Unit 0
This type of definition specifies exactly how a variable is measured in a study.
What is an operational definition?
This fatty tissue speeds up neural transmission.
What is the myelin sheath?
The three stages of memory in the information-processing model.
What are encoding, storage, and retrieval?
The understanding that objects continue to exist even when out of sight.
What is object permanence?
A behavior is considered a disorder when it is atypical, disturbing, unusual, and ________.
What is maladaptive?
This term describes assigning participants to groups by chance to reduce confounding variables.
What is random assignment?
This neurotransmitter is most associated with movement and pleasure; too much relates to schizophrenia.
What is dopamine?
Memories we consciously recall vs. memories we do automatically.
What are explicit and implicit memories?
A child who is distressed when the caregiver leaves but is comforted upon return demonstrates this attachment style.
What is secure attachment?
This theory explains the discomfort felt when behavior and attitudes do not match.
What is cognitive dissonance?
This research method shows relationships between variables but cannot prove causation.
What is correlation?
This area of the brain controls breathing and heart rate.
What is the medulla?
This problem-solving error occurs when we search for information that confirms our beliefs.
What is confirmation bias?
Name the five components of classical conditioning.
In order: Neutral Stimulus, Unconditioned Stimulus, Unconditioned Response, Conditioned Stimulus, Conditioned Response.
This error occurs when we overestimate personality factors and underestimate the situation when explaining others’ behavior.
What is the fundamental attribution error?
A researcher claims results are “statistically significant.” This means the p-value is ___ or less.
What is .05?
Drugs that mimic neurotransmitters are called this; drugs that block them are called this.
What are agonists and antagonists?
This heuristic leads us to judge something based on how easily examples come to mind.
What is the availability heuristic?
Increasing a behavior by removing something unpleasant refers to this type of reinforcement.
What is negative reinforcement?
A client experiences persistent intrusive thoughts and repetitive behaviors that interfere with daily life. This disorder is characterized by these symptoms.
What is obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)?
Name one ethical guideline required in psychological research and describe its purpose.
Examples: informed consent, confidentiality, debriefing, protection from harm
This term refers to the brain’s ability to reorganize and form new neural connections after injury.
What is neuroplasticity?
This phenomenon occurs when misleading information distorts a person’s memory of an event.
What is the misinformation effect?
Slot machines use this reinforcement schedule, which is highly resistant to extinction.
What is a variable ratio schedule?
This phenomenon occurs when people in a group exert less effort on a task than when working alone, often because individual contributions feel less noticeable.
What is social loafing?