PSYC1101 - Final Exam

Critical thinking

the process of thoughtfully analyzing and probing questions, statements and arguments.

Psychology define

Scientific study of the mind and behavior

Structuralism

understanding the conscious experience through introspection ( Wilhelm Wundt)

Functionalism

focused on how mental activities helped an organism adapt to its environment ( William James )

Psychoanalytic Theory

focuses on the role of the unconscious in affecting conscious behaviour ( Sigmund Freud)

Gestalt Psychology

Focuses on humans as a whole rather than individual parts ( Wertheimer, Koffka, Kohler )

Behaviorism

focuses on observing and controlling behaviour ( Pavlov, Watson, Skinner )

Humanism

emphasizes the potential for good that is innate to all humans ( Abraham Maslow and Carl Rogers)

Deductive reasoning

results are predicted based on a general premise.
- All living things require energy to survive (premise), ducks are living things,
therefore ducks require energy to survive (conclusion)

Inductive reasoning

conclusions are drawn from observations.
- You see many fruit growing on trees and therefore assume all fruit grows on trees

Theory

well-developed set of ideas that propose an explanation for observed phenomena

Hypothesis

tentative and testable statement (prediction) about the relationship between two or more variables

Observer bias

when observations may be skewed to align with observer expectations

Correlation

Relationship between two or more variables; when two variables are correlated, one variable changes as the other does

Correlation Coefficient

number from -1 to +1, indicating the strength and direction of the relationship between variables, and usually represents by r.

Positive Correlation

Two variables change in the same direction, both becoming either larger or smaller

Negative Correlation

two variables change in different directions, with one becoming larger as the other becomes smaller; a negative correlation is not the same thing as no correlation.

Cause-and-effect relationship

changes in one variable cause the changes in the other variable; can be determined only through an experimental research design

Confounding variable

unanticipated outside factor that affects both variables of interest, often giving the false impression that changes in one variable causes
changes in the other variable

Illusory Correlations

Seeing relationships between two things when in reality no such relationship exists

Confirmation bias

tendency to ignore evidence that disproves ideas or beliefs

Experimental group

The participants that experience the manipulated variable (group designed to answer the
research question

Control group

Participants that do not experience the manipulated variable