Psychology Research Vocabulary

Anecdotal evidence = A piece of biased evidence used to support a conclusion Causality = Determination that one variable causes an effect Correlation = Measure of relatedness of two or more variables Data = Information systematically collected for analysis

Deductive reasoning = Interpretation based on a general premise Induction = Drawing general conclusions from specific observations Inductive reasoning = Inferring a general conclusion from a set of observations Empirical = Concerned with observation and verification of a claim

Distribution = Relative frequency of values for a variable Null-hypothesis significance testing (NHST) = Test to determine chance occurrence of results Probability = Degree of certainty of occurrence of an event Probability values = Threshold for determining chance occurrence

<p>Fact = Objective information about the world Hypothesis = A tentative explanation subject to testing Generalize = Extend conclusions to other groups not included Population = All members belonging to a particular group</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Falsify = Ability of a claim to be tested and refuted Objective = Being free of personal bias Levels of analysis = Complementary understandings of phenomena Data (also called observations) = Information collected for analysis and interpretation</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Causality = One variable is responsible for an effect Correlation = Relationships between two or more variables Statistics = Science dealing with data collection and analysis Empirical = Verifiable claims based on observations</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Deductive reasoning = All mammals have hearts; a dog is a mammal, thus it has a heart. Inductive reasoning = All observed swans are white; thus, all swans are white. Induction = General conclusions drawn from specific instances Generalize = Applying research findings to a broader context</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Anecdotal evidence = Biased evidence from personal experience Correlation = Measure of the relatedness between variables Falsify = Testing a claim to possible refutation Data = Systematically collected information for analysis</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Punisher = A stimulus that decreases the strength of an operant behavior when it is made a consequence of the behavior. Reinforcer = Any consequence of a behavior that strengthens the behavior or increases the likelihood that it will be performed again. Taste aversion learning = The phenomenon in which a taste is paired with sickness, causing the organism to reject that taste in the future. Unconditioned response (UR) = In classical conditioning, an innate response elicited by a stimulus before conditioning.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Reinforcer devaluation effect = The finding that an animal stops performing an instrumental response if the reinforcer is made undesirable. Spontaneous recovery = Recovery of an extinguished response that occurs with the passage of time after extinction. Social Learning Theory = The theory that people can learn new responses by observing the behavior of others. Stimulus control = When an operant behavior is controlled by a stimulus that precedes it.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Renewal effect = Recovery of an extinguished response that occurs when the context is changed after extinction. Vicarious reinforcement = Learning that occurs by observing the reinforcement of another person. Quantitative law of effect = A rule that states the effectiveness of a reinforcer depends on the amount of reinforcement for alternative behaviors. Unconditioned stimulus (US) = In classical conditioning, the stimulus that elicits a response before conditioning.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Social models = Authorities that are targets for observation and who model behaviors. Taste aversion learning = Rejecting a taste after pairing it with sickness. Unconditioned response (UR) = Salivating when food is presented before conditioning. Stimulus control = Running towards the sound of a bell signaling food associated with it.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Punisher = Acts as a consequence that reduces behavior. Reinforcer = Enhances the likelihood of a behavior being repeated. Spontaneous recovery = Re-emergence of a conditioned response after extinction. Vicarious reinforcement = Influences behavior through observation without direct experience.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Taste aversion learning = Demonstrates innate responses to food. Social Learning Theory = Emphasizes learning through imitation and observation. Reinforcer devaluation effect = Shows the impact of negative experiences on learned behaviors. Quantitative law of effect = Integrates levels of reinforcement into behavioral outcomes.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Punisher = Targets behavior reduction in operant conditioning. Renewal effect = Exemplifies context-related recovery. Unconditioned stimulus (US) = Triggers a response without prior learning. Social models = Highlight role models in observational learning.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Taste aversion learning = A person avoids a food after becoming ill from it. Reinforcer = Giving a dog a treat for sitting on command. Spontaneous recovery = A previously extinguished behavior reappears after some time. Vicarious reinforcement = A child learns to say ‘please’ after watching a parent be praised for it.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Pseudoscience = Beliefs presented as scientific but lacking empirical support Representative = Degree to which a sample reflects the population Sample = A select group representing a larger population Scientific theory = Explanation based on empirical evidence and predictions</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Type I error = Rejecting the null hypothesis when it is true Type II error = Failing to reject the null hypothesis when it is false Value = Belief about how things should be Blocking = Conditioning does not occur with prior conditioned stimulus</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Conditioned response (CR) = Response elicited by the conditioned stimulus Conditioned stimulus (CS) = Initially neutral stimulus that elicits a response Conditioned compensatory response = Response that opposes the unconditioned response Context = Background stimuli present during learning</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Discriminative stimulus = Signals whether a response will be reinforced Extinction = Decrease in strength of a learned behavior Fear conditioning = Conditioning associated with an aversive stimulus Goal-directed behavior = Behavior influenced by knowledge of consequences</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Habit = Automatic behavior insensitive to reinforcer value Instrumental conditioning = Learning about behavior-consequence relationships Law of effect = Responses strengthened by positive outcomes Observational learning = Learning by watching others</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Classical conditioning = Pairing neutral stimulus with unconditioned stimulus Operant conditioning = Learning through consequences of behavior Pavlovian conditioning = Synonymous with classical conditioning Instrumental conditioning = Similar to operant conditioning</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Preparedness = Ease of learning specific associations due to evolution Prediction error = Difference between expected and actual outcomes Fear conditioning = Evokes fear associated with aversive stimuli Blocking = No conditioning occurs with prior stimulus</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Conditioning = Process of learning associations Extinction = Reduction of learned responses over time Conditioned compensatory response = Opposing response to an unconditioned stimulus Discriminative stimulus = Indicates reinforcement of behavior</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Goal-directed behavior = Behavior influenced by knowledge of reinforcer Habit = Behavior driven by context and stimulus Type I error = False positive in hypothesis testing Type II error = False negative in hypothesis testing</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Conditioned response = Response to the conditioned stimulus after learning Unconditioned response = Natural response to an unconditioned stimulus Conditioned stimulus = Stimulus that elicits a response after association Unconditioned stimulus = Stimulus that naturally triggers a response</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Conditioning = Association between stimuli and responses Blocking = Interference in conditioning process Fear conditioning = Formation of fear responses to certain stimuli Observational learning = Acquisition of behavior through observation</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Classical conditioning = Conditioning that pairs an unconditioned stimulus with a neutral stimulus Operant conditioning = Learning where behavior is modified by rewards or punishments Law of effect = Principle that behaviors are influenced by their consequences Extinction = Decrease in a response due to lack of reinforcement</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Conditioned response (CR) = Elicited response after conditioning occurs Discriminative stimulus = Signals reinforcement availability Context = Surrounding stimuli influencing learning Fear conditioning = Conditioning that instills fear through negative stimuli</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Conditioned stimulus (CS) = Starts to elicit a response after association Extinction = Response diminishes when reinforcement is removed Conditioned compensatory response = Counteracts original unconditioned response Goal-directed behavior = Behavior aligned with anticipated outcomes</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Observational learning = Learning by seeing others perform behaviors Instrumental conditioning = Behavior learning influenced by consequences Fear conditioning = Conditioning that links fear to specific stimuli Operant conditioning = Behavior shaped by reinforcement or punishment</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Anecdotal evidence</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>To serve as a temporary explanation subject to testing</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Inferring general conclusions from specific observations</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Falsify</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The likelihood that an event will occur by chance</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>To apply general principles to specific cases</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The complete set of individuals of interest</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The relatedness of two or more variables</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>To decrease the strength of an operant behavior</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Reinforcers are less effective if there is a lot of reinforcement in the environment for other behaviors</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The pairing of the taste with a sickness or negative experience</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The recovery of an extinguished response that occurs after a change in context</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Learning that occurs by observing the reinforcement or punishment of another person</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The recovery of an extinguished response that occurs with the passage of time</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>An authority figure whose modeled behavior is observed and imitated</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>An innate response elicited by a stimulus prior to any conditioning</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Presented as scientific but lacks empirical support</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Rejecting a null hypothesis that is true</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>An originally neutral stimulus paired with an unconditioned stimulus</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>A decrease in the strength of a learned behavior</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Responses followed by favorable outcomes are more likely to be repeated</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>A cue indicating the likelihood of reinforcement</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>It indicates when the unconditioned stimulus is not what is expected</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Operant conditioning associates behaviors with their consequences, while classical conditioning associates stimuli with responses</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>A response that counteracts the unconditioned response</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Acquiring new behaviors by watching others</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>It can influence the interpretation of stimuli during learning</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Behaviors influenced by awareness of actions and consequences</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Failure to learn about new stimuli when combined with conditioned ones</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Evolutionary history influences the capability to learn certain associations</p> Signup and view all the answers