Mastering The World Of Psychology Ch. 1 Summary Questions

Front 1

What process do scientists use to answer questions about behavior and mental processes?

Back 1

The scientific method

Front 2

Whate are the goals of psychology?

Back 2

describe, explain, predict, and influence

Front 3

What role did Wundt play in the foudning of psychology?

Back 3

Established the first psycholigcal laboratory in 1879

Front 4

What did Titchener contribute to psychology?

Back 4

Founded the school of thought called structuralism, an approach aimed at the analyzing the basic elements of conscious mental experience through introspection.

Front 5

Why is functionalism important to the history of psychology?

Back 5

Founded by William James, it was the first American school of psychology and broadened the scope of the field to include examination of behavior as well as conscious mental processes.

Front 6

In what ways have women and minorites shaped the field of psychology, both in the past and today?

Back 6

They have ahd to overcome significant educational and professional barriers to work in the field. Despite the obstacles, many of these individuals made notworthy contributions.

Front 7

How to behaviorists explain behavior and mental processes?

Back 7

They view observable, measurable behavior as the only appropriate subject matter for psychology. Behaviorism also emphasizes the invornment as they key determinant of behavior.

Front 8

What do psychoanalytic psychologists believe about the role of the unconscious?

Back 8

An individual's thoughts, feelings, and behavior are determined primarily by the unconscious - the part of the mind that one cannot see and cannot control.

Front 9

According to Maslow and Rogers, what motivates human behavior and mental processes?

Back 9

The need for self-actualization.

Front 10

What is the focus of cognitive psychology?

Back 10

Mental processes such as memoriy, problem solving, concept formation, resoning and decision making, language, and perception.

Front 11

How do psychological researchers use naturalistic and laboratory observation?

Back 11

Researchers observe and record the behavior of human participants or animal subjects naturally.
Researchers exert more control and use more precise equipment to measure responses.

Front 12

What are the advantages and disadvantages of the case study?

Back 12

Appropriate for studying people with rare psycholigical or physiological disorders or brain injuries.
Disadvantages are time, expense, and lack of genrealizability.

Front 13

How do researchers ensure that survery results are useful?

Back 13

They must involve a sample that is representative of the population to which the results will be applied.

Front 14

Why do researchers use experiments to test hypothesis about cause-effect relationships?

Back 14

Only method that can identify cause-effect relationships

Front 15

How do independent and dependent variables differ?

Back 15

A condition or factor manipulated by the researcher to determine its effect on the dependent variable.

Front 16

Why are experimental and control groups necessary?

Back 16

Comparing experimental and control groups allows researchers to judge the effects of the independent variable(s) compared to outcomes that occur naturally or in the presence of a placebo.

Front 17

What kinds of factors introduce bias into experimental studies?

Back 17

Environmental factors can be a fsourc of bias. Selection bias occurs when there are systematic differences among the groups before the experiment begins. The placebo effect occurs when the participant's expectations inluence the outcome of a treatment or experiment. Experimental bias occurs when the researcher's expectations affect the outcome of the experiment.

Front 18

What are the limitations of the experimental method?

Back 18

Experiments are often conducted in unnatural settings, a factor that limits the generalizability of results. Alos, this study method may be unethicalor impossible to use for some research.

Front 19

What is a correlation coeffecient, and what does it mean?

Back 19

A correlation coeffecient is a numerical value that indictaes the strength and direction of the relationship between two variables.

Front 20

What are the strengths and weaknesses of the correlation method?

Back 20

When the correlation between two variables is knwon, information about one variable can be used to predict the other. However, a correlation cannot be used to support the conclusion that either variable causes the other.

Front 21

In what ways can participants bias research results?

Back 21

Participant-related bias happens when researchers fail to include under-represented in their samples.

Front 22

What ethical rules must reseachers follow when humans are involved in studies?

Back 22

All research must conform to applicable laws. Researchers must obtain approval from all institutions involved in the study. Participants must give informed consent, may not be deceived unless necessary, and, if deceived, must be debriefed. Subordinates' participation in a study may not negatively affect them in any way. Participants may be paid after being informed about what is expected in return for payment. Researchers must report their findings in an appropriate forum.

Front 23

Why are animals used in research?

Back 23

Animals provide a simpler model for studying similar processes in humans; researchers can exercise more control over animals and use a wider range of medical and other manipulations.

Front 24

How do psychologists compare theories?

Back 24

Theories are compared in terms of their usefulness. Useful theories generate testable hypotheses and practical solutions to problems. Theories possessing heuristic value are usefl for stimulating debate and research.

Front 25

How can critical thinking be used to interpret media reports of psychological research?

Back 25

Critical thinkers are independent, able to suspend judgement, and willing to cange prior belifes. They also use knowledge of research methods to evaluate research findings reported in the media.

Front 26

What is the main idea behind evolutionary psychology?

Back 26

Evolutionary psychology focuses on how human behaviors necessary for survival have adapted in the face of environmental pressures over the course of evolution.

Front 27

How is biological psychology changing the field of psychology?

Back 27

Biological psychologists look for connections between specific behaviors (such as agression) and particular biological factors (such as hormone levels) to help explain individual differences. Using modern technology, they have discovered relationships betoween biological and behavorial variables that have resulted in more effective medications for certain disorders and new insight into the genetic base of many mental illnesses.

Front 28

What kinds of variables interest psychologists who take a sociocultural approach?

Back 28

The sociocultural approach focuses on how factors such as cultural values affect people's behavior.

Front 29

What are psychological perspectives, and how are they related to an eclectic position?

Back 29

psycholigcal perspectives are general points of view used for explaining people's behavior and thinking. In taking an eclectic position, psychologists use a combination of two or more perspectives to explain a particular behavior.

Front 30

Who are some of the specialists working within psychology?

Back 30

There are clinical and counseling psychologists, physiological psychologists, experimental psychologists, developmental psychologists, educational psychologists, social psychologists, and industrial/organizational (I/O) psychologists.

Front 31

What kinds of employment opportunities are available for psychology majors?

Back 31

Individuals with bachelor's degrees in psychology are employes in many different settings. Individuals who want to become professional psychologists must do graduate work.