Study Guide ( 9 Week Final )

Placebo – fake treatment. Example (sugar pill)

Independent variable – Experimenter manipulates.

Dependent variable – this is the outcome of the experiment or the affect of the independent variable. 

Hypothesis – educated guess of the outcome of an experiment.

Negative Correlation – when lines on a graph are going in opposite directions.

Positive Correlation – when lines on a graph are going in the same direction. (Both down or both up)

Volunteers Bias – In a study there are times surveys are biased based upon the individual’s bias.

One of the most important assessment tools for psychologist is measuring behavior through observation.

Difference between a ---

Psycho-therapist – doesn’t require any degree. The term is not regulated. Could be anybody off the street.

Psychologist – has an M.D. or PHD. May treat any type of emotional disorder

Psychiatrist – M.D and is able to prescribe medication for appropriate mental ailments.

Biological Perspective – focuses on how bodily events affect behavior.

Cognitive Perspective – Emphasizes what goes on in peoples head – how people reason, remember language, understand language, solve problems, explain experiences.

Phrenology – the study of bumps on one’s head and how they affected ones overall character.

Originator of Psychology – Wilhelm Wundt

Father of Modern Day Psychology – Sigmund Freud

If you were to conduct two experiments with the same outcomes, can you come to a conclusion on the outcome of the experiment? Why or why not?

Difference between a double blind study and single blind study?

Double Blind Study – Researcher and the participant have limited understanding of what is going on in order to prevent the researcher from tainting the test.

Single Blind Study – The participant does not know anything about the experiment but the researcher does.

Influences associated with reduced mental ability

1.         Poor Prenatal Care

2.         Malnutrition

3.         Exposure to Toxins

4.         Stressful Family Circumstances

Stereotype Threat – A burden of doubt a person feels about his or her performance, due to negative stereotypes about his or her groups abilities.

Post Decision Dissonance –tension that occurs when you feel that you may have made a bad decision. 

Hindsight Bias – When one thinks that they knew the outcome all along.

Confirmation Bias – paying attention to only to the evidence that supports their belief or finding fault with evidence that point in a different direction.

Barriers to Reasoning Rationally

1.         Exaggerating Improbable Outcomes

2.         Avoiding Loss

3.         Biases due to strict mental sets

Dialectical Reasoning

Finding Pro’s and Cons to a possible question.

This is probably one of the best types of reasoning.

Inductive Reasoning

If this is true + this is true + possible discrepancy = conclusion probably true

Deductive Reasoning

Premise true + Premise true = conclusion must be true

Subconscious Process

When you multitask sometimes you are doing multiple things at once without fully being aware of performing all tasks.

Prototype

A representative model of a concept.

Mr. Squires Prototype R and B singer = R. Kelly

sensation - detection of physical energy 

perception - process by which the brain organizes and interprets ideas. 

sense receptors - specialized cells that convert physical energy in the environment  or the body to electrical energy that sends impulses. 

synesthesia - stimulation evokes a sensation in another. 

Three Light Waves 

A. Brightness - Intensity of Light 
B. Saturation -How wide or narrow the wave length is 
C. Hue - Dimension of Color Names/ Wavelength

Retina - Visual Receptors at the back of the Eye. 

Three Sound Waves

A. Loudness - intensity of wave pressure
B. Pitch -  sound frequency ( cricket, scraping )
C. Timbre - Quality of Sound 

Cochlea - Ear Drum 

- Largest Organ in the body is your skin!