Ethics, Methods, and Theoretical Perspectives in Psychology (Video Notes)

Vocabulary flashcards covering ethics, research methods, observation types, and sociocultural, biopsychological, and evolutionary perspectives and notable figures.

Ethics in research

Principles that protect participants' rights and well‑being while weighing the study's value to science; includes informed consent, risk protection, confidentiality, debriefing, right to withdraw, and responsibility for any negative outcomes.

Informed consent

Participants' voluntary agreement to participate after being informed about procedures, risks, benefits, and their rights.

Deception in research

Use of deliberate misleading information or withholding details, justified only if essential and with minimal risk, and followed by debriefing.

Right to withdraw

Participants may leave the study at any time without penalty or penalty to their data.

Risk protection

Researchers must shield participants from harm or clearly disclose all potential risks.

Debriefing

Post-study explanation to participants about the study's purpose, methods, and any deception used.

Confidentiality

Keeping participants' data private and securely stored; data used only for research purposes.

Responsibility for consequences

Researchers must address or correct any negative outcomes resulting from the study.

Psychology's goals: Describe

Systematically observing and detailing behavior or mental processes.

Psychology's goals: Explain

Proposing reasons why phenomena occur, often via theories.

Psychology's goals: Predict

Anticipating future behavior or outcomes based on data.

Psychology's goals: Control

Using findings to influence or change outcomes and behaviors.

Hypothesis

A testable, tentative statement about a relationship between variables (not a question).

Theory

A well-supported explanation that integrates broad observations and generates testable hypotheses.

Perceive the Question

Recognizing and defining the issue or problem to be investigated.

Form a hypothesis

Proposing a testable prediction about the relationship between variables.

Test the hypothesis

Collecting data through methods like surveys or experiments to evaluate the prediction.

Draw conclusions

Deciding whether the data support or refute the hypothesis.

Report results

Sharing findings so others can replicate or evaluate the work.

Non-experimental research

Studies that do not manipulate variables; include surveys, interviews, questionnaires, and correlational data.

Survey

A method of gathering information from many people about attitudes, beliefs, or behaviors.

Interview

A structured or unstructured conversation used to collect in-depth information.

Questionnaire

A written set of questions used to collect data from respondents.

Correlational data

Data that identify relationships between variables but do not establish causation.

Independent variable

The variable that is deliberately manipulated in an experiment.

Dependent variable

The variable that is measured to assess the effect of manipulation.

Control group

A comparison group that does not receive the experimental manipulation.

Manipulation

Deliberate alteration of the independent variable to observe its effect.

Case study

In-depth analysis of a single subject or small group to explore complex issues.

Benefits of case study

Rich, detailed information about a subject or small group.

Problems of case study

Findings may not generalize to larger populations.

Brain damage (case study example)

An example of how brain injury can affect personality and language, illustrating in-depth analysis on a single case.

Naturalistic observation

Studying behavior in real-world settings to capture authentic actions and contexts.

Observer effect

Participants alter their behavior because they know they are being watched.

Observer bias

Researchers' expectations influence what they observe and report.

Laboratory observation

Observing behavior in a controlled laboratory setting to standardize conditions.

Benefits of laboratory observation

Precise, consistent data collection and controlled variables across participants.

Problems of laboratory observation

Artificial environment may produce atypical or unnatural behavior.

Sociocultural psychology

Study of how social contexts, family, groups, and culture influence behavior.

Lev Vygotsky

Sociocultural theorist emphasizing social interaction and cultural tools in learning.

John Darley

Social psychologist known for research on bystander effects and helping behavior.

Bibb Latané

Co-researcher with Darley; key figure in bystander effect studies.

Albert Bandura

Proponent of social learning theory; emphasizes imitation and observational learning.

Leon Festinger

Proposed cognitive dissonance theory about inconsistencies between beliefs and actions.

Henri Tajfel

Social identity theory founder; groups and intergroup behavior.

Philip Zimbardo

Conducted the Stanford Prison Experiment; highlights situational influences on behavior.

Stanley Milgram

Investigated obedience to authority through controversial experiments.

Paul Broca

Identify Broca's area; language production in the brain.

Charles Darwin

Theory of evolution by natural selection; foundational for evolutionary perspectives.

Michael Gazzaniga

Pioneered split-brain research; cognitive neuroscience insights.

Roger Sperry

Split-brain research contributor; lateralization of brain function.

Carl Wernicke

Wernicke's area; language comprehension in the brain.

S. Marc Breedlove

Neuroscientist known for brain-behavior relationships.

Lisa Feldman Barrett

Researcher on emotion theory and the construction of emotions.

David Buss

Evolutionary psychology; reproductive strategies and mating behavior.

Richard Dawkins

Evolutionary biologist; popularized gene-centered view of evolution.

Leda Cosmides

Pioneer in evolutionary psychology; cognitive adaptations for social reasoning.

Robert Trivers

Evolutionary theory on parental investment and social behavior.

David C. Geary

Evolutionary psychology; human sexual and cognitive differences.

Todd K. Shackelford

Evolutionary psychology; studies on mating, reproduction, and behavior.

Daved F. Bjorklund

Evolutionary psychologist; life history theory and development.

Anne Campbell

Evolutionary psychology research on female sexuality and reproductive strategies.

Susan Oyama

Critic of genetic determinism; promoter of developmental systems theory.