1
Q
what is psychology
A
- scientific study of behaviour
- scientific study of mental processes
- a science since it uses the scientific method
2
Q
what are the 4 goals of psychology
A
- description
- explanation
- prediction
- influence
3
Q
what does description mean
A
- make notes about behaviours or situations observes
- observations = data
- important in early stages of research
4
Q
what does explanation mean
A
- requires understanding of conditions
- understand causes of behaviour
- understand causes of mental processes
5
Q
what does prediction mean
A
- can specify conditions under which behaviour or event is likely to occur
- understand likelihood of occurrence
- predict likelihood of occurrence
6
Q
what does influence mean
A
- apply principle to prevent unwanted occurrences
- change condition to prevent unwanted occurrences
- bring about desired outcomes
7
Q
what is a theory
A
- a general principle
- organizes facts systemically
- guides scientific research
8
Q
what is basic research
A
- seeks new knowledge
- explores topics of understanding
- advances scientific understanding
9
Q
goals of applied research
A
- applying research to life
- solving practical problems
- improving quality of life
10
Q
descriptive research methods (5)
A
- naturalistic observation
- laboratory observation
- case study method
- survey research
- correlational studies
11
Q
what are naturalistic observations
A
- observe behaviour in a natural setting
- record behaviour in natural setting
- no attempt to influence or control behaviour
12
Q
advantages and disadvantages to naturalistic observations
A
advantages: - study behaviour in normal settings disadvantages - must wait for events to occur - observer bias can distort observations
13
Q
advantages and disadvantages of laboratory observations
A
advantages - more control over environment - more precise equipment to measure responses disadvantages - less spontaneity of behaviour
14
Q
the case study method
A
- one or a few participants
- in-depth study: observation, interviews, psychological testing
- study uncommon psychological or physiological disorder, brain injury
- cannot establish cause of behaviours
15
Q
5 different formats for survey research
A
1 - surveys: representative sample instead of whole population
2 - samples: part of population used (representative samples)
3 - questionnaire: quick and inexpensive
4 - interviews: interviewer’s personal characteristics can influence responses
5 - internet: may or may not be bias issues
16
Q
advantages and disadvantages of survey research
A
advantages
- can use large numbers of people
- can show changes in attitudes over time
- can show changes in behaviour over time
disadvantages
- can be costly
- can be time-consuming
- need expertise
- respondents may provide inaccurate information
17
Q
correlational method
A
- used to determine degree of relationship (correlation) between 2 characteristics, events, or behaviours
- useful in making predictions
- cannot determine cause
18
Q
correlation coefficient
A
- numerical value
- indicates degree and direction of relationship between 2 variables
- +1.00 (perfect positive correlation)
- -1.00 (perfect negative correlation)
- like an x,y graph
19
Q
correlation and prediction
A
- stronger relationship, better prediction
- correlation does not equal cause
- must use experimental method to conclude cause and effect
- ethical issues in research
20
Q
correlation does note equal cause
A
- ex. stress can cause illness, but it does not necessarily always cause illness
21
Q
advantages to the experimental method
A
- only research method to identify cause-effect relationships
- test hypothesis (educated guess)
- cause-effect relationship between two or more variables
22
Q
two different experimental variables
A
- independent variable: IV (treatment) manipulated to determine if causing change in behaviour or condition
- dependent variable: DV, measured at the end of experiment, varies as IV is manipulated
23
Q
what is an experimental group
A
- participants exposed to the independent variable
24
Q
what is a control group
A
- exposed to the same experimental environment but not given the independent variable (treatment)
25
what do experimental and control groups do
- rule out change: controlled setting in a lab
| - generalize findings: researchers must replicate/repeat experiment, use different participants
26
what are some problems in experimental research (3)
- selection bias
- placebo effect
- experimenter bias
27
what is selection bias
- systematic differences among groups present at beginning of experiment
- differences at end of experiment may be due to pre-existing differences in groups
- use random assignment to help
28
what is the placebo effect/a placebo
- placebo effect = improvement from power of suggestion
- placebo = sugar pill or injection of saline solution
- use a control group to test whether results are due to treatment or placebo effect
29
what is experimenter bias
- preconceived expectations cause them to find what they expect to find
30
what is self-fulfilling prophecy
- research interpretation supports expectations
31
what is the double-blind technique
- unknown who has the treatment
32
advantages and disadvantages of the experimental method
advantages:
- reveal cause-effect relationships
- control over experimental setting
disadvantages:
- less generalizable findings unless using field studies
- ethical limitations of experiments
33
research issues with participants
- avoid ageism, sexism, cultural bias
- human participants; use of students; generalizing results
- psychological tests; reliability and validity
- ethical guidelines in research (humans and animals)
34
what is reliability
- consistency of a test
| - same score time after time if same person tested and retested
35
what is validity
- tests ability to measure what it is intended to measure
36
ethics in research according to the canadian psychology association
- participation must be voluntary
- respect for confidentiality
- participants may withdraw at any time
- must be debriefed about full purpose of study and implications
37
when is use of deception justified in research
- value of potential findings
- information about risks not withheld
- participants debriefed asap
38
purpose of using animals in research (5)
1. simpler model of processes
2. more control over animal subjects
3. wider range of medical and other manipulations can be used
4. can study lifespan and multiple generations in some species
5. cheaper, convenient for research
- bound by canadian code of ethics for psychologists
- guidelines of canadian council on animal care
- animal research supported only when reasonable expectation that valuable knowledge will be obtained
39
who was the founder of psychology as an academic discipline
- wilhelm wundt
40
when was the first psychological lab opened and where
- 1879 in Leipzig, Germany
41
who was edward bradford titchener
- introduced psychology to north america
- analyzed basic elements/structure of conscious mental experience
- introspection method of self-observation seen as not objective
42
what is functionalism
- william james, the first north american school of psychology
- use of mental processes adapting to environment
- broadened the scope of psychology to include the study of behaviour as well as mental processes, and the study of children, people who are mental impaired and animals
- strong impact from charles darwin's book on the origin of species by means of natural selection
43
what is gestalt psychology
- whole is more than the sum of its parts
- leader was max werthelmer who introduced famous experiment demonstrating phi phenomenon
- gestalt is influential today in psychology as perception
44
what is behaviourism
- john b. watson: observable, measurable, objective, scientific behaviour
- views observable behaviour rather than internal mental processes as the appropriate subject of psychology. stresses the roles of learning and the environment in determining behaviour
- environmental factors determine behaviour
- b.f. skinner's operant conditioning made behaviourism a major force in modern psychology
45
what is psychoanalysis
sigmund freud:
- unseen, unconscious mental forces key to understanding human behaviour
- emphasizes the role of unconscious mental foces and conflicts in determining behaviour
- psychoanalysis and iceberg analogy
- controversy around emphasis on sexual and aggressive impulses
46
humanistic psychology
- focuses on the uniqueness of human beings and their capacity for choice, growth and psychological health. called the 'third force in psychology' (behaviourism and psychoanalysis being the other 2)
- uniqueness, choice, growth, psychological health, innate goodness, free will
- abraham maslow's hierarchy of needs and self-actualization
- carl roger's person-centered therapy
47
cognitive psychology
- mental processes: memory, problem solving, concept formation, reasoning, decision making, language
- humans are active in cognition
- parallel processing: management of multiple bits of information processing
- PET scans can observe brain cells carrying out mental processes
48
what is structuralism
- the first formal school of psychology. focuses on analyzing the basic elements of structures of conscious mental experiences through the use of introspection
49
3 current perspectives in psychology today
1. biological
2. evolutionary
3. sociocultural
50
what is the biological perspective
- brain and CNS, neurons, neurotransmitters, hormones, genes
- neuroscience - the study of the brain functioning
- behavioural and cognitive neuroscience subfields
51
what is the evolutionary perspective
- humans evolved and adapted to survive
- adaptation of the mind has not progressed at same rapid pace as our social circumstances
- evolutionary principles common to all humans
52
what is the sociocultural perspective
- social and cultural influences on human behaviour
- importance of understanding those influences when we interpret behaviour of others
- need culturally sensitive research
53
different types of psychologists at work
- clinical psychology
- counselling psychology
- school and educational psychology
- applied psychology (forensics, health, sports, industrial/organizational)
54
overall, what are the 7 different modern perspectives in psychology
1. biological
2. psychoanalytic
3. behavioural
4. cognitive
5. humanistic
6. evolutionary
7. sociocultural
Social Science
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