Modern Approaches
Neuroscience
Types of Research
Scientific Method
Vocabulary
100

Approach to psychology that examines how organisms learn or modify behaviors in response to rewards and punishments A. biological B. cognitive C. behavioral D. psychoanalytic

What is C. behavioral

100

Two types of brain cells are ________ and glial cells

Neurons

100
Method best used to determine cause/effect relationships?
What is experiment
100
The first step of the scientific method is to Ask a Question and to State a ____________
What is hypothesis
100
What is the difference between a psychologist and a psychiatrist?
A psychiatrist is an MD (and can therefore proscribe drugs)
200
Approach that focuses on how people process and store information A. biological B. cognitive C. behavioral D. psychoanalytic
What is B. cognitive
200
Neurotransmitter:Key::___________:Lock
Synapse or Receptor
200
Method best used to compare differences among people of different genders or ethnic groups
What is a survey
200
In an experiment, what is the term given to the treatment? (Ex: a drug)
What is the independent variable
200
The strength of the relationship between two events is known as a ______________ (ex: There is a positive _____________ between being overweight and earning less money)
What is correlation
300

Approach that believes each individual has great freedom to direct his/her own future, and achieve personal growth & fulfillment

What is humanistic

300
The nervous system can be divided into the _______________ and ______________ nervous system
Central; Peripheral
300
What are the two settings where psychological research can be conducted? (Hint: One more easily allows for the control of external variables)
What are laboratory setting and naturalistic setting
300
What is the difference between a control group and an experimental group?
Experimental group receives the IV (treatment). Control group does not.
300
The purpose of the scientific method is to control for as many _______________ as possible so as to determine cause and effect.
variables
400
A psychologist who believes early childhood trauma is the reason for an adult's current anxiety disorder is using what approach?
What is psychoanalytic
400
The brain can be subdivided into the ____ brain, Midbrain and ____brain
hindbrain / midbrain / forebrain
400
What is one limitation of the case study method of psychological research?
The results for one specific person may not be generalizable.
400
A researcher wants to study the effects of a strobe light on a person's reading comprehension. If this researcher did an experiment, what would the independent variable be and what might be the dependent variable?
IV = strobe light DV = reading comprehension (perhaps a multiple-choice quiz given after a short reading)
400
In one of the last Harry Potter books, Ron must play keeper during a very important game of Quiddich. He is very nervous, so Hermione gives him a potion that will give him extraordinary ability. Ron plays great and helps his team win the game. Later, Hermione reveals that the potion was only juice. How can we account for why Ron played so well?
This is a primary example of the placebo effect? The only thing that actually was improved was Ron's confidence, not his actual physical ability.
500

How might a psychologist using the biological approach explain why a person has anger-management problems?

The person might be genetically-predisposed to anger.

500
What are three types of neurons?
Afferent (sesnory), Efferent (motor) and interneurons
500
Give an example that illustrates the statement "correlation does not imply causation."
EX: Breastfeeding is correlated to IQ, but it could be that more highly educated women breastfeed.
500
Give an example of the placebo effect.
A person receives a sugar pill instead of an actual drug but still shows an improvement of symptoms
500
What is the purpose of the double-blind procedure?
To control for the placebo effect. Neither group knowns which one is the control and which one is the experimental group. So the placebo effect would be the same in both groups and real difference can be measured.
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