emotion.

What is Serotonin?

Affects mood, hunger, sleep, and arousal.

What is Norepinephrine?

Hormone that regulates mood, appetite and arousal.

What is Glutamate?

A major excitatory neurotransmitter; involved in memory.

What is GABA?

A major inhibitory neurotransmitter.

What are Endorphins?

Natural, opiate-like neurotransmitters linked to pain control and pleasure.

What is Substance P?

A neurotransmitter directly involved in sleep, mood, aggression, and pain perception.

What is Acetylcholine?

Linked to muscular movement and memory.

What are Hormones?

Chemical messengers that travel through the bloodstream.

What is the Hypothalamus?

Brain region controlling the pituitary gland.

What is the Thalamus?

A brain structure that integrates information from all the senses and relays it to the cerebral cortex.

What is the Hippocampus?

Processes conscious memories.

What is the Amygdala?

Linked to emotion, especially aggression.

What is the Corpus Callosum?

The large band of neural fibers connecting the two brain hemispheres and carrying messages between them.

What is the Somatosensory Cortex?

Area at the front of the parietal lobes that registers and processes body touch and movement sensations.

What is the Motor Cortex?

Area at the rear of the frontal lobes that controls voluntary movements.

What is Broca's Area?

Area in the left frontal lobe that controls language expression - directs the muscle movements involved in speech

What is Dual Processing?

The principle that information is often simultaneously processed on separate conscious and unconscious tracks

What is a Flashbulb Memory?

A clear memory of an emotionally significant moment or event

What is Context-Dependent Memory?

The enhanced ability to retrieve information when you are in an environment similar to the one in which you encoded the information

What is the Encoding Specificity Principle?

The theory that when cues and contexts specific to a particular memory will be most effective in helping us recall it

What is the Spacing Effect?

The tendency for distributed study or practice to yield better long-term retention than is achieved through massed study or practice

What is the Serial Position Effect?

The tendency to recall best the last (a recency effect) and first items (a primacy effect)