PSY101 - CHAPTER 1

Behaviorism

Study of observable behavior only

behavioral perspective

Behavior explained by learning and environment

biological perspective

Behavior explained by biology

biopsychosocial perspective

Behavior explained by interactions btwn biological, psychological, and social factors

case study

In-depth study of one person/small group

cognitive perspective

Focuses on thoughts

confounding variable

Uncontrolled factor affecting experiment results

control group

Group not exposed to independent variable

Correlation

Relationship between two variables

correlation coefficient

Number showing strength/direction of correlation

correlational method

Examines relationships without manipulation

critical thinking

Thinking that evaluates evidence and arguments

Debriefing

Explanation given to participants after study

dependent variable (DV)

Factor measured in an experiment

descriptive research

Observes and describes without manipulation

double-blind study

Neither participants nor researchers know conditions

empirical method

Knowledge gained through observation and measurement

evolutionary perspective

Behavior explained by adaptation and survival

Experiment

Research manipulating variables to test effects

Experimental group

Group exposed to independent variable

experimental method

Controlled testing of cause-and-effect

experimenter bias

Researcher’s expectations affect outcomes

extraneous variable

Uncontrolled factor influencing results

Functionalism

Study of mental processes’ functions and purposes

humanistic psychology

Emphasizes growth

Hypothesis

Testable prediction about variables

independent variable (IV)

Factor manipulated in an experiment

informed consent

Participant agreement after knowing risks

Institutional Review Board (IRB)

Ethics committee overseeing research safety

Introspection

Self-reflection on thoughts and feelings

natural selection

Traits aiding survival are passed on

Nature

Influence of genetics on behavior

Naturalistic Observation

Observing behavior in natural settings

Nurture

Influence of environment on behavior

observer bias

Researcher expectations influence observations

operational definition

Exact definition of a variable

Placebo

Inactive substance with no real effect

Population

Entire group being studied

positive psychology

Study of strengths and happiness

psychoanalytic perspective

Behavior explained by unconscious motives

Psychologists

Scientists who study behavior and mind

Psychology

Scientific study of behavior and mental processes

random assignment

Randomly placing participants into groups

random sample

Randomly selected participants from population

Replicate

Repeat study to confirm results

representative sample

Sample reflecting population’s characteristics

Sample

Subset of population studied

scientific method

Process of testing hypotheses with data

sociocultural perspective

Behavior influenced by culture and society

Structuralism

Study of mental structures via introspection

survey method

Questionnaires/interviews to gather data

Theory

Explanation based on evidence

third variable

Outside factor influencing correlation

variables

Factors that can change in research