Psychology Ch. 1 + 2

intuition overestimation

confirmation bias, hindsight bias, and overconfidence

hindsight bias

i knew it all along effect

scientific method

process for evaluating ideas with observations and analysis peer reviews and replication

theory

explanation using principles that organize and predict behaviors and events

hypothesis

testable prediction implied by a theory

variable

anything that can vary and can be measured/changed

operational

carefully worded statement of the operations used in a study

peer review

experts evaluate validity of the research and conclusions before publication

replication

repeating a study to test its reliability

descriptive research

systematic observation for the purpose of careful description

case study

one individual in depth identify causes

naturalistic observation

records behavior in natural environment

surveys and interviews

examine many cases in less depth random samples

big data

data available on mass scale often from app or website

inferential research

investigates relationships between variables

correlational

relies on measurement of variables only and how they vary together and thus how well they predict each other not an experiment

correlational coefficient

index of direction and strength between things

positive correlation

direct relationship, increase and decrease together

negative correlation

inverse relationship, one increases other decreases

scatterplot

depicts correlation is a graphed cluster of dots each represent values of 2 variables

double blind procedure

no one in the study knows which group is receiving treatment

placebo effect

treatments actual effects can be separated from potential placebo effect

independent variable

factor that is manipulated

dependent variable

factor that’s measured, may change when independent changes

ethics code

obtain consent, protect participants, keep information confidential, fully debrief people

statistics

using numerical facts to make sense of the world

wrongheaded theory

pseudoscience of phrenology was an attempt to relate the brain to behavior and mental processes

neuron

basic building blocks of the brain

gial cells

produce myelin and support neurons

action potential

increase in voltage in the axon when a neuron is stimulated that produces impulse all or none event

neuroplasticity

formation of networks is dependent on experience

neurotransmitters

lots of types present in specialized areas and influence mental functions other are in nervous system

systematic observation

observing varying subjects instead of unethical research

scientific attitude

curiousity, skepticism, and humility

first schools of thought

structuralism and functionalism

structuralism

aimed to understand elements of the mind’s structure

functionalism

explored the adaptive qualities of thoughts, emotions, and behaviors founded by william james

behaviorism

psychology should be an objective science that studies observable behavior without reference to mental processes

psychoanalytic psychology

influence of unconscious mind and childhood experiences on behavior

humanistic psychology

focus on growth potential of humans

contemporary psychology

focuses on cognition, biology, and human flourishing

biopsychosocial approach

integrated approach that includes biological, psychological, and social-cultural levels of analysis

evolutionary psychology

how are humans alike due to shared biology and evolution

behavior genetics

how humans differ because of genes and environment

basic research

biological, developmental, cognitive, personality, social psychologists

applied research

industrial-organizational, community psychology