Psychology as science
This approach relies on systematic observation, evidence, and testing rather than intuition.x
What is the scientific method?
A measure that ranges from -1.00 to +1.00 indicating the strength and direction of a relationship.
What is a correlation?
The body's communication system made up of the brain, spinal cord, and nerves.
Answer: What is the nervous system?
The detection of physical stimuli by sensory receptors.
Answer: What is sensation?
Learning through associations between stimuli was first demonstrated by this Russian physiologist.
Answer: Who is Ivan Pavlov?
A statement that can be tested and potentially proven false.
What is a hypothesis?
The only research method that can establish cause and effect.
What is an experiment?
The basic unit of the nervous system that sends and receives information.
Answer: What is a neuron?
The process of organizing and interpreting sensory information.
Answer: What is perception?
In classical conditioning, the learned reaction to a conditioned stimulus.
Answer: What is the conditioned response?
Using a small group to make conclusions about a larger population requires this.
What is sampling?
The variable manipulated by the researcher in an experiment.
What is the independent variable?
This debate examines how genetics and environment influence behavior.
Answer: What is the nature-nurture question?
The smallest amount of stimulation that can be detected 50% of the time.
Answer: What is the absolute threshold?
A consequence that increases the likelihood a behavior will occur again.
Answer: What is reinforcement?
The tendency to notice information that supports existing beliefs while ignoring contradictory evidence.
What is confirmation bias?
Participants are assigned to groups using this procedure to reduce bias.
Answer: What is random assignment?
According to evolutionary psychology, behaviors that increase survival and reproduction are more likely to be _____.
Answer: What is passed on (or selected)?
A naturally occurring state such as sleeping, dreaming, or wakefulness; awareness of internal and external stimuli
Answer: What is a state of consciousness?
B.F. Skinner is most closely associated with this type of learning.
Answer: What is operant conditioning?
approach using systematic observation and measurement
What is empirical?
A strong positive correlation between ice cream sales and drowning deaths illustrates this research warning.
Answer: What is correlation does not imply causation?
Jean Piaget is best known for studying this aspect of childhood development.
Answer: What is cognitive development?
This stage of sleep is most strongly associated with vivid dreaming.
Answer: What is REM sleep?
Learning by watching and imitating others is called this.
Answer: What is observational learning?