Psych 105

APA definitions to know

Psychology

The scientific study of the mind and behaviour; collection of behaviours, traits and attitudes that characterize an individual or group

Branches of Research

1. Experimental

2. Cognitive

3. Social neuroscience

4. Developmental

5. Personality & social psychology

Applied Psychology

1. Clinical

2. Counseling

3. Health

4. Educational

5. Industrial-organizational

6. Human factors & neuropsychology

Epistemology

Branch of philosophy to do with the nature of, origin, and the limitations of knowledge

Rationalism

Philosophical position that is it possible to obtain knowledge by reason alone (unsupported by experience)

Empiricism

View that knowledge is grounded in experience and observation

Nativism

The thinking that mental and behavioral traits are mostly determined by hereditary; innate rather than learned through experience

Determinism

Philosophy that behaviour results from prior causes (like biology, learning, environment…)

Scientific Method

Procedures and guidelines required for systematic collection and interpretation of data; reproducible evidence

Empirical Knowledge

Knowledge gained from experience rather than innate ideas

Operational Definition

Description of something in terms of procedure (by which it can be observed and measured)

Bias

An inclination or preference for or against something; can be a systematic error during sampling or data collection

Ethics

The relation and study of moral judgements (right or wrong) and their nature (objective or subjective)

Cognition

Forms of knowing and awareness; perceiving and reasoning

Schema

A collection of knowledge about a concept or entity that is a guide for imaginaion and interpretation

Linguistic Relativity

Idea that specific languages (that one speaks) influences how you think, see and experience the world.

Heuristic

More a conceptual device (like a model/hypothesis) that seeks to explore the possibilities of a question; doesn’t necessarily provide an explanation or a correct outcome