Ch. 1-2: Intro To Psych & Research Methodology
Lecture Terms
Psychology: the scientific study of behavior and mental processes, encompassing a wide range of topics such as cognition, emotion, and social interactions.
Names
Bandura: Psychology (social learning theory)
Carl Rogers: Psychology (humanistic psychology)
Freud: Psychology (psychoanalysis)
Rene Descartes: Philosophy (mind-body dualism)
Milgram: Psychology (obedience studies)
Watson: Psychology (behaviorism)
Skinner: Psychology (operant conditioning)
William James: Psychology (functionalism)
William Wundt: Psychology (structuralism, considered the father of experimental psychology)
Zimbardo: Psychology (social psychology, known for the Stanford prison experiment)
Terms
behavioral psychology: A branch of psychology focused on understanding behaviors and the principles of learning that govern them.
behaviorism: A theoretical approach that emphasizes the study of observable behaviors, often dismissing mental processes.
bell curve: A graphical representation of a normal distribution, showing that most occurrences take place near the mean.
central tendency: A statistical measure that identifies a central point within a dataset, commonly represented by mean, median, or mode.
case studies: In-depth analyses of individuals or groups, providing rich qualitative data about complex issues.
change blindness: A failure to notice significant changes in a visual scene, highlighting the limitations of attention.
cognitive psychology: The study of mental processes such as perception, memory, and problem-solving.
construct validity: The degree to which a test or instrument measures the theoretical construct it is intended to measure.
correlation coefficient: A statistical measure that indicates the strength and direction of a relationship between two variables.
correlational studies: Research methods that examine the relationship between variables without manipulation.
Culture: The shared beliefs, values, norms, and practices of a group of people that shape their psychological experiences.
descriptive psychology: A method that focuses on the detailed description of behavior and mental processes without manipulating the variables involved.
dualism: The theory that mind and body are distinct entities that interact with each other.
evolution theory (population): A theory that explains how species evolve over generations through natural selection and adaptations.
epiphenomenalism: The belief that mental phenomena are byproducts of physical processes, with no causal influence on behavior.
external validity: The extent to which research findings can be generalized to real-world settings.
Falsification: A principle proposed by Karl Popper, emphasizing that scientific theories should be testable and falsifiable.
functionalism: An early school of psychology focusing on the functions of mental processes in adapting to environments.
idealism: A philosophical theory that asserts reality is mentally constructed or immaterial.
informatics: The study of science and technology of information processing.
introspection: A method of self-observation in which individuals report their thoughts and feelings.
internal validity: The degree to which an experiment accurately establishes a causal relationship between variables.
levels of analysis: Different perspectives or approaches in psychology, considering biological, psychological, and social factors.
mind-body problem: The philosophical dilemma addressing how mental states relate to physical states.
naturalistic observations: Research techniques that involve observing behaviors in their natural environment without intervention.
natural selection: A process by which organisms better adapted to their environment tend to survive and produce more offspring.
neuroscience: The study of the nervous system and its impact on behavior and cognitive functions.
neuropsychopharmacology: The study of how drugs affect the brain's biology and influence behavior.
physicalism: The belief that everything that exists is physical or is the result of physical processes.
prevalence: The proportion of a population found to have a condition at a specific time.
replication: The process of repeating a study to verify results and conclusions.
reliability: The consistency of a measure across time or different observers.
Random vs. Convenient sampling methods: Random sampling involves selecting participants so that each individual has an equal chance of being chosen, while convenient sampling selects individuals who are easily accessible, potentially introducing bias.
sex theory (population): Concepts exploring the roles of sex and reproductive strategies in evolutionary biology.
social brain: The concept that human brains have evolved to manage complex social relationships.
social psychology: The study of how individuals influence and are influenced by others within a social context.
spacing effect: The phenomenon whereby information is more easily recalled if learning sessions are spaced out over time.
spurious data: Data that is misleading due to the presence of confounding variables or not reflecting accurate relationships.
statistical reasoning: The use of statistical methods to analyze data and draw conclusions.
testing effect: The improved retention of information due to retrieval practicing, as opposed to mere studying.
theory: A well-substantiated explanation of an aspect of the natural world based on a body of evidence.
The Human Genome: The complete set of genes or genetic material present in a cell or organism.
Validity vs. Reliability: Validity refers to the accuracy of a measure, while reliability refers to its consistency and repeatability.