Unit 1/Pt.1
Applied Research
A scientific study that aims to solve practical problems.
Levels of Analysis
the differing complementary views, from biological to psychological to social-cultural, for analyzing any given phenomenon.
Cognitive (Psychology)
the scientific study of all the mental activities associated with thinking, knowing, remembering, and communicating.
Correlation
a measure of the extent to which two variables change together, and thus of how well either variable predicts the other.
Correlation Coefficient
a statistical index of the relationship between two variables (from -1.0 to +1.0).
Basic Research
A pure science that aims to increase the scientific knowledge base.
Nature Vs. Nurture Issue
the longstanding controversy over the relative contributions that genes and experience make to the development of psychological traits and behaviors. Today's science sees traits and behaviors arising from the interaction of nature and nurture.
SQ3R
a study method incorporating five steps: Survery, Question, Read, Rehearse, Review.
Double-Blind Procedure
an experimental procedure in which both the research participants and the research staff are ignorant about whether the research participants have received the treatment or a placebo. Commonly used in drug-evaluation studies.
placebo effect
experimental results caused by expectations alone; any effect on behavior caused by the administration of an inert substance or condition, which the recipient assumes is an active agent
Empiricism
the view that knowledge originates in experience and that science should, therefore, rely on observation and experimentation.
Structuralism
an early school of psychology that used introspection to explore the elemental structure of the human mind
Behaviorism
the view that psychology (1) should be an objective science that (2) studies behavior without reference to mental processes. Most research psychologists today agree with (1) but not with (2).
the scientific study of observable behavior, and its explanation by principles of learning.
Standard Deviation
a computed measure of how much scores vary around the mean score.
Illusory correlation
The perception of a relationship where none exists.
Psychiatry
a branch of medicine dealing with psychological disorders; practiced by physicians who often provide medical (for example, drug) treatments as well as psychological therapy.
Functionalism
a school of psychology that focused on how our mental and behavioral processes function--how they enable us to adapt, survive, and flourish.
Hindsight Bias
the tendency to believe, after learning an outcome, that one would have foreseen it.
Normal Curve (normal distribution)
Bell-Shaped Curve
a symmetrical, bell-shaped curve that describes the distribution of many types of data; most scores fall near the mean (68% fall within one standard deviation of it) and fewer near the extremes.
Experimental group
In an experiment, the group that is exposed to the experiment.
Psychology
the science of behavior and mental processes.
Evolutionary (Psychology)
the study of the roots of behavior and mental processes using the principles of natural selection.
Case Study
an observation technique in which one person is studied in depth in the hope of revealing universal principles.
Independent Variable
the experimental factor that is manipulated--the variable whose effect is being studied.
Control group
In an experiment, the group not exposed to the experiment for comparison