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Questions and Answers
What is the primary function of correlational research?
What is the primary function of correlational research?
What does a correlation coefficient (r) of 0 indicate?
What does a correlation coefficient (r) of 0 indicate?
What is a characteristic of experimental research?
What is a characteristic of experimental research?
Which statement is true regarding participant observation?
Which statement is true regarding participant observation?
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A negative correlation implies which of the following?
A negative correlation implies which of the following?
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What is a significant limitation of correlational research?
What is a significant limitation of correlational research?
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Which value represents a perfect negative correlation?
Which value represents a perfect negative correlation?
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Why might a researcher choose correlational research as their first step?
Why might a researcher choose correlational research as their first step?
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What is a key limitation of common sense in understanding the natural world?
What is a key limitation of common sense in understanding the natural world?
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Which statement is true about the scientific method?
Which statement is true about the scientific method?
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What is a major advantage of using a case study as a research method?
What is a major advantage of using a case study as a research method?
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What is meant by overconfidence in the context of human judgment?
What is meant by overconfidence in the context of human judgment?
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Which of the following best describes empiricism?
Which of the following best describes empiricism?
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In which way does a case study method pose a disadvantage?
In which way does a case study method pose a disadvantage?
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What is the primary focus of descriptive research methods?
What is the primary focus of descriptive research methods?
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Which of the following is a step in the scientific method?
Which of the following is a step in the scientific method?
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What is the primary role of the dependent variable in an experiment?
What is the primary role of the dependent variable in an experiment?
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What is a confounding variable?
What is a confounding variable?
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Why is random assignment important in experimental design?
Why is random assignment important in experimental design?
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What is necessary to control for when conducting an experiment besides the independent variable?
What is necessary to control for when conducting an experiment besides the independent variable?
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In an experiment investigating the effects of milk on bone density, which group does not consume milk?
In an experiment investigating the effects of milk on bone density, which group does not consume milk?
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What is the placebo effect?
What is the placebo effect?
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Which parts of the nervous system comprise the central nervous system (CNS)?
Which parts of the nervous system comprise the central nervous system (CNS)?
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Which statement best describes the role of the peripheral nervous system (PNS)?
Which statement best describes the role of the peripheral nervous system (PNS)?
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What is the primary function of oligodendrocytes?
What is the primary function of oligodendrocytes?
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Which of these ions is primarily found in higher concentrations outside the neuron at rest?
Which of these ions is primarily found in higher concentrations outside the neuron at rest?
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What defines hyperpolarization in a neuron?
What defines hyperpolarization in a neuron?
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Which glial cell type is involved in immune defense in the brain?
Which glial cell type is involved in immune defense in the brain?
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What is the threshold of excitation for a neuron to fire an action potential?
What is the threshold of excitation for a neuron to fire an action potential?
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What effect do excitatory messages have on the neuron?
What effect do excitatory messages have on the neuron?
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What occurs during the resting state of a neuron?
What occurs during the resting state of a neuron?
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What process do Schwann cells primarily perform?
What process do Schwann cells primarily perform?
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What occurs during the refractory period of a neuron?
What occurs during the refractory period of a neuron?
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What is the role of neurotransmitters in the nervous system?
What is the role of neurotransmitters in the nervous system?
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What happens to neurotransmitters after they detach from their receptor site?
What happens to neurotransmitters after they detach from their receptor site?
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Which neurotransmitter is primarily associated with excitatory functions?
Which neurotransmitter is primarily associated with excitatory functions?
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What is a possible consequence of not having neurotransmitters properly degraded or reabsorbed?
What is a possible consequence of not having neurotransmitters properly degraded or reabsorbed?
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Which of the following neurotransmitters is associated with both excitatory and inhibitory functions?
Which of the following neurotransmitters is associated with both excitatory and inhibitory functions?
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How do drugs affect the communication between neurons?
How do drugs affect the communication between neurons?
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What is a significant effect of low dopamine levels?
What is a significant effect of low dopamine levels?
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What occurs when a neuron receives inhibitory messages?
What occurs when a neuron receives inhibitory messages?
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What is the result when sodium ions enter a neuron?
What is the result when sodium ions enter a neuron?
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Which event indicates that a neuron is at its resting potential?
Which event indicates that a neuron is at its resting potential?
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What happens to a neuron's charge during depolarization?
What happens to a neuron's charge during depolarization?
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What is the role of the nodes of Ranvier?
What is the role of the nodes of Ranvier?
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What occurs after a neuron fires?
What occurs after a neuron fires?
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What is the consequence of potassium efflux from the neuron?
What is the consequence of potassium efflux from the neuron?
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Which condition is necessary for a neuron to fire?
Which condition is necessary for a neuron to fire?
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Study Notes
Introduction to Psychology
- Psychology is a science
- Studying how people think, feel, and behave
- Includes all aspects of human life
Why Study Psychology?
- Intuition can be misleading when understanding the natural world
- Common sense isn't universal and doesn't provide new knowledge
- People tend to be overconfident
How Do We Know?
- Rationalism: questioning our senses and experiences
- Empiricism: relying on observations
The Scientific Method
- Identify the problem
- Gather information
- Develop a hypothesis
- Conduct an experiment
- Analyze data and draw conclusions
- Restart the process
Hypothesis Development
- Tentative statement about relationships between variables
- Must be falsifiable (testable)
- Replication of studies is important for increasing confidence in findings.
Types of Research Methods
A. Descriptive Research
- Systematically observe and describe behaviors
- Answers "what" and "when" questions Specific Methods:
- A.1 Case Study:*
- In-depth study of individuals or small groups
- Advantages: valuable for rare cases and in-depth understanding
- Disadvantages: can't generalize findings to larger populations, researcher biases are possible
- A.2 Survey:*
- Collecting data from a large sample of people through questionnaires
- Advantages: efficiency, can study large populations
- Disadvantages: sample might not represent the population, response bias is possible
- A.3 Naturalistic Observation:*
- Observing behavior in natural settings without interference
- Advantages: realistic behavior, no manipulation
- Disadvantages: difficult to control variables, researcher bias may be present
- A.4 Participant Observation:*
- Researcher becomes part of the observed group
- Advantages: deeper understanding, access to otherwise inaccessible groups
- Disadvantages: researcher's presence might affect behavior
B. Correlational Research
- Assessing relationships between variables
- Determine if variables covary; if and how one changes in relation to another
- Cannot establish cause and effect
C. Experimental Research
- Manipulate independent variable to see its effect on a dependent variable
- Control other variables
- Establish cause-and-effect relationships
Control and Other Variables
- Controlling confounding variables (other factors) that might affect the results of an experiment
- Use of independent variables and dependent variables; the independent variable is what the experimenter changes, the dependent variable is the thing affected by the change and thus measured.
Making Sense of Data (from Section 2.7)
- Subsection 2.7.1 and 2.7.2 are important for the exam.
- Subsection 2.7.3 is not required for exams.
Cells of the Nervous System
A. Neurons
- Basic unit of communication in the nervous system
- Electrochemical process
- Action potential: electrical signal
- Neurotransmitters: chemical messengers
B. Glial Cells
- Support cells for neurons
- Provide nutrition, insulation, and cleanup
Communication Within Neurons
- Inside and outside the neuron differ in ion concentrations (chemicals)
- Sodium, Chloride, Potassium
- Neuron at rest: negative inside, positive outside Polarization:
- Excitatory: Inside of neuron becomes less negative (less polarized) causing the neuron to be more likely to fire.
- Inhibitory: Inside of neuron becomes more negative (more polarized) causing the neuron to be less likely to fire.
- Threshold for Excitation: The neuron fires when inside reaches about -50mv
Communication Between Neurons
- Neurotransmitters released into synapse
- Synaptic vesicles
- Attach to receptor sites
- Reuptake or degradation
- Reuptake, Degradation, and Enzymatic breakdown
Neurotransmitters
- Chemicals that transmit signals between neurons
- Types: excitatory, inhibitory, both
- Examples: dopamine, serotonin, acetylcholine
- Effect on behavior and mood
Drugs and the Brain
- Drugs interfere with neurotransmitter communication
- Agonists: enhance neurotransmitter activity
- Antagonists: block neurotransmitter activity
- Competitive/noncompetitive drug effects
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Description
This quiz covers the foundational concepts of psychology, including the scientific method, research methods, and the importance of empirical evidence. It delves into how we can study human behavior and thought processes scientifically. Test your understanding of psychological principles and research techniques!
