Intro Psych: Lesson 1

Psychology

The scientific study of behavior and mental processes.

Scientific Method

A systematic approach used to gather knowledge about the world through observation and experimentation.

Hypothesis

A tentative explanation proposed to explain a phenomenon.

Rudolf Gockle

First used the word psychology in the year 1590.

Wilhelm Wundt

Established the first psychology laboratory in 1879 at the University of Leipzig, Germany.

Introspection

A method used by Wundt to study internal mental processes, regarded as unreliable today.

Dualism

The idea introduced by Rene Descartes that the mind and body are two distinct entities.

Nature vs. Nurture

A debate regarding the relative contributions of heredity and environment to human behavior.

Empiricism

A method of acquiring knowledge based on observation and experimentation.

Descriptive Statistics

Mathematical summaries of research results, including measures like mean, median, and mode.

Inferential Statistics

Methods that use a sample to estimate characteristics of a larger population.

Just Noticeable Difference (JND)

The smallest difference in stimulation that can be detected 50% of the time.

Experimental Group

In an experiment, the group that receives the treatment being tested.

Control Group

In an experiment, the group that is treated identically to the experimental group, except for the treatment.

Experimenter Bias

The influence of the researcher's expectations on the outcome of the study.

Subject Bias

The effects of participants' expectations on the results of an experiment.

Case History

A thorough description of an unusual person or condition under study.

Correlational Studies

Studies that investigate the relationship between two variables without manipulation.

Operational Definitions

Definitions that specify the operations used to assess or measure a concept in research.

Ethical Considerations in Research

Standards that govern the conduct of research involving human participants.

Informed Consent

The process of explaining the potential risks to participants before they agree to take part in research.