Unit 1 – Scientific Foundations of Psychology

Vocabulary flashcards covering major terms, figures, research methods, statistical concepts, and ethics from Unit 1.

Psychology

The scientific study of behavior and mental processes, integrating physiology and philosophy.

Socrates, Plato, Aristotle

Early philosophers who debated nature vs. nurture and the location of the mind.

John Locke

Proposed the mind as a 'Tabula Rasa' (blank slate) at birth.

Tabula Rasa

Idea that all knowledge comes from experience; the mind is blank at birth.

William James

Authored the first psychology textbook (1890); founded functionalism.

Functionalism

Psychological approach analyzing the purpose (function) of behavior.

Wilhelm Wundt

Established the first psychology lab; pioneered structuralism.

Structuralism

School of thought using introspection to explore the structure of the mind.

Introspection

Self-examination of one’s own conscious thoughts and feelings.

Gestalt Psychology

School (Wertheimer) emphasizing the whole experience over its parts.

Sigmund Freud

Founded psychoanalysis focusing on conscious and unconscious processes.

Psychoanalysis

Therapeutic approach emphasizing unconscious motives and conflicts.

B. F. Skinner

Behaviorist who stressed conditioning and behavior modification.

Behaviorism

View that psychology should study observable behavior and its conditioning.

Eclectic Approach

Current wave combining multiple psychological perspectives.

Theory

Well-substantiated explanation based on evidence.

Hypothesis

Testable prediction derived from a theory.

Null Hypothesis

Statement asserting no significant difference or relationship exists.

Hindsight Bias

Tendency to believe one could have predicted an outcome after learning it.

Operational Definition

Precise explanation of how a variable is measured for replication.

Coincidence Error

Seeing meaningful patterns in random events.

Overconfidence Error

Being more certain than correct in judgments.

Sampling

Process of selecting participants for a study.

Representative Sample

Sample accurately reflecting the larger population.

Random Selection

Every member of a population has an equal chance of being chosen.

Stratified Sample

Sampling method ensuring subgroups are proportionally represented.

Experimental Method

Research design manipulating variables to establish cause and effect.

Confounding Variable

Uncontrolled factor that may influence the dependent variable.

Random Assignment

Randomly placing participants into control or experimental groups to reduce bias.

Control Group

Participants not receiving the independent variable; baseline for comparison.

Experimental Group

Participants receiving the independent variable or treatment.

Independent Variable

Factor the researcher manipulates in an experiment.

Dependent Variable

Outcome measured to assess the effect of the independent variable.

Experimental Bias

Researcher’s unconscious influence on participants or data.

Subject Bias

Participants alter behavior because they know they are in a study.

Single-Blind Procedure

Participants do not know whether they are in control or experimental group.

Hawthorne Effect

Behavior change resulting from participants knowing they are observed.

Double-Blind Procedure

Neither participants nor researchers know group assignments.

Placebo Effect

Improvement caused by participants’ expectations rather than treatment.

Correlation

Statistical relationship between two variables.

Positive Correlation

Both variables increase or decrease together.

Negative Correlation

One variable increases while the other decreases.

Correlation Coefficient

Numeric value (–1 to +1) indicating strength and direction of a correlation.

Scatterplot

Graph displaying the relationship between two variables.

Naturalistic Observation

Recording behavior in natural environments without interference.

Case Study

In-depth examination of an individual or small group.

Survey/Interview

Self-report method collecting attitudes or behaviors from many people.

Mode

Most frequently occurring score in a data set.

Mean

Arithmetic average of a data set.

Median

Middle score in an ordered data set.

Range

Difference between highest and lowest values.

Standard Deviation

Measure of variability showing average distance from the mean.

Normal Curve

Symmetrical, bell-shaped distribution representing many traits (e.g., IQ).

Skewed Distribution

Asymmetrical data distribution, often seen in income data.

Milgram’s Obedience Study

Experiment on obedience to authority involving fake electric shocks.

Informed Consent

Participants’ agreement to take part after learning key info.

Do No Harm

Ethical principle requiring researchers to avoid unnecessary distress.

Debriefing

Explaining study purposes and results to participants after completion.

Confidentiality

Keeping participant data private and anonymous.

Right to Withdraw

Participant’s right to leave a study at any time without penalty.

Deception (in research)

Deliberately withholding information; allowed when justified and debriefed.