Introduction to Psychology: Research Methods
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Questions and Answers

Which of the following best describes the focus of functionalism in psychology?

  • Examining the relationship between brain structure and behavior.
  • Understanding the basic elements of consciousness through introspection.
  • Exploring the purpose and adaptive value of mental processes. (correct)
  • Studying the development of cognitive abilities across the lifespan.

    • What is the major difference between descriptive and explanatory research in psychology?

  • Descriptive research focuses on individuals, while explanatory research studies groups.
  • Descriptive research is used in clinical psychology, while explanatory research is used in social psychology.
  • Descriptive research describes what happens, while explanatory research seeks to understand the why and how. (correct)
  • Descriptive research uses experiments, while explanatory research uses surveys.

    • A researcher is interested in determining whether a new therapy is effective in reducing anxiety. What type of psychology is this researcher likely involved in?

  • Clinical psychology (correct)
  • Developmental psychology
  • Cognitive psychology
  • Biopsychology

    • Which of the following best describes the concept of confirmation bias?

    <p>The tendency to seek out information that confirms pre-existing beliefs. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary method of acquiring knowledge in psychology, based on the principles of the empirical method?

    <p>Observation and experimentation (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is NOT a valid concern about relying solely on rationales and anecdotes for understanding human behavior?

    <p>Emphasis on the role of the nervous system in generating behavior. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of these areas of psychology focuses on understanding how people think, learn, and remember?

    <p>Cognitive psychology (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following areas of psychology is most likely to study the impact of cultural norms on individual behavior?

    <p>Social psychology (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the main advantage of using case studies in research?

    <p>They provide an in-depth understanding of a unique individual or group. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which research method involves collecting data by observing behavior in a subject's natural environment?

    <p>Naturalistic observation (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does it mean if a theory is described as falsifiable?

    <p>It can be shown to be incorrect through experimentation. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following best describes a confounding variable?

    <p>A factor that is unrelated to the study but influences results. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a major concern regarding survey research?

    <p>Responses can be biased and interpretation varies. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does operational definition refer to in a research study?

    <p>The real-world measurement of variables. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following best defines generalizability in research?

    <p>The ability of results from a sample to describe the larger population. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does random assignment in experimental design help to control?

    <p>The effects of confounding variables. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the replication crisis in psychology?

    <p>The difficulty researchers face when trying to validate study results. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What distinguishes an independent variable from a dependent variable?

    <p>The independent variable is purposely changed, while the dependent variable is measured. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Flashcards

    Psychology

    The scientific study of behavior and the mind.

    Empirical Method

    Acquiring knowledge based on observation and experimentation.

    Structuralism

    An approach that emphasizes understanding the contents and organization of the mind.

    Introspection

    The act of looking into one's own thoughts and feelings.

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    Functionalism

    An approach that focuses on the purpose of behavior and mental processes in adapting to environments.

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    Confirmation Bias

    The tendency to seek information that supports existing beliefs while ignoring contradicting evidence.

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    Cognitive Psychology

    The study of how people process information and think.

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    Clinical Psychology

    The study, assessment, and treatment of people with psychological disorders.

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    Abhijit Banerjee

    Economist known for his research on decision-making in poverty alleviation.

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    Hypothesis

    A testable prediction that often arises from a theory.

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    Falsifiable

    Something that can be proven wrong or shown incorrect.

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    Inductive vs. Deductive

    Inductive: Builds theories from observations; Deductive: Tests theories with data.

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    Observer Bias

    The tendency of observers to see what they expect to see.

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    Survey

    A research method that collects data from a large sample size, but can be biased.

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    Variable

    Any concept or experience measured or manipulated in a study.

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    Causation

    A cause-and-effect relationship where one variable changes another.

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    Random Assignment

    Participants are assigned to different study groups by chance.

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    Replication Crisis

    When studies can't be repeated with the same results by other researchers.

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    Study Notes

    Introduction to Psychology

    • Psychology is the scientific study of behavior and the mind, aiming to understand how individuals think, feel, and act, both individually and within groups.

    Research Methods in Psychology

    • Descriptive research: Focuses on describing a phenomenon, answering "what is the finding?".
    • Explanatory research: Seeks to understand "why and how" behaviors occur.
    • Empirical method: Knowledge gained through observation and experimentation. Psychology's empirical roots originate with Wilhelm Wundt's 1879 Leipzig laboratory.
    • Introspection: A method of self-examination of one's own thoughts and feelings; criticized for subjectivity.
    • Structuralism: Focused on the structure of the mind (Wundt).
    • Functionalism: Focused on the adaptive purpose of mental processes (James).
    • Statistics: A crucial tool in psychology, used to analyze numerical data from studies.
    • Experiments: Controlled environments to alter factors and observe effects.
    • Biopsychology: Investigates how the nervous system contributes to behavior.
    • Developmental Psychology: Examines lifespan changes in behavior and mental processes.
    • Cognitive Psychology: Studies mental processes like memory and problem-solving.
    • Social Psychology: Focuses on how we think, influence, and relate to one another.
    • Clinical Psychology: Diagnosis and treatment of psychological disorders.
    • Industrial-Organizational Psychology: Applies psychology to work environments.

    Research Limitations and Biases

    • Non-scientific claims: Often based on rationales and anecdotes, leading to bias and lack of evidence.

    • Confirmation bias: The tendency to favor information that confirms pre-existing beliefs.

    • Hypotheses: Testable predictions derived from theories.

    • Falsifiable: A theory or hypothesis must be able to be proven wrong.

    • Theory: A well-supported explanation of observations.

    • Inductive vs. Deductive Approach: Inductive: Observation -> Theory; Deductive: Theory -> Observation.

    • Case Studies: Advantage: In-depth understanding; Disadvantage: Limited generalizability.

    • Naturalistic Observation: Observing behavior in real-world settings.

    • Observer Bias: The observer's expectations influencing their observations.

    • Surveys: Advantage: Large samples; Disadvantage: Potential for bias in responses.

    • Archival Research: Utilizing existing records to study past events.

    • Cross-sectional Research: Comparing different groups at the same time.

    • Longitudinal Research: Tracking individuals over time to study change.

    • Variable: A concept or experience measured or manipulated.

    • Operational Definition: A clear, measurable definition of a variable.

    • Correlational Research: Examining the relationship between variables.

    • Correlation vs. Causation: Correlation does not equal causation.

    • Confounding Variables: External factors that can influence results.

    • Causation: A specific cause-and-effect relationship.

    • Independent Variable (IV): The variable manipulated by the researcher.

    • Dependent Variable (DV): The variable measured to assess the effect of the IV.

    • Experimental Design: Researchers actively manipulate variables to explore cause-and-effect relationships.

    • Manipulation: Intentionally changing the IV.

    • Conditions: Different levels of the IV.

    • Random Assignment: Placing participants into conditions randomly.

    • Experimental Control: Maintaining all other factors constant except the IV.

    • Population: The entire group of interest.

    • Sample: The specific group from the population studied.

    • Generalizability: The extent to which findings from a sample represent the entire population.

    • WEIRD Populations: Western, educated, industrialized, rich, and democratic (a common limitation of psychological research).

    • Ethics in research: Maintaining the well-being and safety of participants (crucial responsibility).

    • Replication Crisis/Reproducibility Crisis: Challenges in replicating the results of prior research due to methodological issues.

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    Quiz Team

    Description

    This quiz explores key concepts in research methods within psychology, including descriptive and explanatory approaches. It delves into empirical methods, introspection, structuralism, and functionalism, highlighting their significance in understanding human behavior. Test your knowledge on the foundational elements that shape psychological research.

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