PSYC 102 Darko Odic Midterm 1 Pt. 1

Ways of Knowing

Authority, Pure Observation, Intuition

Problems with Pure Observation

not always possible, not always true, people disagree, observations change over time

Theories

possible explanations for why or how something works

Hypotheses

Predictions about what should happen in a specific situation

Studies/experiments

observational tests of a hypothesis by creating or finding situations in which the hypothesis should hold true

Universality

when formulating a hypothesis or theory it should apply to most people

Falsifiable hypotheses

Hypotheses that can be tested and disproven.

Operationalization

a description of a psychological property in measurable observable terms

Properties of good instruments

Construct validity: measures what it claims to measure

Reliability: gives similar measurements each time it is used

Power/Sensitivity: it can detect small differences

Correlations

studies where we estimate the numerical prediction between two measured variables

Directionality Problem

for any correlation, you can never tell which variable may be responsible for causing the other

third variable problem

a third unmeasured "confound" may be the true cause

Type 1 Error

false positive; researcher concludes the the IV has an effect when it doesn't

Type 2 Error

False negative- An error that occurs when a researcher concludes that the independent variable does not have an effect on the dependent variable when it does.

Demand Characteristics

those aspects of an observational setting that cause people to behave as they think someone else wants or expects

internal validity vs external validity

-the validity of results within a study

-represents the world

Construct validity

We measure what we say we're measuring

intelligence

general ability to solve novel problems and learn from experience

two-factor theory of intelligence

general intelligence factor of g that explains aptitude in all domains of knowledge plus specific factor s

Independent factor theories

intelligence is many non-overlapping abilities, each unrelated to the others

Hybrid theories

intelligence is a group of interrelated factors, with g at the top, various middle-level abilities after, and specific tasks underneath that

Crystalized intelligence (Gc)

applying knowledge learned from experience

Fluid Intelligence (Gf)

ability to learn new information and solve new problems

WAIS-V

measures: fluid reasoning, processing speed, visual-spatial, verbal comprehension

Fluid Reasoning (Gf)

how well you solve novel abstract problems

Processing speed (Gf)

how quickly you reason and perform directed actions

Visual-spatial (Gf)

how well you solve visual pattern puzzles

Verbal comprehension (Gc)

how well you understand language

Raven's Progressive Matrices

a non-verbal intelligence test based on solving rules that create patterns in pictures

"Range Setting"

the genetic range of possible phenotypes that could be expressed and how strong the influence of the environment has to be to change that range

Influencing intelligence

Genes: some genes make neuronal connectiosn stronger/better or help make sure the brain develops as well as it can

Early environment: various things children are exposed to that jumpstart the development of intelligence

Latter environment: life choices that continue improving intelligence

IQ Differences in Age

after age 50 fluid intelligence decreases while crystalized is stable

Flynn Effect

The average IQ of the population increases with each generation

IQ Differences in Gender

Most differences can be explained by socialization

IQ differences in ethnicity

large sociocultural differences in environments (access to nutrition, education, and test taking practices)