Intro to Psychology - IB Psych

Flashcards covering key concepts from the 'Intro to Psychology' lecture, including definitions of psychology, research methodologies, experimental design principles, and ethical considerations in human research.

What is psychology?

The study of behavior and mental processes.

Why are intuition and common sense not always sufficient for understanding human nature?

Intuition and common sense may aid queries, but they are not free of error and can lead to incorrect conclusions.

In what situations might intuition lead to errors?

Personal interviewers relying too much on 'gut feelings' or judgments based on superficial characteristics (e.g., CEO height, surgeon's voice, orchestra auditions).

What is hindsight bias?

The 'I-knew-it-all-along' phenomenon, where after learning an outcome, many people believe they could have predicted that very outcome.

How does common sense differ from psychological science?

Common sense relies on conclusions based solely on personal experience and sensible logic, which can often lead to incorrect conclusions, unlike systematic psychological science.

What is overconfidence in terms of psychological science?

The tendency to think we know more than we actually know, leading to overestimating our abilities or the speed at which we can complete tasks.

What is a Research Hypothesis (H1)?

A testable prediction, often prompted by a theory, that enables us to accept, reject, or revise the theory.

What is a Null Hypothesis (H0)?

A hypothesis that a researcher tries to reject or nullify, stating there will be no effect or no relationship between variables. Experiment conclusions typically refer to rejecting or accepting H0.

What is an independent variable?

The variable that the researcher actively manipulates and is hypothesized to cause a change in the dependent variable; it is the 'cause variable'.

What is a dependent variable?

The variable that is expected to show the effect of the independent variable; it is the 'effect variable' or the outcome being measured.

What is an experimental group?

The participants in an experiment who are exposed to the independent variable or the experimental condition.

What is a control group?

The participants in an experiment who are not exposed to the independent variable, used for comparison with the experimental group.

What are extraneous or confounding variables?

Variables, other than the independent variable, that could inadvertently influence the dependent variable and should be controlled for to establish a true cause-effect relationship.

What is a blind procedure (or single-blind procedure)?

An experimental procedure where the research participants are ignorant (blind) to the expected outcome of the experiment.

What is a double-blind procedure?

A research procedure in which both the data collectors and the research participants do not know the expected outcome or purpose of the experiment.

What is a placebo?

A non-active substance or condition administered instead of a drug or active agent, often an inactive pill given to the control group.

What is the placebo effect?

Experimental results caused by expectations alone, where belief in a treatment leads to positive results even if the substance or condition has no inherent therapeutic qualities.

What is the difference between morals and ethics?

Morals are often personal standards and values, while ethics are usually codes of conduct in organizations and societies.

What is informed consent in human research ethics?

Participants must be fully informed, in advance, about the general nature of the research and any potential risks involved.

When is deception acceptable in research, according to ethical guidelines?

Deception is acceptable under certain circumstances, but it demands a thorough debriefing of participants afterward.

What is debriefing in ethical human research?

Participants have a right to receive a complete explanation of the research, its aim, and purpose at the end of the study, especially if deception was involved.

What is the right to withdrawal in human research?

Participants have the right to leave a study at any time, including withdrawing their data after they've participated.

What does confidentiality require in human research?

Individual data about research participants should never be discussed or released.

What does 'protection from harm and discomfort' mean in human research ethics?

Studies involving harm or discomfort may be conducted only under certain circumstances and with the informed consent of the participants, including both mental and physical protection.

What are the characteristics and common methods of qualitative research?

It seeks rich, subjective data using methods such as observations, interviews (including questionnaires and surveys), and case studies.

What is an illusory correlation?

The perception of a relationship where no relationship actually exists (e.g., believing a specific coin causes scratch-off wins, or spurious correlations between unrelated events).

What are the different types of observations in research?

Lab vs. Naturalistic, Overt vs. Covert, Participant vs. Non-Participant, and Structured vs. Unstructured observations.