Schools of Thought
Psych. perspective that focuses on observable behavior and learning.
Behavioral
Bias that makes people believe events were predictable after they occur.
Hindsight bias
an in-depth, detailed investigation of a single individual or small group, often using various data sources like interviews, observations, and records to get a rich, qualitative understanding
Case study
This variable is manipulated by the researcher.
Independent variable
A score that indicates the percentage of scores at or below a particular value
Percentile rank
Studies comparing identical and fraternal twins.
Twin studies
Central Nervous System
Cells that transmit information
Neurons
Brainstem structure controlling heartbeat and breathing
Medulla
Sleep stage associated with dreaming
Perspective that explains behavior in terms of how it may have helped humans survive and reproduce.
Evolutionary
Bias involving seeking evidence that supports existing beliefs.
Confirmation Bias
Study involving observing behavior in its natural environment.
Naturalistic observation
The variable measured as the outcome of manipulation
A number that describes the strength and direction of a relationship between two variable.
Correlational Coefficient (r)
Debate over genetics vs. environmental influences
Nature vs. Nurture
System controlling voluntary movements
Somatic Nervous System
Gap between neurons
Synapse
Structure involved in emotion and fear
Amygdala
Drugs that block neurotransmitter activity
Antagonists
Perspective that examines how thinking, memory, and problem-solving influence behavior.
Cognitive
Tendency to overestimate the accuracy of one's knowledge or judgments
Overconfidence bias
A study that combines the results of many studies on the same topic.
Meta-analysis
An extraneous factor that influences the dependent variable
Confounding, or third, variable
A measure of how spread out data are
Standard deviation
Degree to which genes explain a variation in a trait
System responsible for fight-or-flight responses.
Sympathetic Nervous System
Process of reabsorbing neurotransmitters
Reuptake
Structure involved in memory formation
Hippocampus
Sleep disorders involving breathing interruptions
Sleep apnea
Perspective that studies how the brain, neurotransmitters, and hormones affect behavior.
Biological
Bias that leads participants to give socially acceptable answers
Social desirability bias
a precise, step-by-step description of the procedures used to define and measure a research variable
Operational Definition
Random _________ increases representativeness and generalizability.
Sampling
statistical measure used to describe the size of the difference between two group means
Cohen's d (effect size)
A discredited movement that attempted to improve populations through selective breeding
Eugenics
System that calms the body after stress
Parasympathetic Nervous System
All-or-nothing principle
Brain area controlling planning and judgment
Frontal Lobe
The body's internal clock that regulates the sleep-wake cycles
Circadian Rhythm
Perspective that emphasizes unconscious drives and early childhood experiences
Psychodynamic
A student claim astrology predicts personality traits despite lack of empirical evidence. What is this an example of?
Pseudoscience
Difference between correlation and causation
Correlation shows relationships, causation shows cause-and-effect
Purpose of a control group
To provide a baseline for comparison
This value tells you if an effect is statistically significant (likely not due to chance)
P-value
the study of how environmental factors (like stress, diet, experiences) can switch genes "on" or "off" without changing the DNA
Epigenetics
System regulates involuntary bodily functions
Autonomic Nervous System
Difference between excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmitters
Excitatory increase firing, inhibitory decrease firing
Large band of neural fibers connecting the two hemispheres of the brain
Corpus callosum
Theory that suggests sleep helps store and strengthen memories
Consolidation Theory