UNIT 0 APPSYCH

Flashcards covering key concepts from lecture notes on biological, cognitive, behavioral, psychodynamic, humanistic, evolutionary, and sociocultural perspectives; research methods including experimental, correlation, and naturalistic observation; statistical concepts such as p-value, effect size, and standard deviation; and ethical considerations in research.

Biological Perspective

Genetics and body influences behavior

Cognitive perspective

Perception and memory influences behavior

Behavioral Perspective

Reinforcement and punishment influences behavior

Psychodynamic Perspective

Childhood and blocked emotions influences behavior

Humanistic Perspective

Personal growth influences behavior

Evolutionary Perspective

Natural selection and survival instincts influences behavior

Sociocultural Perspective

Cultural norms influence behavior

Confirmation Bias

Looking for information to confirm your own beliefs and ignoring everything else.

Hindsight Bias

Acting like you knew it all along.

Overconfidence Bias

Overestimating abilities, knowledge, or accuracy.

Experimental Research

Changing the independent variable to see results (dependent variable). Includes random assignment, control, and experimental groups, might use a placebo.

Case Study

In-depth analysis of someone or an event. Includes details about the individual (unique cases).

Correlation Study

Relationship of variables without manipulation. Includes correlation coefficient, relationships.

Naturalistic Observation

Observing a natural setting without interfering. Includes no intervention, mainly with animals or people in their usual setting.

Meta Analysis

Statistical results from multiple studies. Includes different findings, overall trends.

Confounding Variable

An uncontrolled factor that can mess with the results.

Experimental Group

Group exposed to the independent variable.

Control Group

Group not exposed to the independent variable.

Placebo Effect

People have a change because of expectations, not the treatment itself.

Single-Blind Procedure

Participants don't know if they are in the experimental or control group.

Double-Blind Procedure

Neither the participants nor the researchers know who is in which group.

Random Sampling

Every participant has an equal chance of being selected.

Convenience Sampling

Selecting participants based on whoever is readily available.

Positive Correlation

As one variable increases, the other variable also increases.

Negative Correlation

As one variable increases, the other variable decreases.

No Correlation

No apparent relationship between the two variables.

Correlation Coefficient

A measure of the strength and direction of a correlation; closer to +1 indicates a strong positive correlation, and closer to 0 indicates a weak or no correlation.

Third Variable Problem

Another factor influences both variables and explains the connection.

P-value (p < 0.05)

A statistical measure indicating that results are not due to chance when p < 0.05 (they are real).

Effect Size

The extent to which the independent variable has an impact on the dependent variable (Larger size = strong impact).

Mean

The average of a set of numbers.

Median

The middle number in a sorted list of numbers.

Mode

The number that appears most frequently in a set of numbers.

Range

The difference between the highest and lowest values (High - Low).

Standard Deviation

How spread out scores are from the mean.

Informed Consent

People must know about the experiment before agreeing to participate.

Debriefing

Researchers must explain the purpose and details of the experiment after it is completed.

Protection from Harm

Participants cannot experience physical or mental harm.

Confidentiality

People’s data must be kept private and secure.

Deception & Confederates

Use of deception and confederates must be justified and followed by a debriefing if used for studying validity.