Chapter 2: Psychological Research Overview and Key Concepts

Trephination

Ancient practice of drilling holes in skulls.

D.A.R.E. Program

School program aimed at preventing drug use.

Inductive Reasoning

Forming generalizations based on specific observations.

Deductive Reasoning

Drawing specific conclusions from general principles.

Scientific Method

Process of hypothesis, research, and theory modification.

Freud's Theories

Psychoanalytic concepts now considered unfalsifiable.

Id, Ego, Superego

Freud's model of the human psyche structure.

Naturalistic Observation

Research method observing subjects in their natural environment.

Surveys

Research tool for collecting data from participants.

Archival Research

Examination of existing records for research purposes.

Longitudinal Research

Study observing subjects over an extended period.

Scatterplots

Graphs showing correlation strength and direction.

Positive Correlation

Both variables increase together in a relationship.

Negative Correlation

One variable increases while the other decreases.

No Correlation

No relationship between two variables observed.

Placebo Treatment

Control group receives inactive treatment to prevent bias.

Independent Variable

Manipulated factor in an experiment to observe effects.

Dependent Variable

Measured outcome affected by the independent variable.

Population

Entire group being studied in research.

Sample Group

Subset of the population used for research.

IRB

Institutional Review Board overseeing human research ethics.

Tuskegee Syphilis Study

Infamous study on untreated syphilis in African Americans.

Animal Research

Studies involving non-human subjects for psychological insights.