Psychology and Critical Thinking

Flashcards for key vocabulary terms about Science and Pseudoscience, Cognitive Biases, and Critical Thinking from the lecture notes.

Systematic Empiricism

Relying on carefully gathered evidence, observations, and data to understand how things work.

The Scientific Method

A step-by-step approach to studying the world, involving asking a question, forming a hypothesis, testing it, analyzing results, and sharing findings.

Publicly Verifiable Data

Sharing data publicly so others can verify or replicate research, often involving peer review by experts.

Solvable Problems

Focusing on questions that can be tested and answered with evidence.

Observational Studies

Watching and recording events without manipulation or control.

Quasi-Experiments

Similar to experiments but lacking random assignment.

Experiments

Manipulating variables and using random assignment to determine cause and effect.

Pseudoscience

Signs that help you spot fake science.

Difference between Science and Pseudoscience

Using real evidence and testing versus relying on opinions, beliefs, or manipulation.

Testimonials

Personal stories are not scientific evidence.

Framing Effects

The way something is worded affecting how we perceive it.

Authority & Obedience

The surprising likelihood of people following authority, even when it feels wrong.

Why We Believe in Magic or the Unexplainable

Our brains looking for patterns, even when they’re not real

Conspiracy Theories

Suspicion, secrecy, and rejection of mainstream ideas; always has a bad guy pulling the strings

Heuristics

Mental shortcuts.

Representativeness

Judging based on how much something seems to fit a stereotype

Availability

Judging based on what comes to mind easily (like recent news).

Superstition

Believing something caused an outcome with no real evidence.

Illusory Correlation

Thinking two things are related when they’re not.

Illusion of Control

Believing you have control over something random.

Hindsight Bias

“I knew it all along” thinking after something happens.

Confirmation Bias

Looking for info that supports what you already believe.

Just World Phenomenon

Believing the world is fair, so bad things must happen to bad people.

Blaming the Victim

Assuming someone caused their own misfortune.

Overconfidence

Being more sure of your knowledge than you should be.

Accidental Learning

Picking up patterns or knowledge without realizing it.

Pattern Seeking

Finding patterns, even where none exist.

Empiricism

Using observation and evidence to learn about the world.

Gambler’s Fallacy

Thinking past events change the odds of future random events.

Clustering Illusion

Seeing groups or patterns in random data.

Empty Language

Fancy or vague words used to confuse or impress.

Correlation

When two things are related, but not necessarily causal.