Back to AI Flashcard MakerPsychology /Psychology Chapters 1-14 Part 2
Psychology Chapters 1-14 Part 2
This deck covers key concepts, definitions, and relationships from psychology chapters 1-14, focusing on research methods, statistical techniques, and the nervous system.
theory
An integrated set of principles that explains and predicts many, but not all, observed relationships within a given domain of inquiry.
Tap or swipe ↕ to flip
Swipe ←→Navigate
1/50
Key Terms
Term
Definition
theory
An integrated set of principles that explains and predicts many, but not all, observed relationships within a given domain of inquiry.
falsifiable
A characteristic of a theory or research hypothesis in which the variables of interest can be adequately measured and the predicted relationships amon...
research hypothesis
A specific and falsifiable prediction about the relationship between or among two or more variables.
variable
Any attribute that can assume different values among different people or across different times or places.
conceptual variables
Abstract ideas that form the basis of research hypotheses.
measured variables
Variables consisting of numbers that represent the conceptual variables.
Related Flashcard Decks
Study Tips
- Press F to enter focus mode for distraction-free studying
- Review cards regularly to improve retention
- Try to recall the answer before flipping the card
- Share this deck with friends to study together
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
theory | An integrated set of principles that explains and predicts many, but not all, observed relationships within a given domain of inquiry. |
falsifiable | A characteristic of a theory or research hypothesis in which the variables of interest can be adequately measured and the predicted relationships among the variables can be shown through research to be incorrect. |
research hypothesis | A specific and falsifiable prediction about the relationship between or among two or more variables. |
variable | Any attribute that can assume different values among different people or across different times or places. |
conceptual variables | Abstract ideas that form the basis of research hypotheses. |
measured variables | Variables consisting of numbers that represent the conceptual variables. |
operational definition | A precise statement of how a conceptual variable is turned into a measured variable. |
deception | A situation that occurs whenever research participants are not completely and fully informed about the nature of the research project before participating in it. |
institutional review board | A committee of at least five members whose goal is to determine cost-benefit ratio of research conducted within an institution. |
informed consent | A procedure, conducted before a participant begins a research session, designed to explain the research procedures and inform the participant of his or her rights during the investigation. |
debriefing | A procedure designed to fully explain the purposes and procedures of the research and remove any harmful aftereffects of participation. |
research design | An approach used to collect, analyze, and interpret data. |
descriptive research | Research designed to provide a snapshot of the current state of affairs. Complete picture, but does not assess relationships among variables. |
correlational research | Research designed to discover relationships among variables and to allow the prediction of future events from present knowledge. Can assess relationships in everyday life events, but cannot be used to draw inferences based on relationships between variables. |
experimental research | Research in which initial equivalence among research participants in more than one group is created, followed by a manipulation of a given experience for these groups and a measurement of the influence of the manipulation. Allows conclusions to be drawn, can't manipulate variables, is also very expensive. |
case studies | A descriptive record of one or more individual's experiences and behavior. |
survey | A measure administered through either interviews or written questionnaires to get a picture of the beliefs or behaviors of a sample of people of interest. |
sample | The people chosen to participate in a research project. |
population | In a descriptive research design, the people that the researcher wishes to know about. |
naturalistic observation | Research based on the observation of everyday events. |
descriptive statistics | Numbers that summarize the distribution of scores on a measured variable. |
normal distribution | A data distribution that is shaped like a bell. |
mean | The most commonly used measure of central tendency. |
median | The score in the center of the distribution. |
mode | The value or values that occur most frequently in a variable's distribution. |
standard deviation | Symbolized by the letter s, the most commonly used measure of the dispersion of a variable's distribution. |
scatter plot | A visual image of the relationship between two variables. |
person correlation coefficient | Symbolized by the letter r, a statistic indicating the strength and direction of a linear relationship. The value of the correlation coefficient ranges from r = -1.00 to r = +1.00. |
multiple regression | A statistical technique, based on correlation coefficients among variables, that allows predicting a single outcome variable from more than one predictor variable. |
common-casual variable | A variable that is not part of the research hypothesis but that causes both the predictor and the outcome variable and thus produces the observed correlation between them. |
spurious relationship | A relationship between two variables in which a common-causal variable produces and "explains away" the relationship. |
independent variable | In an experiment, the causing variable that is created (manipulated) by the experimenter. |
dependent variable | In an experiment, the measured variable that is expected to be influenced by the experimental manipulation. |
random assignment | A procedure used in experimental research designs in which the condition that each participant is assigned to is determined through a random process. |
construct validity | The extent to which the measured variables used in the research adequately assess the conceptual variables they were designed to measure. |
reliability | The consistency of a measured variable. |
statistical significance | The confidence with which we can conclude that data are not due to chance or random error. |
conclusion validity | The extent to which we can be certain that the researcher has drawn accurate conclusions about the statistical significance of the research. |
internal validity | The extent to which we can trust the conclusions that have been drawn about the causal relationship between the independent and dependent variables. |
confounding variable | A variable other than the independent variable on which the participants in one experimental condition differ systematically from those in other conditions. |
experimenter bias | A situation in which the experimenter subtly treats the research participants in the various experimental conditions differently, resulting in an invalid confirmation of the research hypothesis. |
double blind experiment | An experimental design in which both the researcher and the research participants are blind to condition. |
external validity | The extent to which the results of a research design can be generalized beyond the specific way the original experiment was conducted. |
generalization | The tendency to respond to stimuli that resemble the original conditioned stimulus. |
replication | The process of repeating previous research. |
meta analysis | A statistical technique that uses the results of existing studies to integrate and draw conclusions about those studies. |
nervous system | A collection of hundreds of billions of specialized cells that transmit information between different parts of the body. |
central nervous system | The brain and the spinal cord. |
peripheral nervous system | The nerves that link the CNS to the skin, muscles, and glands. |
endocrine system | The chemical regulator of the body, composed of the glands that secrete hormones. |