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27 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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a precise definition of a term in a hypothesis, which specifies the manner in which the concept in question could be measured
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operational definition
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an organized system of principles designed to organize and explain a set of phenomena
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theory
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a statement that attempts to predict or account for a set of phenomena; scientific hypotheses specify relationships among events and are empirically testable
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hypothesis
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scientific theories must make predictions that are specific enough to expose the theory to the possibility of disconfirmation
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principle of falsifiability
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a principle governing the selection of explanations. Given a number of different explanations for a phenomenon, begin by adopting (and testing) the explanation which is simplest, and most consistent with other empiricallhy supported theories
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parsimony
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a detailed description of a particular individual
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case study
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the entire category of individuals whose characteristics the researcher wishes to describe and explain
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population
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the actual individuals who are studies
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sample
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a group of subjects, selected from a population which matches the population on important characterstics
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representative sample
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the tendency for the characteristics of individuals who volunteer to participate in research to be different from the characteristics of the population as a whole
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volunteer bias
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in developmental research, the tendency for the characteristics of those individuals who remain in a long-term study to be different from those of the population as a whole
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selective attrition
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a descriptive study that looks for a consistent relationship between two or more variables
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correlational study
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a controlled test of a hypothesis in which the researcher manipulates one variable to discover its effect on another variable
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experiment
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the variable that the researcher manipulates
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independent variable
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the variable that an experimenter predicts will be affected by the manipulation of the independent variable
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dependent variable
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cells within the nervous system which have the capability of transmitting information (a nerve impulse) to other neurons
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neuron
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an electro-chemical signal which is transmitted from one neuron to another
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nerve impulse
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site where transmission of a nerve impulse from one neuron to another occurs. Includes the synaptic knob (of the transmitting neuron), the synaptic gap (small space between neurons), and the receptor site (usually a dendrite) of the receiving neuron
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synapse
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a chemical released from the synaptic knob of one neuron, which crosses the synaptic gap, is taken up by the receiving neuron, and which affects the electrical potential of the receiving neuron-- thereby affecting the likelihood that the receiving neuron will generate its own nerve impulse
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neurotransmitter
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occurs when transmission of a nerve impulse increases the likelihood that the receiving neuron will generate its own nerve impulse
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excitatory influences
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occurs when transmission of a nerve impulse decreases the likelihood that the receiving neuron will generate its own nerve impulse
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inhibitory influences
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consists of the brain and spinal cord. processes, interprets, and stores information, and sends signals to the muscles, glands and organs via the Peripheral Nervous System
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Central Nervous System (CNS)
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transmits signals between the CNS and the muscles, glands, organs, and sense receptors of the body
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Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)
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a bundle of axons in the peripheral nervous system
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nerve
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send signals from the CNS to the muscles, glands, and organs
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Motor Nerves
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send signal from sense receptors to the CNS
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Sensory Nerves
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a response produced by transfer of signals from sensory nerves to motor nerves within the spinal cord
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spinal reflex
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