INTRODUCTION TO PSYCHOLOGY

Vocabulary

100

What is the definition of psychology? 

“PSYCHOLOGY is the scientific study of mental processes and behaviour and how these are affected by internal processes and the environment.”

200

What is Anecdotal Data?

Anecdotal Data: evidence collected in a casual or informal manner & relying heavily or entirely on personal experience.

300

What is Empirical Data? 

Empirical Data: evidence collected through the scientific method - based on observation and/or experimentation.

400

What is standardized procedure? 

Standardized procedure: the idea that directions given to participants during an experiment are exactly the same. This is the most basic form of "control" for a study.

500

What does Random allocation to conditions mean?

Random allocation to conditions: In a true experiment, participants are randomly allocated to conditions in order to avoid sampling bias.

Sampling Techniques

100

The sampling method which can be generalized to the widest, most general population is:

  Stratified sample

 Self-selected sample

  Random sample 

  Purposive sample

RANDOM

200

Which sampling technique makes use of a pre-existing group?

  Purposive sampling

  Opportunity (convenience) sampling

  Snowball sampling

  Stratified sampling

OPPORUNITY SAMPLING

 

300

I am doing a study of the effect of music on students’ ability to prepare for a content assessment. I put an ad in the school newspaper to look for participants. What type of sampling technique am I using?

SELF SELECTED

400

1. Which sampling technique attempts to make the sample reflect the demographic nature of the population?

  Random sampling

  Stratified sampling 

  Purposive sampling

 Stratified sampling

500

A psychologist carries out a study of gay men who have suffered from domestic violence by their partner.  The men were all members of a local support group.  The psychologist asks the participants if they know someone else in the group who may be willing to be part of the study.

SNOWBALL

TEACUP

100

What does the T stand for?

TESTABLE. Is it possible to set up an experiment to test the theory? 

200

What does the E stand for? 

EMPIRICAL EVIDENCE. Is there evidence to support the theory? 

300

What does the A stand for? 

APPLICATION. Can the theory be used to explain or change behaviour? 

400

What does the U stand for? 

UNBIAS? Is the theory objective? Are all groups from the target population represented?  

500

What does the C and P stand for? 

CONSTRUCT VALIDITY.  Are the concepts well defined, observable and measurable? 

PREDICTIVE VALIDITY. Does the theory let us predict behavior? 

IV / DV

100

Which variable do you manipulate and what variable do you measure?

IV - manipulate

DV - measure  

200

 An industrial psychologist would like to see if one’s ability to solve problems changes with the time of day.

Null Hypothesis and Research Hypothesis?  

Null: The time of day has no significant effect on the time taken by employees to solve a complex problem.

Research: The later in the day, the longer it takes employees to solve a complex problem.

300

An industrial psychologist would like to see if one’s ability to solve problems changes with the time of day.

What is the IV and DV? 

IV: The time of day

DV: The ability to solve problems.  This could either focus on an accurate response or the amount of time taken to solve the problem.

400

A researcher would like to test whether stress plays a role in an elderly person’s ability to identify faces.

Null and Research Hypothesis 

Null: An elderly person's level of stress has no effect on the amount of time taken to identify faces.

Research: The higher an elderly person's level of stress, the longer it takes them to identify faces.

500

A researcher would like to test whether stress plays a role in an elderly person’s ability to identify faces.

IV and DV? 

IV: one's level of stress. Students should discuss how this would be manipulated.

DV: the number of faces correctly identified or the time taken to identify a face.

Ethics

100

What ethical rule was followed? 

Participants were told that they would take part in a study on human attraction. They were then asked to formally agree to take part in the study.

Informed Consent

200

When the researcher reveals any deception used in a study and gives the participant the right to withdraw their data.

Debriefing 

300

When the experimenter either hides information from a participant or tells them something that is not true in order to test a hypothesis.

Deception 

400

Identities with not be revealed or published 

Anonymized 

500

Participants should be able to leave a study at any time if they feel uncomfortable.

Right to Withdraw