3rd 9 Weeks Test

What is replication in research methods?

Repeating a research study to see if the results are consistent and can be generalized.

What is the wording effect?

The way a question is phrased can influence how people respond in surveys or experiments.

What is a random sample?

A sample in which every member of the population has an equal chance of being selected.

What is a representative sample?

A sample that accurately reflects the characteristics of the population from which it is drawn.

What is hindsight bias?

The tendency to believe, after an event has occurred, that we 'knew it all along.'

What is an operational definition?

A clear, precise definition of a variable in a study, including how it is measured.

What does correlation measure?

The relationship between two variables, but does not imply causation.

What is a positive correlation?

When two variables increase or decrease together (e.g., study time and GPA).

What is a correlation coefficient?

A statistical measure ranging from -1 to +1 that shows the strength and direction of a relationship.

What is the difference between single blind and double blind research?

In single blind, participants don’t know if they are in the experimental or control group; in double blind, both participants and researchers don’t know, reducing bias.

What are standard deviation percents in a normal distribution?

About 68% of data falls within 1 standard deviation, 95% within 2, and 99.7% within 3.

What does the humanistic perspective focus on?

Personal growth, free will, and self-actualization (e.g., Maslow, Rogers).

What does the biological perspective examine?

How brain structures, neurotransmitters, and genetics influence behavior.

What is the focus of the behavioral perspective?

Observable behaviors and the impact of learning (e.g., Skinner, Watson).

What does the psychodynamic perspective explore?

Unconscious drives, childhood experiences, and inner conflicts (e.g., Freud).

What does the evolutionary perspective examine?

How natural selection influences behavior and mental processes.

What does the sociocultural perspective study?

How culture, society, and social interactions shape behavior.

What is the focus of the cognitive perspective?

Thinking, memory, problem-solving, and perception.

What effect does multiple sclerosis have on neurons?

MS damages the myelin sheath of neurons, slowing nerve impulses and leading to motor and cognitive issues.

What is a reflex arc?

A neural pathway that allows an automatic response without conscious thought.

What are neurotransmitters?

Chemical messengers that transmit signals across synapses between neurons.

What role does serotonin play?

Regulates mood, sleep, appetite; low levels are linked to depression.

What is the function of norepinephrine?

Involved in arousal, alertness, and the fight-or-flight response.

What is acetylcholine important for?

Memory, learning, and muscle contraction.

What is glutamate's role?

The main excitatory neurotransmitter, important for memory and learning.

What is the function of GABA?

The main inhibitory neurotransmitter, reduces neural activity and anxiety.

What do endorphins do?

Natural painkillers, linked to pleasure and euphoria.

What does dopamine influence?

Movement, motivation, pleasure, and reward; linked to schizophrenia and Parkinson’s disease.

What is reuptake?

The process of neurotransmitters being reabsorbed by the sending neuron after transmitting a signal.

What is the function of the cerebellum?

Responsible for balance, coordination, and fine motor control.

What is the independent variable in an experiment?

The variable that is manipulated.

What is gate-control theory?

Suggests that the spinal cord has a 'gate' that controls pain signals reaching the brain.

What does the opponent process theory state?

We perceive colors in opposing pairs (red-green, blue-yellow, black-white).

What does the trichromatic theory propose?

The retina has three types of color receptors (red, green, blue).

What is pitch?

The highness or lowness of a sound, determined by frequency.

What is a perceptual set?

A mental predisposition to perceive something in a certain way based on expectations and experience.

What does the law of effect state?

Behaviors followed by positive outcomes are strengthened, and those followed by negative outcomes are weakened.

What is Weber's law?

To be perceived as different, two stimuli must differ by a constant percentage, not a constant amount.

What are heuristics?

Mental shortcuts used to make decisions quickly and efficiently.

What is the availability heuristic?

Judging the likelihood of an event based on how easily examples come to mind.

What is the representative heuristic?

Judging probability based on how well something matches a prototype.

What is long-term potentiation (LTP)?

The strengthening of neural connections through repeated stimulation, important for memory formation.

What is proactive interference?

When old information interferes with learning new information.

What is retrograde interference?

When new information disrupts recall of old information.

What is retrograde amnesia?

The inability to remember past memories before an injury.

What is anterograde amnesia?

The inability to form new memories after an injury.

What is procedural memory?

Memory for skills and actions (e.g., riding a bike).

What is semantic memory?

Memory for general knowledge and facts.

What is episodic memory?

Memory for personal experiences and events.