Psych Exam 1

science is the use of….in order to acquire knowledge

systemic observation

ethics of scientific psychology

informed consent

confidentiality

privacy

benefits

deception

correlation research

a relationship between two variables

“when x changes, y also tends to change”

independent variable

what the researcher manipulates

dependent variable

what is measured

random assignment

participants of a study have equal opportunity of entering each group

confound

a variable that provides an alternate explanation for findings

placebo effect

beliefs of participant change outcome

“Because I am getting treatment I will do better”

Participant Demand

participants guess the hypothesis of research and changes their behavior

Experimenter expectations

researcher unintentionally influences results

Surveys

used in correlation and experimental studies

inexpensive, fast, and large samples

Quasi Experimental research

tests independent variable on an outcome when random sample is not possible

ex: divorced vs married

Longitudinal Research

same participants over an extended period measuring the same variables repeatedly to detect changes, patterns, and potential cause–effect relationships within individuals

Qualitative Research

use of nonnumerical research, looks for recurring themes

interviews

focus groups

opened- responses

observations

Internal Validity

degree in which a study can confidently establish case and effect relationship

external validity

a study is able to be applicable to beyond the specific study

ecological validity

how well a study reflects real life

The Central Nervous System (CNS)

made up of spine and brain, encased in bone, communicates largely by sending electrical signals through nerve cells

3 Main parts of Neurons

Dendrites

Soma

Axon

Path that an electrical signal is sent

dendrites receive info and channel it to the soma and build up electrochemical signal (action potential) and then shoots it down the axon

What is Myelin sheath and how do they help send the electrochemical signal?

layer of fatty cells around the axon that helps the signal travels faster neuron to neuron

neurotransmitter

chemical signal that travel from one neuron to another to enable communication

4 lobes of the brain

Occipital, Temporal, Parietal, Frontal

Occipital Lobe

visual info: process color, motion, shape

Temporal Lobe

Process sound, smell, hearing, language, memory

Parietal Lobe

Process spatial awareness, sensory info, touch, temp, pain

Frontal Lobe

decision making, problem solving, planning

Oldest part of the brain

brainstem

Corpus Callousm

dense network of neurons that help 2 hemispheres of brain communicate

Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)

carries signals necessary for the body to survive, sends signals to the organs, digestive system, muscles etc.

Somatic Nervous System

PNS that controls voluntary movement of skeletal muscle

Autonomic Nervous System

PNS system that controls involuntary body functions

The Limbic System

Process emotion and motivation

key structures: amygdala, hippocampus, hypothalamus, thalamus

Cognitive development

development of perception, memory, language, reasoning, and problem solving

Piaget’s Big Idea

construct knowledge interactions with the world around them, children are little scientists