Psychology Terms Chapter 1

Front 1

Case Study

Back 1

an observation technique in which one person is studied in depth in the hope of revealing universal principles.

Front 2

Clinical Psychology

Back 2

a branch of psychology that studies, assesses, and treats people with psychological disorders.

Front 3

Dependent Variable

Back 3

the experimental factor—in psychology, the behavior or mental process—that is being measured; the variable that may change in response to manipulations of the independent variable.

Front 4

Experiment

Back 4

a research method in which an investigator manipulates one or more factors (independent variables) to observe the effect on some behavior or mental process (the dependent variable). By random assignment of participants, the experiment controls other relevant factors.

Front 5

Hindsight Bias

Back 5

the tendency to believe, after learning an outcome, that one would have foreseen it. (Also known as the I-knew-it-all-along phenomenon.)

Front 6

Hypothesis

Back 6

a testable prediction, often implied by a theory.

Front 7

Independent Variable

Back 7

the experimental factor that is manipulated; the variable whose effect is being studied.

Front 8

Naturalistic Observation

Back 8

observing and recording behavior in naturally occurring situations without trying to manipulate and control the situation.

Front 9

Nature-Nurture

Back 9

the longstanding controversy over the relative contributions that genes and experience make to the development of psychological traits and behaviors.

Front 10

Critical Thinking

Back 10

thinking that does not blindly accept arguments and conclusions. Rather, it examines assumptions, discerns hidden values, evaluates evidence, and assesses conclusions.

Front 11

Placebo

Back 11

an inert substance or condition that may be administered instead of a presumed active agent, such as a drug, to see if it triggers the effects believed to characterize the active agent.

Front 12

Population

Back 12

all the cases in a group, from which samples may be drawn for a study.

Front 13

Psychiatry

Back 13

a branch of medicine dealing with psychological disorders; practiced by physicians who sometimes provide medical (for example, drug) treatments as well as psychological therapy.

Front 14

Psychology

Back 14

the science of behavior and mental processes.

Front 15

Random Sample

Back 15

a sample that fairly represents a population because each member has an equal chance of inclusion.

Front 16

Replication

Back 16

repeating the essence of a research study, usually with different participants in different situations, to see whether the basic finding extends to other participants and circumstances.

Front 17

Survey

Back 17

a technique for ascertaining the self-reported attitudes or behaviors of people, usually by questioning a representative, random sample of them.

Front 18

Theory

Back 18

an explanation using an integrated set of principles that organizes and predicts observations.