Psych Exam 1

lectures 1-5

Popular wisdom and common sense can lead to _________

erroneous conclusions

Popular wisdom

\-Birds of a feather fly together

\-opposites attract

Hindsight Bias

overstimulation of the ability to have predicted an outcome

Scientific method

tests ideas with the use of data: evidence (empiricism)

The scientific method has how many steps?

6

What step # is this: formulate the research question

1

What step # is this: formulate the hypothesis

2

hypothesis

a testable prediction

What step # is this: design the study to test the hypothesis

3

operational definition

statement about the procedures the researcher used ton measure a variable

What step # is this: preform the study (test the hypothesis)

4

What step # is this: Interpret the data (draw conclusions)

5

What step # is this: communicate findings

6

case study is a

case study

in depth analysis of one subject (or more)

Observation is a

research strategy

observation

describe and measure people and or animals behavior systematically

observing behavior of parents dropping of kids at day care is an example of

observation

a survey is a

research strategy

survey

asking people questions about their thoughts, feelings, desires and actions and recording their answers

response bias

pattern of responses to questions that does not accurately reflect the content of the questions

random sampling is a

research strategy

random sampling aka (random selection)

everyone in the population has an equal chance of being the sample

Correlational method is a

research strategy

Correlational

measures strength and direction of relationship between two variables

direction

positive and negative correlation

Positive correlation

variables change in the same direction

Negative correlation

variables change in opposite directions

correlation coefficient

indicator of strength of the relationship between two variables

Correlation does not necessarily

indicate causation

Experiment

researcher changes (manipulates) one variable and measures the effects of that change on another variable

Experimental method: only research design in which ________________ can be inferred

cause and effect

independent variable

manipulated by experimenter

Dependent variable

outcome variable

purpose of experimental method is to

test the effects of the Independent variable on the dependent variable

experimental (treatment) condition (group)

receives treatment/stimulus

control condition (group)

does not receive treatment/stimulus

control condition (group) is a

comparison group

cofounding variable

variable that is potentially responsible for the results, but is not the variable of interest (IV)

Random assignment

method used to place participants into experimental condition in which participants have an equal chance of being in every condition

Experimental control

researcher makes sure that not factors that the independent variable are changing and thus could effect the dependent variable

placebo effect

observed improvement following an inert treatment

placebo control group

participants who receive placebo rather than actual treatment or nothing

expectancy effect is

expectancy effect:

results when the experimenters hypothesis (expectation) leads unintentionally to behavior toward the participants that then increases the likelihood that the participants behavior will confirm the hypothesis

Single-blind procedures

the participants do not know if they have been assigned to the experimental or control group

double-blind procedures

neither the participants nor researcher know who has been assigned to the experimental or control group

generalizability

can the results apply to other situations

replications

repetition of a study

why do psychologist study the brain?

Thoughts feelings and behaviors can be traced to electrical and chemical signals traveling through the brain and body

Thoughts feelings and behaviors can be traced to ________________ signals traveling through the brain and body

chemical and electrical

How does the brain work

the nervous system

nervous system

complex communication network made up of neurons

a neuron is

a nervous system cell

neuron

a specialized cell that transmits neural messages to other neurons, glands and muscles

dendrite

receives neural messages from other neurons

cell body (soma)

house DNA

axon

thin tube that transmits messages

Glial cells

provide structure for neurons

some glial cells can form_____

blood: brain barrier (prevents some toxins from entering the brain)

some glial cells form myelin sheath

specialized cells that are wrapped around the axon to help transmit message

neuron communication has

2 steps

1st step of neuron communication is

electrical signal within a neuron (action potential)

2nd step of neuron communication is

chemical signal between neurons (neurotransmitters)

Action potential

electrical impulse that travels from the cell body down to the end of the axon (neural firing)

Threshold

level of electrical charge needed to stimulate action potential

all or non response

once the electrical charge of the neuron reaches a certain threshold, it fires an action potential

Synapse

junction between 2 neurons

messages are

transmitted across synapse via neurotransmitters

neurotransmitters

chemical messengers that travel across synapse from sending neuron to receptors on receiving neuron

reuptake

sending neuron reabsorbs excess transmitters

excitatory signals

increase likelihood that neuron will fire

inhibitory signals

decreased likelihood that neuron will fire

acetylcholine (neurotransmitter)

involved in muscle action, learning, memory

Endorphins (neurotransmitter)

reduce pain and promote pleasure

Dopamine (neurotransmitter)

involved in voluntary movement, reward, learning, memory

Serotonin (neurotransmitter)

involved in sleep, appetite, mood

Glutamate (neurotransmitter)

excitatory; learning, memory, enhancement

GABA (neurotransmitter)

inhibitory; calms

Epinephrine and Norepinephrine (neurotransmitters)

involved in stress response

Agonists

increase normal activity of a neurotransmitter

Antagonist

decrease activity of neurotransmitter

motor neurons

carry signals from brain or spinal cord to muscles, skin and glands

Sensory neurons

carry messages from receptors to spinal cord and brain

Central nervous system

brain and spinal cord

the central nervous system responds to…

sensory information

The central nervous system sends message to….

muscles, glands, organs

spinal cord

extension of the brain

The spinal cord…

handles both incoming and out going messages and acts as a bridge between brain and body below the neck

spinal reflexes

automatic responses that occur without any brain involvement

peripheral nervous system

all of the nervous systems outside the brain and spinal cord

peripheral nervous system allows for…

communication between CNS and sensory systems

Peripheral nervous system contains…

somatic and autonomic nervous systems

Somatic Nervous System (voluntary)

sensory and motorpathways

Autonomic Nervous System (automatic)

includes the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems

sympathetic nervous system

increases physiological arousal

parasympathetic nervous system

decreases arousal

The endocrine system includes

hormones, hypothalamus, pituitary glands, adrenal glands, pineal glands

hormones

chemicals secreted by endocrine glands into the blood stream