Research Methods Overview

Archival Research

Gathering data from existing records or documents.

Case Study

In-depth analysis of a single subject or group.

Cause-And-Effect Relationship

Understanding how one variable influences another.

Control Group

Group in an experiment without the experimental treatment.

Correlational Research

Examining the relationship between variables without manipulation.

Critical Thinking

Analyzing and evaluating information for informed decisions.

Dependent Variable (DV)

Measured variable affected by the independent variable.

Double-Blind Study

Study where neither participants nor researchers know treatment allocation.

Experiment

Controlled investigation to test a hypothesis.

Experimental Group

Group in an experiment receiving the experimental treatment.

Falsifiable

Capable of being proven false through observation or experimentation.

Hypothesis

Testable prediction or explanation.

Independent Variable

Variable manipulated by the researcher.

Naturalistic Observation

Studying behavior in its natural environment.

Operational Definition

Defining variables in terms of how they are measured or manipulated.

Placebo Effect

Response to a placebo due to the belief it is an active treatment.

Random Sample

Sample selected randomly from the population.

Scientific Method

Systematic research approach involving observation, hypothesis, experimentation, and analysis.

Theory

Well-substantiated explanation based on evidence and tested hypotheses.

Wilhelm Wundt

Considered the founder of experimental psychology.

Biopsychology

Study of the biological bases of behavior and mental processes.

Action Potential

Electrical signal transmitted along the neuron.

Agonist

Substance enhancing the activity of a neurotransmitter.

Antagonist

Substance inhibiting the activity of a neurotransmitter.

Extinction

Diminishing of a learned response without pairing stimuli.

Law of Effect

Behaviors with positive outcomes are likely repeated.

Learning

Acquiring new knowledge or skills.

Negative Reinforcement

Increasing behavior by removing aversive stimuli.

Negative Punishment

Decreasing behavior by removing desired stimuli.

Operant Conditioning

Learning through consequences of behavior.

Neutral Stimulus

Stimulus initially not eliciting a response.

Observational Learning

Learning by observing others.

Positive Reinforcement

Increasing behavior by adding desired stimuli.

Positive Punishment

Decreasing behavior by adding aversive stimuli.

Schedules of Reinforcement

Patterns affecting behavior due to reinforcement.

Unconditioned Response (UCR)

Innate response to an unconditional stimulus.

Cannon-Bard theory of emotion

Emotional and physiological responses occur simultaneously.

Components of emotion

Include physiological arousal, behaviors, and experiences.

Drive theory

Behaviors motivated to reduce internal tension.

Emotion

Psychological and physiological responses to stimuli.

Extrinsic motivation

Driven by external rewards or consequences.

Facial feedback hypothesis

Facial expressions influence emotional experiences.

Hierarchy of needs

Maslow's hierarchy from basic to self-actualization needs.

Intrinsic motivation

Driven by internal rewards like satisfaction.

James-Lange theory of emotion

Emotions from physiological arousal triggering experiences.

Schachter-Singer two-factor theory of emotion

Emotions involve arousal and cognitive appraisal.

Self-efficacy

Belief in succeeding in specific situations.

Atkinson-Shiffrin model

Model with sensory, short-term, and long-term memory.

Chunking

Organizing information into smaller units for memory.

Declarative memory

Memory for facts and events consciously recalled.

Encoding

Converting information for memory storage.

Episodic memory

Stores personal experiences and events.

Explicit memory

Intentional memory retrieval.

Flashbulb memory

Detailed memory of emotionally significant events.

Implicit memory

Unconscious memory retrieval like procedural memory.

Long-term memory (LTM)

System for later retrievable information.

Proactive interference

Old memories interfere with recalling newer ones.

Procedural memory

Memory for performing tasks or skills.

Recall

Retrieving information from memory.

Rehearsal

Repeating information for encoding and retention.

Retrieval

Accessing stored information in memory.

Retroactive interference

New memories interfere with recalling older ones.

Semantic memory

Memory for general knowledge and concepts.

Sensory memory

Brief storage of sensory information.

Short-term memory (STM)

Temporary storage actively processed.

Actor-observer bias

Attributing own actions to external factors.

Asch effect

Conforming to group norms despite personal beliefs.

Attitude

Evaluation or feeling towards a person, object, or situation.

Attribution

Explaining behavior internally or externally.

Cognitive dissonance

Discomfort from conflicting beliefs or attitudes.

Conformity

Adjusting behavior to fit with a group.

Fundamental attribution error (FAE)

Overemphasizing internal traits in explaining others' behavior.

Internal/external attribution

Attributing behavior to internal traits or external circumstances.

Obedience

Compliance with authority figures' orders.

Role conflict

Conflict between roles a person holds.

Self-handicapping

Creating obstacles to protect self-esteem from failure.

Self-serving bias

Attributing success to internal factors and failure to external ones.

Social psychology

Study of individual behavior in social contexts.

Social role

Expectations for behavior in a social position.

Just-world hypothesis

Belief in deserving outcomes based on actions.

Stanford Prison Experiment

Study on psychological effects of power and authority.

Normative social influence

Conforming to be accepted by a group.

Informational social influence

Conforming to be correct or accurate.

Locus of control

Belief in controlling events in one's life.

Groupthink

Decision-making in groups seeking consensus.

Sensation

Detecting stimuli through sensory organs.

Wavelength

Distance between wave peaks or troughs.

Depth Perception

Perceiving relative object distances in 3D space.

Autonomic Nervous System

Controls involuntary bodily functions.

axon

Nerve fiber that transmits signals away from the cell body.

Central Nervous System (CNS

brain and spinal cord

cerebral hemispheres

the two halves of the brain

dendrites

Branch-like extensions of a neuron that receive signals.

Fight or Flight

Physiological response to stress or danger.

Frontal Lobes

Brain region involved in decision making and personality.

gene

Unit of heredity that carries genetic information.

homeostasis

Maintenance of stable internal conditions in the body

natural selection

Process by which favorable traits are passed on to offspring.

occipital lobe

Brain region responsible for visual processing.

parietal lobe

Brain region involved in sensory processing.