Research Methods
what is the scientific method ?
Observe behavior or mental processes.
Form a hypothesis about why they occur.
Conduct experiments or studies to test the hypothesis.
Analyze data to see if the results support the hypothesis.
Draw conclusions and share findings, which can inform theory, practice, or further research.
what is person perception
the process of forming impressions and judgments about other people based on their appearance, behavior, and other information.
what is a "group"
a group is two or more people who interact, share goals, and influence each other’s behavior.
why might perception differ from person to person ?
influencing factors may include:
- past experiences
- culture and background
- emotions and mood
- attention
- sensory differences
- expectations and beliefs
Define Falibility
The tendency to be wrong or make mistakes in perception
whats an advantage of using the scientific process in research ?
it allows researchers to systematically test ideas, control variables, and draw reliable, evidence-based conclusions.
what is a heuristic
a 'mental shortcut' used to help make judgements on people or decisions.
what is a "norm"
an unwritten rule or expectation about how people should behave in a group or society.
It guides what is seen as acceptable or unacceptable behavior.
what is the difference between sensation and perception
sensation: taking the information in
perception: analysing and grouping the information
what is a supertaster
a individual with more sensitivity to flavour, and more tastebuds than the average person
why is a control group used in a experiment ?
to serve as a baseline, so researchers can compare results and see the effect of the independent variable.
(for more accuracy)
what is one way to reduce prejudice
increased intergroup interactions (bringing different groups together)
or
through teaching the idea of stereotypes empathy and compassion.
what is obedience ?
aligning to command from others.
whats the difference between "Top-down processing" & "Bottom-up processing"
TOP-DOWN: using your own information and applying it to the scenario
BOTTOM-UP: using outside information and applying it to the scenario
what is agnosia
Agnosia is the inability to recognise objects, people, or sounds despite normal senses.
or
the inability to reproduce an image
is the use of deception allowed in psychological research, explain why.
Yes, only under strict ethical guidelines.
It is used when knowing the true purpose would influence participants’ behavior and invalidate results. Researchers must ensure that:
It does not cause harm or distress.
Participants are informed as soon as possible (debriefed).
The study is approved by an ethics committee.
what are the 3 steps in attribution
Observation – noticing someone’s behavior.
Determination – deciding whether the behavior was intentional.
Attribution – explaining the behavior as caused by internal factors (personality) or external factors (situation).
what is conformity ?
when people change their behavior, beliefs, or attitudes to match those of a group or social norms, often to fit in or be accepted.
what are the 3 types of attention
selective, sustained & divided
what is spacial neglect
Spatial neglect is when a person ignores one side of their visual field, usually after brain damage.
how might a researcher gain a random sample for their study ?
Random number generators to pick participants from a list.
Drawing names from a hat or similar lottery-style selection.
Using computer software to randomly select participants from a database.
what is the difference between prejudice and discrimination
Prejudice is a negative attitude or belief toward a person or group, while discrimination is the unfair behavior or actions based on that prejudice.
what are potential factors that may influence someone to not be obedient
Personal morals or beliefs, Authority legitimacy, Social support, Proximity to the victim, Awareness of consequences, Personality
name each step in the process of sensation and perception
Reception, Transduction, Transmission, Selection, Organisation, Interpretation
Miraculin makes sour foods taste sweet by altering how taste receptors respond to acids.
(it alters the flavour/taste of particular foods)