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Psychology General
Studies
Theories
Key Terms
General
100

Psychology is the (blank) study of human behavior and mental processes. (what word goes in the blank space?)

Psychology is the SCIENTIFIC study of human behaviour and mental processes.

100
What is the name of the variable that is measured in a study?
The dependent variable.
100

What is the name of one theory in psychology?

social cognitive theory, realistic group conflict theory, social identity theory, schema theory

100

What is the definition of "psychology?"

The scientific study of human behavior and mental processes.

100
The group in an experiment that receives a treatment that is expected to have an effect is called the ....(what)... group?
Treatment group
200

Psychology is the scientific study of behavior and ...?

mental process / cognitive processes / cognition / internal processes

200

What is the name of the variable that is manipulated by the researcher in a study?

Independent variable

200

What do psychological theories and studies have in common?

They both try to explain how variables influence behavior.

200
When one variable increases, so does the other. What's this called?
A positive correlation.
200
What is it called when you give someone a treatment (e.g. pill or injection) that has no biological effects, but may have an effect if the person believes it will?
A placebo.
300
In psychology, is anecdotal or empirical evidence more valuable?
Empirical
300
What is the name given to a variable that might affect the dependent variable, but is not what the researchers are interested in studying?
Extraneous variable.
300

What is one reason why it's important to understand the relationship between studies and theories?

One reason is because studies provide the empirical evidence that support the theories.

300
When one variable increases, the other decreases. What is this called?
Negative correlation.
300

Name one part of the brain relevant to psychology

frontal lobe / prefrontal cortex / the amygdala / hippocampus / hypothalamus / etc.

400
In the scientific approach to studying psychology, after we gather data and form a hypothesis, what's the next step?
Test the hypothesis.
400

Why are true (lab) experiments used to investigate causational relationships?

Because extraneous variables can be controlled more easily in a laboratory, so the IV can be isolated as the only variable influencing the DV.

400

What are two models in psychology?

The working memory model, the multi-store model of memory, the dual processing model of decision making 

400

What is a "phenomenon" in psychology?"

Anything that is commonly observed, especially if there is some uncertainty about its origin. Basically, if people commonly act or think in a particular way, it probably has a name and is an example of a phenomenon.

400

Insert the word missing: psychology is the scientific study of human behavior and mental processes

...individual human behavior...

500
What is the difference between a mental process and a cognitive process?
There is none.
500

What are two reasons why we might not be able to conclude a causal relationship from a study?

1) There are too many extraneous variables. 2) We do not know the direction of the relationship in the study (i.e. which variable is affecting which).

500

What is the difference between a psychological theory and a model?

Whereas a psychological theory attempts to explain relationships between variables and behavior, a model describes how a particular psychological phenomenon happens - there is no explanation for the phenomenon in a model, but it's component parts are just diagrammed or described.

500
What is it called when we're not sure of the direction of influence in a relationship between two variables?
Bidirectional ambiguity
500

Why is finding causal relationships more valuable to science than only finding correlations?

Because when causal relationships are established, accurate predictions can be made regarding specific phenomena, and thus we can more accurately address specific issues