Introduction to Psychology Concepts

Psychology Terminology

• Psychology: The scientific study of the mind and behavior.
• Biological Psychology: Focuses on how genetics, the nervous system, hormones, and brain structures influence behavior.
• Psychodynamic Psychology: Emphasizes the role of the unconscious mind (thoughts, feelings, and drives outside awareness).
• Socio-Cultural Psychology: Examines how culture, religion, ethnicity, gender, and environmental factors impact behavior.
• Behavioral Psychology: Studies how behaviors are learned and modified.
• Cognitive Psychology: Focuses on how thinking and perception influence behavior.
• Evolutionary Psychology: Explores aspects of human thought and behavior that support survival.
• Humanistic Psychology: Emphasizes human potential and the drive to be one's best.
• Cultural Norms: Standards of appropriate behavior within a culture.
• Confirmation Bias: Gathering evidence that confirms existing beliefs.
• Critical Thinking: Clear, rational, logical, and independent thought.
• Hindsight Bias: Overestimating the predictability of past events.
• Overconfidence Bias: Overestimating one's knowledge and abilities.
• Descriptive Research: Observation, case studies, surveys to evaluate behavior.
• Peer Review: Experts evaluating research before publication to ensure quality.
• Hypothesis: Testable prediction based on a theory.
• Falsifiability: A theory must be possible to disprove.
• Operational Definition: Clear description of how variables are measured in a study.
• Replication: Repeating a study to see if the basic findings can be reproduced.
• Naturalistic Observation: Observing behavior in natural settings.
• Social Desirability Bias: Responding to questions in a way that is viewed positively by others.
• Self-Report Bias: Affecting the outcome of research, participants may be unrealistic about themselves.

Research Methods

• Sample: Group of individuals participating in a study.
• Representative Sample: Matches characteristics of the population.
• Convenience Sampling: Choosing participants based on availability.
• Random Sampling: Each member of the population has an equal chance of being selected.
• Population: The entire group being studied.
• Positive Correlation: Two variables increase or decrease together.
• Negative Correlation: One variable increases as the other decreases.
• Correlation: A measure of the relationship between two variables.
• Directionality Problem: Correlation does not imply causation.
• Third-Variable Problem: A third, unmeasured variable might explain the relationship between two observed variables.
• Scatterplot: Graph of correlation data.
• Correlation Coefficient: Numerical value indicating the strength and direction of a correlation.
• Experiment: Carefully controlled procedure to manipulate one or more variables.
• Experimental Group: Receives the treatment or manipulation.
• Control Group: Does not receive the treatment.
• Single-Blind Study: Participants unaware of which group they are in.
• Double-Blind Study: Neither participants nor researchers know group assignments.
• Placebo: Inert substance or procedure that seems real.
• Placebo Effect: Real response to a placebo due to expectations.
• Independent Variables: Variables manipulated by the researcher.
• Confounding Variables: Unintended variables that might affect results.
• Dependent Variables: Variables measured to see the effect of the independent variable.
• Validity: Extent to which an experiment measures what it intends to measure.
• Experimenter Bias: Researcher's expectations influencing results.
• Quantitative Research: Involves numerical data.

Data Analysis and Interpretation

• Meta-Analysis: Statistical procedure analyzing multiple studies to reach conclusions.
• Statistical Significance: Likelihood results are due to chance, not random factors.
• Effect Size: Strength of relationship between two variables.

Ethical Considerations in Research

• Qualitative Research: In-depth analysis of narrative data.
• Ethical Considerations: Moral principles to guide research practices.
• Institutional Review Board (IRB): Group that reviews research proposals to ensure safety and rights.
• Informed Consent: Participants understanding their involvement and potential risks.
• Informed Assent: For minors, recognizing their developing cognitive capacity, with parental involvement.
• Protection from Harm: Research methods should avoid unnecessary harm.
• Confidentiality: Protecting participant information.

Data Description

• Central Tendency: Single number representing a set of scores.
• Mean: Average score.
• Median: Middle score.
• Mode: Most frequent score.
• Regression toward the mean: Extreme scores in one sample tending towards the mean in the next sample.
• Percentile rank: Percentage of scores below a given score.
• Variation: Describes how similar or diverse scores are.
• Range: Difference between highest and lowest scores.
• Normal Curve: Bell-shaped distribution.
• Skewness: Symmetry of distribution.
• Bimodal Distribution: Two peaks in a distribution.
• Standard Deviation: Measure of how much scores deviate from the mean.
• Generalizability: Extent research can be applied to a broader population/different context.