Psychology Chapter 1 Flashcards

Questions and Answers

What is hindsight bias?

The tendency to believe, after learning an outcome, that one would have foreseen it.

What is overconfidence?

The tendency to think we know more than we do.

The scientific attitude includes curiosity, skepticism, and __________.

humility

What is critical thinking?

Smart thinking; examines assumptions, evaluates evidence, assesses conclusions. Signup and view all the answers

What are the components of the scientific method?

All of the above Signup and view all the answers

What is a case study?

An observation technique that examines one individual in depth in hopes of revealing true things about us all. Signup and view all the answers

What is a survey?

A method that looks at many cases in less depth, asking people to report their behavior or opinions. Signup and view all the answers

What does random sampling mean?

Every person in the entire group has an equal chance of participating. Signup and view all the answers

What is naturalistic observation?

A descriptive method that records behavior in natural environments. Signup and view all the answers

What is correlation?

A measure of the extent to which two factors vary together and how well either factor predicts the other. Signup and view all the answers

What is an illusory correlation?

A perceived but non-existent correlation. Signup and view all the answers

What is an experiment?

A research method focusing on the possible effects of one or more factors by manipulating those factors. Signup and view all the answers

What is random assignment?

Assigning participants to experimental and control groups by chance. Signup and view all the answers

What is a double-blind procedure?

A procedure where both the research participants and researchers are unaware of who received the treatment or a placebo. Signup and view all the answers

What is the placebo effect?

Experimental results caused by expectations alone. Signup and view all the answers

What is an experimental group?

The group of people who receive the treatment. Signup and view all the answers

What is a control group?

The group of people who do not receive the treatment. Signup and view all the answers

What is an independent variable?

The experimental factor that is manipulated. Signup and view all the answers

What is a dependent variable?

The outcome factor that may change in response to manipulations of the independent variable. Signup and view all the answers

What is a correlational research method?

A method that detects naturally occurring relationships. Signup and view all the answers

What is a descriptive research method?

A method that observes and records behavior without manipulating variables. Signup and view all the answers

What is an experimental research method?

A method used to explore cause and effect. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Key Psychological Concepts

Hindsight Bias: Belief that an outcome was predictable after the fact; exemplified by the Virginia Tech massacre, where it seemed obvious that school closings should have occurred after the first murders.
Overconfidence: Tendency to overestimate one's knowledge; once the answer is known, hindsight bias can lead to misplaced confidence in solving problems quickly.
Scientific Attitude: Composed of curiosity, skepticism, and humility, encouraging openness to new information and awareness of potential biases.
Critical Thinking: Involves smart thinking that critically evaluates assumptions, scrutinizes evidence, and assesses conclusions; essential in analyzing media and conversations.

Research Methodology

Scientific Method: A structured approach involving theories (explanations for observations), hypotheses (testable predictions from theories), operational definitions (specific procedures to define variables), and replication (repeating studies to confirm findings).
Case Study: In-depth analysis of an individual, revealing insights about broader human behavior; however, atypical cases can be misleading.
Survey: Collects data from many cases with less depth; results can vary based on wording effects and rely on random sampling for representation.
Random Sample: Ensures each member of a population has an equal chance of selection, enhancing the representativeness of survey results.
Naturalistic Observation: Records behavior in natural settings without manipulation, providing descriptive data but not explanations.

Correlation and Experimentation

Correlation: Measures the relationship between two variables, represented by a correlation coefficient ranging from -1 to +1; indicates how well one variable predicts another.
Illusory Correlation: Perceived relationship where none exists; can lead to superstitious beliefs by overlooking coincidences.
Experiment: Research method manipulating one or more factors to observe their effects while controlling other variables.
Random Assignment: Distributing participants randomly to experimental and control groups to minimize pre-existing differences.
Double-Blind Procedure: Both participants and researchers are unaware of treatment assignments, reducing bias in studies.

Experimental Variables

Placebo Effect: Changes in behavior resulting from participants’ expectations rather than actual treatment, highlighting the impact of belief on outcomes.
Experimental Group: Participants who receive the treatment under study.
Control Group: Participants who do not receive the treatment, serving as a comparison baseline.
Independent Variable: The factor manipulated in an experiment to observe its effect on the dependent variable.
Dependent Variable: The response variable that may change due to manipulation of the independent variable.

Research Types

Correlational Research Method: Assesses naturally occurring relationships to predict one variable based on another, without implying causation.
Descriptive Research Method: Observes and records behavior through various techniques while lacking control over variables and potentially misleading single cases.
Experimental Research Method: Aims to determine cause-and-effect relationships through controlled experiments, though not all variables can be ethically manipulated, and results may not apply universally.

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Test your knowledge with these flashcards on critical thinking and psychological science from Chapter 1. Learn key terms such as hindsight bias and overconfidence, vital for understanding psychological concepts. Perfect for students looking to solidify their grasp on psychological principles.