Research Methods and Ethics
Participants in these types of experiments are allocated based on some pre-existing characteristic like where they were on the day of a terrorist attack.
What is a quasi-experiment?
This concept refers to the chance that one twin will have a particular trait, given that the other twin has it.
What is a concordance rate?
This cognitive process involves identifying and choosing alternatives based on the values and preferences of the individual. It is needed during problem-solving to reach a conclusion.
What is decision-making?
A major assumption of the sociocultural approach is that humans are driven by this need.
What is 'to belong'?
These types of studies which are based on the level of shared genetic materials between individuals, use concordance rates to determine the extent to which genetic factors contribute towards the etiology of a disorder.
What are twin studies?
This ethical guideline applies when it is impossible to avoid knowing a participant's identity, like in a case study. Often, initials or pseudonyms are used.
What is confidentiality?
When we learn something new, the grey matter in our brain becomes denser due to this biological process.
What is 'dendritic branching'?
This mode of thinking is less likely to create feelings of certitude and confidence.
What is system 2 thinking (DPM)?
This occurs when one is in a situation where there is a risk of being judged or treated stereotypically or a fear of doing something that would inadvertently confirm that stereotype.
What is stereotype threat?
According to Beck's cognitive theory of depression, depressed patients have negative views of these three things.
What are self, world and future?
While these types of experiments are often high in ecological validity, they can be low in internal validity due to lack of control.
What are field experiments?
There are many receptor sites for this neurotransmitter in the hippocampus. Researchers have found that it plays a key role in the encoding of spatial memories in humans.
What is acetylcholine (ACh)?
This effect is the tendency for the information you learned after an event to interfere with your original memory of what happened.
What is the misinformation effect?
This process, a part of social cognitive theory, involves a learner having the belief that they actually CAN mimic the behaviour they have observed.
What is self-efficacy?
Social psychologists use these types of models, which focus on the balance of risk and protective factors, to explain the etiology of depression.
What are vulnerability models?
Conducted in small groups, this type of interview can be quite hard to conduct well. It takes an experienced facilitator to ensure everyone stays on topic.
What are focus groups?
These molecules are introduced to the body to mimic or amplify the effect of neurotransmitters.
What are exogenous agonists?
These systematic errors in thinking are different to logical fallacies which are mistakes of reasoning which occur in the moment.
What are cognitive biases?
This refers to generational differences in acculturation and how this leads to conflict within a family who have immigrated to a new culture.
What is an acculturation gap?
This type of approach to cultural research focuses on behaviours within a culture, by observing from outside. It seeks to define common phenomena across cultures and thereby determine which behaviours are universal and not influenced by culture.
What is an etic approach?
This type of data has already been collected for some other purpose. For example, the eye witness reports gathered by police officers in Yuille and Cutshall.
What is archival data?
When several parts of the brain have to work together to enable a cognitive process (or other type of behaviour) to occur it is called this type of processing.
What is distributive processing?
The most commonly accepted explanation for the formation of flashbulb memories is this model.
What is the importance-driven model?
This concept is the most fundamental foundation of stereotyping, social identity formation and intergroup relations. Without it, intergroup behaviour is not possible.
What is salience?
The neurogenesis theory claims that patients with MDD may display this symptom which results in the over-secretion of cortisol. This then leads to reduced serotonin and other NT in the brain, which has been linked to depression.
What is HPA-axis hyperactivity?
(HPA Axis = the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, your body's main way of responding to stress).