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Goal of Psychology
describe, explain, predict, and control behavior
The 6 perspectives of psychology
cognitive, biological, social-cultural, behavioral, humanistic, psychodynamic
critical thinking
thinking that does not blindly accept arguments and conclusions. Rather, it examines assumptions, discerns hidden values, evaluates evidence, and assesses conclusions.
independent variable
The experimental factor that is manipulated; the variable whose effect is being studied.
Focus of cognitive psychology
how we encode, process, store, and retrieve information
naturalistic observation
observing and recording behavior in naturally occurring situations without trying to manipulate and control the situation
survey research
gathering primary data by asking people questions about their knowledge, attitudes, preferences, and buying behavior
double-blind study
An experiment in which neither the participant nor the researcher knows whether the participant has received the treatment or the placebo
hindsight bias
the tendency to believe, after learning an outcome, that one would have foreseen it
Hypothesis
A testable prediction, often implied by a theory
purpose of control group
The purpose of a control group is create a standard of measure to compare the experimental groups to. The control groups are not given any form of experimental treatment.
experimental research
gathering primary data by selecting matched groups of subjects, giving them different treatments, controlling related factors, and checking for differences in group responses
case study
an observation technique in which one person or group is studied in depth in the hope of revealing universal principles
meta-analysis
a procedure for statistically combining the results of many different research studies
Liket scale
a scale that measures qualitative and quantitative data
Scatterplot
a graphed cluster of dots, each of which represents the values of two variables
positive correlation
A correlation where as one variable increases, the other also increases, or as one decreases so does the other. Both variables move in the same direction.
negative correlation
as one variable increases, the other decreases
social desirability bias
A tendency to give socially approved answers to questions about oneself.
what do correlation studies show about us?
Correlation studies show us the relationships between different variables, indicating how changes in one variable might be associated with changes in another, but they cannot prove causation; meaning they can tell us if two things are linked, but not necessarily which one causes the other to change
operational definition
a statement of the procedures used to define research variables
Term- Stress: op def: Increase in heart rate and cortisol levels measured in a lab setting
Good operational definition
Term- Stress: op def: Feeling overwhelmed or anxious
Bad operational definition
control group
In an experiment, the group that is not exposed to the treatment; contrasts with the experimental group and serves as a comparison for evaluating the effect of the treatment.
experimental method
A method of investigation used to demonstrate cause-and-effect relationships by purposely manipulating one factor thought to produce change in another factor.
illusiory correlation
the perception of a relationship where none exists
mean
average
Mode
the most frequently occurring score(s) in a distribution
Median
the middle score in a distribution; half the scores are above it and half are below it
bell curve
distribution of scores in which the bulk of the scores fall toward the middle, with progressively fewer scores toward the "tails" or extremes