Podcast
Questions and Answers
What is the primary goal of the scientific approach to research?
What is the primary goal of the scientific approach to research?
What is the main difference between a hypothesis and a theory?
What is the main difference between a hypothesis and a theory?
What is the purpose of measurement in psychological research?
What is the purpose of measurement in psychological research?
What is the role of understanding in the scientific approach to research?
What is the role of understanding in the scientific approach to research?
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What is the primary function of a hypothesis in psychological research?
What is the primary function of a hypothesis in psychological research?
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What is the main characteristic of a theory in psychological research?
What is the main characteristic of a theory in psychological research?
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What is the primary goal of measurement in research?
What is the primary goal of measurement in research?
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What is the term for the larger group to which research findings should be applicable?
What is the term for the larger group to which research findings should be applicable?
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What is the ability to infer something about a larger population from a subset of that population?
What is the ability to infer something about a larger population from a subset of that population?
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What is a sample in research?
What is a sample in research?
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What is the term for the soundness of a study's procedures in testing a hypothesis?
What is the term for the soundness of a study's procedures in testing a hypothesis?
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Why must researchers balance internal and external validity?
Why must researchers balance internal and external validity?
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What was the purpose of quantifying teachers' observations by asking them to rate boys on an 18-item scale?
What was the purpose of quantifying teachers' observations by asking them to rate boys on an 18-item scale?
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What is the term for the ability of a measure to provide consistent results?
What is the term for the ability of a measure to provide consistent results?
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What is the primary goal of research in psychology?
What is the primary goal of research in psychology?
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What is the term for the process of turning an abstract concept into a numerical value?
What is the term for the process of turning an abstract concept into a numerical value?
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In an experiment, what do different levels or variations of the independent variable refer to?
In an experiment, what do different levels or variations of the independent variable refer to?
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What is the purpose of a control group in an experiment?
What is the purpose of a control group in an experiment?
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What is operationalising a variable?
What is operationalising a variable?
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What is a dependent variable?
What is a dependent variable?
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What is a confounding variable?
What is a confounding variable?
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What is internal consistency?
What is internal consistency?
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What is the purpose of a single-blind experiment?
What is the purpose of a single-blind experiment?
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What is the difference between a condition and a variable?
What is the difference between a condition and a variable?
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Why is it necessary to control for confounding variables?
Why is it necessary to control for confounding variables?
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What is the purpose of conducting an experiment in a circular fashion?
What is the purpose of conducting an experiment in a circular fashion?
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What is the main advantage of experiments in psychological research?
What is the main advantage of experiments in psychological research?
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What is a limitation of case studies?
What is a limitation of case studies?
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What is the importance of random sampling in survey research?
What is the importance of random sampling in survey research?
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What is a characteristic of a stratified random sample?
What is a characteristic of a stratified random sample?
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What is an advantage of case studies?
What is an advantage of case studies?
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What does a correlation coefficient measure?
What does a correlation coefficient measure?
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What does a negative correlation between two variables mean?
What does a negative correlation between two variables mean?
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What is a benefit of single-blind experiments?
What is a benefit of single-blind experiments?
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What is a limitation of surveys?
What is a limitation of surveys?
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What is the primary function of replication in an experiment?
What is the primary function of replication in an experiment?
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What is an advantage of experiments over case studies?
What is an advantage of experiments over case studies?
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What is a major limitation of experimental research?
What is a major limitation of experimental research?
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What is the key limitation of quasi-experimental design?
What is the key limitation of quasi-experimental design?
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In the study of mood and memory, what are happiness and sadness?
In the study of mood and memory, what are happiness and sadness?
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What is a characteristic of quasi-experimental design?
What is a characteristic of quasi-experimental design?
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What is a characteristic of single case studies?
What is a characteristic of single case studies?
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What is correlation?
What is correlation?
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What is the main difference between a CAT scan and an MRI?
What is the main difference between a CAT scan and an MRI?
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When is deception considered 'useful' in a study?
When is deception considered 'useful' in a study?
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What is the main principle in balancing ethics in animal research?
What is the main principle in balancing ethics in animal research?
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What are the three principles underlying critical thinking?
What are the three principles underlying critical thinking?
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What is a variable?
What is a variable?
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What is a hypothesis?
What is a hypothesis?
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What is a single-blind study?
What is a single-blind study?
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What is a random sample?
What is a random sample?
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What is a correlation coefficient?
What is a correlation coefficient?
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What does correlating two variables involve?
What does correlating two variables involve?
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What is the primary purpose of standardised procedures?
What is the primary purpose of standardised procedures?
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Which of the following can threaten the internal validity of a study?
Which of the following can threaten the internal validity of a study?
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What is essential for generalising the findings of a study to a population?
What is essential for generalising the findings of a study to a population?
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What is the best way to obtain an accurate assessment of a variable?
What is the best way to obtain an accurate assessment of a variable?
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What is the primary goal of a researcher in psychology?
What is the primary goal of a researcher in psychology?
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What is reliability in measurement?
What is reliability in measurement?
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Which type of reliability is most important in a measurement?
Which type of reliability is most important in a measurement?
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What term refers to the applicability of a study's findings to a population?
What term refers to the applicability of a study's findings to a population?
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What is the primary benefit of using multiple measures of a variable?
What is the primary benefit of using multiple measures of a variable?
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Showing that a measure of children's achievement, popularity and adjustment can predict how well they do, academically and socially, years later is:
Showing that a measure of children's achievement, popularity and adjustment can predict how well they do, academically and socially, years later is:
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The effectiveness of emotional expression of feelings about stressful events in later health is supported by:
The effectiveness of emotional expression of feelings about stressful events in later health is supported by:
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In an experiment, the investigator:
In an experiment, the investigator:
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Which of the following best states the results of the Harlow study?
Which of the following best states the results of the Harlow study?
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A placebo effect:
A placebo effect:
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Inferential statistics:
Inferential statistics:
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Experiments have several advantages over other research methods. Among them are:
Experiments have several advantages over other research methods. Among them are:
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Generalisability refers to:
Generalisability refers to:
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What is a central characteristic of a valid measure?
What is a central characteristic of a valid measure?
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What is the purpose of research in psychology?
What is the purpose of research in psychology?
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What are the three main goals of the scientific approach to research?
What are the three main goals of the scientific approach to research?
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What is a theory, according to the text?
What is a theory, according to the text?
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What is the definition of a hypothesis?
What is the definition of a hypothesis?
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What is measurement in psychological research?
What is measurement in psychological research?
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What does a hypothesis predict?
What does a hypothesis predict?
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What is the primary goal of researchers when conducting studies on a subset of people?
What is the primary goal of researchers when conducting studies on a subset of people?
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What do researchers try to achieve when designing a study?
What do researchers try to achieve when designing a study?
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Why is measurement important in psychological research?
Why is measurement important in psychological research?
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What is internal consistency in the context of research?
What is internal consistency in the context of research?
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What is the limitation of a study that fails to convincingly test the experimenter's hypothesis?
What is the limitation of a study that fails to convincingly test the experimenter's hypothesis?
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Why did Rodkin et al. (2000) ask teachers to rate boys on an 18-item scale?
Why did Rodkin et al. (2000) ask teachers to rate boys on an 18-item scale?
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What is the purpose of a control group in an experiment?
What is the purpose of a control group in an experiment?
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What is operationalising a variable?
What is operationalising a variable?
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What is a confounding variable?
What is a confounding variable?
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What is the characteristic of a single-blind experiment?
What is the characteristic of a single-blind experiment?
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What is a key advantage of experiments in psychological research?
What is a key advantage of experiments in psychological research?
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What is a limitation of case studies?
What is a limitation of case studies?
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What is the purpose of stratified random sampling in survey research?
What is the purpose of stratified random sampling in survey research?
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What does a correlation coefficient measure?
What does a correlation coefficient measure?
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What does a negative correlation between two variables mean?
What does a negative correlation between two variables mean?
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What is the purpose of modern neuro-imaging techniques?
What is the purpose of modern neuro-imaging techniques?
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What is the primary concern in balancing ethics in animal research?
What is the primary concern in balancing ethics in animal research?
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What is the primary purpose of keeping participants 'blind' to the purpose of the study?
What is the primary purpose of keeping participants 'blind' to the purpose of the study?
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What is a characteristic of a correlation between two variables?
What is a characteristic of a correlation between two variables?
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What is the primary function of scepticism in critical thinking?
What is the primary function of scepticism in critical thinking?
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What is the primary purpose of standardised procedures in research?
What is the primary purpose of standardised procedures in research?
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What threatens the internal validity of a study?
What threatens the internal validity of a study?
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What is the term for the extent to which the results of a study can be generalised beyond its original context?
What is the term for the extent to which the results of a study can be generalised beyond its original context?
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What is the best way to obtain an accurate assessment of a variable?
What is the best way to obtain an accurate assessment of a variable?
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What is the term for the ability of a measure to provide consistent results?
What is the term for the ability of a measure to provide consistent results?
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What is the main characteristic of single case studies?
What is the main characteristic of single case studies?
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What is the main limitation of quasi-experimental design?
What is the main limitation of quasi-experimental design?
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What is the purpose of replication in an experiment?
What is the purpose of replication in an experiment?
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What is the primary strength of experimental research?
What is the primary strength of experimental research?
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What is the primary advantage of quasi-experimental design?
What is the primary advantage of quasi-experimental design?
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What is the primary characteristic of a valid measure?
What is the primary characteristic of a valid measure?
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Which of the following is an advantage of experiments?
Which of the following is an advantage of experiments?
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What does inferential statistics help researchers do?
What does inferential statistics help researchers do?
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What is the purpose of emotional expression in reducing stress?
What is the purpose of emotional expression in reducing stress?
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What did Harlow's study find about infant monkeys' attachment to their mothers?
What did Harlow's study find about infant monkeys' attachment to their mothers?
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What is the process of defining an abstract concept, such as depression, in a concrete way?
What is the process of defining an abstract concept, such as depression, in a concrete way?
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What type of group is missing in an experiment to draw conclusions about the effects of music on student performance?
What type of group is missing in an experiment to draw conclusions about the effects of music on student performance?
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What is the term for a variable that can influence the results but was not intended to be included in the study?
What is the term for a variable that can influence the results but was not intended to be included in the study?
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What type of statistics are used to summarise the findings of a study?
What type of statistics are used to summarise the findings of a study?
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What type of statistics are used to determine whether the relationship between the independent and dependent variable is meaningful?
What type of statistics are used to determine whether the relationship between the independent and dependent variable is meaningful?
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What is the best description of a study that combines hypnosis and acupuncture to treat smoking, and measures the number of cigarettes participants smoke?
What is the best description of a study that combines hypnosis and acupuncture to treat smoking, and measures the number of cigarettes participants smoke?
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What is the purpose of a control group in an experiment?
What is the purpose of a control group in an experiment?
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What is the term for turning an abstract concept into a numerical value?
What is the term for turning an abstract concept into a numerical value?
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What is the main difference between descriptive and inferential statistics?
What is the main difference between descriptive and inferential statistics?
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What is the purpose of conducting an experiment?
What is the purpose of conducting an experiment?
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What is the primary characteristic of a valid measure?
What is the primary characteristic of a valid measure?
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What is the primary goal of an experiment?
What is the primary goal of an experiment?
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What is the term for the ability of a measure to provide consistent results?
What is the term for the ability of a measure to provide consistent results?
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What is the primary function of inferential statistics?
What is the primary function of inferential statistics?
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What is the term for the applicability of findings to the entire population of interest?
What is the term for the applicability of findings to the entire population of interest?
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What is the primary characteristic of a placebo effect?
What is the primary characteristic of a placebo effect?
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What is the primary goal of the scientific approach to research?
What is the primary goal of the scientific approach to research?
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What is the primary function of an experiment in terms of cause and effect?
What is the primary function of an experiment in terms of cause and effect?
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What is the primary characteristic of the Harlow study?
What is the primary characteristic of the Harlow study?
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What is the primary function of research in psychology?
What is the primary function of research in psychology?
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When conducting research, it is sometimes necessary to not fully disclose the true purpose of the study to participants before the study begins. What is required in such cases?
When conducting research, it is sometimes necessary to not fully disclose the true purpose of the study to participants before the study begins. What is required in such cases?
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What type of fallacy is committed when an argument is made stronger by attacking a simplified or distorted version of an opposing argument?
What type of fallacy is committed when an argument is made stronger by attacking a simplified or distorted version of an opposing argument?
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What is the primary goal of scepticism in critical thinking?
What is the primary goal of scepticism in critical thinking?
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What is the context of discovery in scientific research?
What is the context of discovery in scientific research?
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What is the primary difference between reliability and validity in measurement?
What is the primary difference between reliability and validity in measurement?
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What type of argument is committed when an argument is made stronger by appealing to the authority of an expert?
What type of argument is committed when an argument is made stronger by appealing to the authority of an expert?
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What is the primary goal of the context of justification in scientific research?
What is the primary goal of the context of justification in scientific research?
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What is the fallacy committed when an argument is made stronger by attacking an opposing argument that is not representative of the actual argument?
What is the fallacy committed when an argument is made stronger by attacking an opposing argument that is not representative of the actual argument?
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What is the primary goal of critical thinking in evaluating arguments?
What is the primary goal of critical thinking in evaluating arguments?
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What characterises substance-related disorders?
What characterises substance-related disorders?
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Which personality disorder is more prevalent in women, and which is more prevalent in men?
Which personality disorder is more prevalent in women, and which is more prevalent in men?
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What is the theory that states a diagnosis of mental illness is simply a way to categorise individuals whom a society considers deviant?
What is the theory that states a diagnosis of mental illness is simply a way to categorise individuals whom a society considers deviant?
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What is a set of hypotheses about a patient's personality structure and the meaning of the symptom, used to assess psychopathology?
What is a set of hypotheses about a patient's personality structure and the meaning of the symptom, used to assess psychopathology?
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In clinical psychology, many practitioners consider themselves what, integrating an understanding of classical and operant conditioning with a cognitive-social perspective?
In clinical psychology, many practitioners consider themselves what, integrating an understanding of classical and operant conditioning with a cognitive-social perspective?
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According to the family systems model, what are the methods that families use to preserve equilibrium?
According to the family systems model, what are the methods that families use to preserve equilibrium?
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What are perceptual experiences that distort or occur without external stimulus, common in individuals suffering from schizophrenia?
What are perceptual experiences that distort or occur without external stimulus, common in individuals suffering from schizophrenia?
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What is characterised by a period of abnormally elevated or expansive mood, during which an individual has an inflated sense of self that reaches grandiose proportions?
What is characterised by a period of abnormally elevated or expansive mood, during which an individual has an inflated sense of self that reaches grandiose proportions?
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Which personality disorder is more prevalent in women, and is often associated with difficulties in emotional regulation and impulsivity?
Which personality disorder is more prevalent in women, and is often associated with difficulties in emotional regulation and impulsivity?
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What is the term for the ability to infer something about a larger population from a subset of that population?
What is the term for the ability to infer something about a larger population from a subset of that population?
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What is the primary characteristic of substance-related disorders?
What is the primary characteristic of substance-related disorders?
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Which personality disorder is more prevalent in women?
Which personality disorder is more prevalent in women?
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What is the term for a diagnosis of mental illness as a way to categorise individuals whom a society considers deviant?
What is the term for a diagnosis of mental illness as a way to categorise individuals whom a society considers deviant?
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What is the term for a set of hypotheses about a patient's personality structure and the meaning of the symptom?
What is the term for a set of hypotheses about a patient's personality structure and the meaning of the symptom?
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What is the term for perceptual experiences that distort or occur without external stimulus?
What is the term for perceptual experiences that distort or occur without external stimulus?
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What is the term for a period of abnormally elevated or expansive mood, during which an individual has an inflated sense of self?
What is the term for a period of abnormally elevated or expansive mood, during which an individual has an inflated sense of self?
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What is the term for the methods that families use to preserve equilibrium, according to the family systems model?
What is the term for the methods that families use to preserve equilibrium, according to the family systems model?
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What is the primary approach of many practitioners in clinical psychology?
What is the primary approach of many practitioners in clinical psychology?
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What is the term for the ability of a measure to provide consistent results?
What is the term for the ability of a measure to provide consistent results?
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What is the term for the process of turning an abstract concept into a numerical value?
What is the term for the process of turning an abstract concept into a numerical value?
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Study Notes
Scientific Approach to Research
- The scientific approach has three main goals: description, prediction, and understanding.
- Description involves summarizing data to make it easily understood.
- Prediction involves using research outcomes to identify what would happen in the future.
- Understanding involves identifying causal factors that led to research results.
Hypothesis and Theory
- A theory is a systematic way of organizing and explaining observations.
- A hypothesis is a tentative belief about the relationship between two or more variables.
Measurement in Research
- Measurement is the process of turning an abstract concept into a numerical value.
- Measurement can be complex and may require multiple measures to obtain information.
Population and Sample
- A population is a larger group of people that researchers intend to study.
- A sample is a subgroup of the population that is representative of the population as a whole.
Generalisability and Internal Validity
- Generalisability refers to the ability to infer something about a larger population from the behavior of a subset of people.
- Internal validity refers to the strength of the study design in ensuring that the procedures used to test the hypothesis are sound.
Experimental Research
- An experiment involves manipulating variables to observe their effects.
- The different levels or variations of the independent variable are referred to as conditions.
- The dependent variable is the response measured to see whether the experimental manipulation had an effect.
Operationalisation and Control Group
- Operationalisation involves defining abstract concepts in concrete terms.
- A control group is used as a comparison group to ensure that the results are not due to extraneous variables.
Confounding Variables and Experiments
- A confounding variable is a variable that may be influencing the dependent variable in a systematic way.
- Experiments provide the cleanest findings of any research method in psychology.
Case Studies and Survey Research
- Case studies are in-depth examinations of a single case or a small number of cases.
- Random sampling helps to ensure that survey results accurately reflect the population as a whole without introducing systematic bias.
Correlation and Causation
- A correlation coefficient measures the extent to which two variables are related.
- A negative correlation indicates that as one variable increases, the other decreases.
Neuroimaging Techniques and Ethics
- Modern neuroimaging techniques use computer programs to transform data from brain scans into images.
- Ethics in research with animals involves balancing the costs to the animal against the benefits to humanity.
Critical Thinking
- Critical thinking involves scepticism, objectivity, and open-mindedness.
- Critical thinking is essential in evaluating research findings and avoiding misleading conclusions.
Variables and Hypothesis
- A variable is a characteristic that can differ from one situation to another or from one person to another.
- A hypothesis is a tentative belief about the relationship between two variables.### Reliability and Validity
- A reliable measure provides consistent results each time it is used for its intended purpose.
- There are four types of reliability: test-retest, internal consistency, interrater reliability, and they are all important and necessary in different contexts.
- A reliable measure does not fluctuate substantially despite the presence of random factors that might influence the results.
Types of Validity
- External validity refers to the ability to generalize findings to situations outside the laboratory.
- Generalisability refers to the applicability of the findings to the entire population of interest to the researcher.
- A valid measure can predict other variables with which it should, theoretically, be related.
Research Methods
- An experiment involves manipulating variables and measuring their effects on behaviour.
- The goal of an experiment is to establish cause-and-effect relationships between variables.
- Inferential statistics help draw conclusions about a population from what happens to a sample.
Experimental Design
- Experimental designs have several advantages, including replication and the establishment of cause-and-effect relationships.
- One of the key strengths of experimental research is the increased confidence in causality.
- Weaknesses of experimental research include limited generalizability outside the laboratory and difficulties in controlling complex phenomena.
Quasi-Experimental Design
- A quasi-experimental design is similar to an experimental design, but lacks random assignment to conditions.
- The major weakness of a quasi-experimental design is the lack of random assignment.
Case Study
- Case studies are not highly generalizable and are not an appropriate source of hypotheses.
- Case study methods can be used in combination with quantitative or experimental procedures and are useful at the beginning or end of a series of studies.
Scientific Approach to Research
- The scientific approach has three main goals: description, prediction, and understanding.
- Description involves summarizing data to make it easily understood.
- Prediction involves using research outcomes to identify what would happen in the future.
- Understanding involves identifying causal factors that led to research results.
Hypothesis and Theory
- A theory is a systematic way of organizing and explaining observations.
- A hypothesis is a tentative belief about the relationship between two or more variables.
Measurement in Research
- Measurement is the process of turning an abstract concept into a numerical value.
- Measurement can be complex and may require multiple measures to obtain information.
Population and Sample
- A population is a larger group of people that researchers intend to study.
- A sample is a subgroup of the population that is representative of the population as a whole.
Generalisability and Internal Validity
- Generalisability refers to the ability to infer something about a larger population from the behavior of a subset of people.
- Internal validity refers to the strength of the study design in ensuring that the procedures used to test the hypothesis are sound.
Experimental Research
- An experiment involves manipulating variables to observe their effects.
- The different levels or variations of the independent variable are referred to as conditions.
- The dependent variable is the response measured to see whether the experimental manipulation had an effect.
Operationalisation and Control Group
- Operationalisation involves defining abstract concepts in concrete terms.
- A control group is used as a comparison group to ensure that the results are not due to extraneous variables.
Confounding Variables and Experiments
- A confounding variable is a variable that may be influencing the dependent variable in a systematic way.
- Experiments provide the cleanest findings of any research method in psychology.
Case Studies and Survey Research
- Case studies are in-depth examinations of a single case or a small number of cases.
- Random sampling helps to ensure that survey results accurately reflect the population as a whole without introducing systematic bias.
Correlation and Causation
- A correlation coefficient measures the extent to which two variables are related.
- A negative correlation indicates that as one variable increases, the other decreases.
Neuroimaging Techniques and Ethics
- Modern neuroimaging techniques use computer programs to transform data from brain scans into images.
- Ethics in research with animals involves balancing the costs to the animal against the benefits to humanity.
Critical Thinking
- Critical thinking involves scepticism, objectivity, and open-mindedness.
- Critical thinking is essential in evaluating research findings and avoiding misleading conclusions.
Variables and Hypothesis
- A variable is a characteristic that can differ from one situation to another or from one person to another.
- A hypothesis is a tentative belief about the relationship between two variables.### Reliability and Validity
- A reliable measure provides consistent results each time it is used for its intended purpose.
- There are four types of reliability: test-retest, internal consistency, interrater reliability, and they are all important and necessary in different contexts.
- A reliable measure does not fluctuate substantially despite the presence of random factors that might influence the results.
Types of Validity
- External validity refers to the ability to generalize findings to situations outside the laboratory.
- Generalisability refers to the applicability of the findings to the entire population of interest to the researcher.
- A valid measure can predict other variables with which it should, theoretically, be related.
Research Methods
- An experiment involves manipulating variables and measuring their effects on behaviour.
- The goal of an experiment is to establish cause-and-effect relationships between variables.
- Inferential statistics help draw conclusions about a population from what happens to a sample.
Experimental Design
- Experimental designs have several advantages, including replication and the establishment of cause-and-effect relationships.
- One of the key strengths of experimental research is the increased confidence in causality.
- Weaknesses of experimental research include limited generalizability outside the laboratory and difficulties in controlling complex phenomena.
Quasi-Experimental Design
- A quasi-experimental design is similar to an experimental design, but lacks random assignment to conditions.
- The major weakness of a quasi-experimental design is the lack of random assignment.
Case Study
- Case studies are not highly generalizable and are not an appropriate source of hypotheses.
- Case study methods can be used in combination with quantitative or experimental procedures and are useful at the beginning or end of a series of studies.
Experimental Research
- Experimental research has several advantages, including the ability to establish cause-and-effect relationships, replication, and application to real-world situations.
- In an experiment, a researcher manipulates one or more independent variables and measures their effect on one or more dependent variables.
Quasi-Experimental Design
- In a quasi-experimental design, participants are not randomly assigned to conditions, unlike in experimental design.
- This design is useful when random assignment is not possible, such as when studying the effect of gender or age on a particular outcome.
Case Studies
- Case studies involve in-depth analysis of a single case or a small number of cases.
- They are useful for generating hypotheses and exploring phenomena in detail.
Naturalistic Observation
- Naturalistic observation involves observing behavior in a natural setting, without interference or manipulation.
- It is useful for discovering patterns and relationships in real-world situations.
Correlational Research
- Correlational research examines the relationship between two or more variables.
- It is useful for identifying patterns and relationships between variables, but cannot establish cause-and-effect relationships.
Ethics in Research
- Informed consent is essential in research, ensuring that participants understand the study and can withdraw at any time.
- Deception may be used in research, but only with proper debriefing and justification.
- Animals have rights and cannot give informed consent, so their use in research is subject to ethical guidelines.
Theory and Hypotheses
- A theory is a systematic way of explaining observations and making predictions.
- A hypothesis is a specific prediction made based on a theory.
- Variables can be categorical, continuous, or nominal, and must be operationalized in a study.
Reliability and Validity
- Reliability refers to the consistency of a measure, whether it produces similar results over time or across different observers.
- Validity refers to whether a measure assesses what it claims to measure.
- Internal validity refers to the soundness of a study's design, while external validity refers to the generalizability of the findings.
Measurement and Data
- Measurement involves assigning numbers to variables to make them quantifiable.
- Data can be nominal, ordinal, interval, or ratio, depending on the level of measurement.
Experimental and Quasi-Experimental Design
- Experimental design involves manipulating an independent variable and measuring its effect on a dependent variable.
- Quasi-experimental design is similar, but lacks random assignment to conditions.
Critical Thinking and Science
- Scepticism is essential in science, involving critical evaluation of assumptions and evidence.
- Empiricism involves testing hypotheses through observation and experimentation.
- The context of justification involves testing hypotheses and theories, while the context of discovery involves generating hypotheses and theories.### Independent and Dependent Variables
- In an experiment, the independent variable is the factor that is manipulated or changed by the experimenter between groups of subjects.
- The independent variable is independent of the control of the participants in an experiment.
- In a study, the independent variable (IV) is the factor that is manipulated or changed by the experimenter, while the dependent variable (DV) is the response made to the independent variable.
Experimental and Control Groups
- Participants who are in the group that experiences a neutral condition in relation to the independent variable (i.e., who have not been exposed to the experimental condition) are said to be in the control group.
- Any condition that involves exposure to some level of the independent variable is an experimental condition.
- In an experiment, participants who receive the experimental condition are in the experimental group, while those who do not receive the experimental condition are in the control group.
Research Design
- A double-blind study is one in which both the participants and the researchers who interact with them do not know who has been exposed to which experimental condition until the research is completed.
- Random assignment of participants to the experimental and control groups is essential for internal validity because participants in each group are unlikely to differ in some systematic way.
- Demand characteristics are the ways in which participants' perceptions of the researcher's goals affect their responses in an experiment.
Operationalizing Variables
- Operationalizing a variable involves turning an abstract concept into a concrete variable by clearly defining its meaning.
- In a study, an independent variable can be operationalized by manipulating the level of the variable to see its effect on a dependent variable.
Confounding Variables
- A confounding variable is one that can influence the results but was not intended to be included in the study.
- Confounding variables can compromise the internal validity of the study by confounding the effects of the independent variable.
Statistical Analysis
- Descriptive statistics are used to summarize the essential features of a data set.
- Inferential statistics are used to determine whether the relationship between the independent and dependent variable is meaningful and unlikely to have been caused by chance.
Experimental Design
- A study is best described as experimental if it involves random assignment of participants to groups and manipulation of the independent variable.
- Quasi-experimental designs do not involve random assignment of participants to groups.
- Correlational designs involve measuring the relationship between two or more variables without manipulating the independent variable.
Scientific Approach to Research
- The scientific approach has three main goals: description, prediction, and understanding
- Description involves summarizing data to make it easily understood
- Prediction involves using research outcomes to identify what would happen in the future
- Understanding involves identifying the causal factors that led to the research results
Theory and Hypothesis
- A theory is a systematic way of organising and explaining observations
- A hypothesis is a tentative belief about the relationship between two or more variables
- A hypothesis predicts the findings that should be observed if a theory is correct
Measurement
- Measurement is the means of turning a concept into a numerical value
- Measurement is useful in psychological research, but not always possible for abstract variables
- For complex variables, multiple measures may be required to obtain accurate information
Population and Sample
- Investigators conduct research to better understand the behaviour of a population
- A population is the larger group of people to whom research findings should be applicable
- A sample is a subgroup of the population that is likely to be representative of the population as a whole
- Generalisability refers to the ability to infer something about a larger population from the behaviours of a subset of that population
Experimentation
- In an experiment, the researcher manipulates the independent variable and measures the effect on the dependent variable
- The dependent variable is measured by the researcher
- The different levels or variations of the independent variable are referred to as conditions
- To operationalise the variables means to turn abstract concepts into concrete variables defined by a set of actions or operations
Control Group and Confounding Variables
- The purpose of a control group is to have a group that acts as a comparison group
- A confounding variable is a variable that could produce effects that are confused with the effects of the independent variable
- The presence of confounding variables compromises the internal validity of a study
Experimental Design
- Single-blind experiments involve keeping participants unaware of which experimental condition they are experiencing
- Experiments provide the cleanest findings of any method of psychological research because experimenters can manipulate variables one at a time and observe the effects of each
Case Studies and Survey Research
- Case studies are useful for studying complex phenomena not easily reproduced experimentally
- Random sampling helps to overcome any systematic bias in participants' responses
- A stratified random sample reflects the proportion drawn from each population category
Correlation and Causality
- A correlation coefficient measures the extent to which two variables are co-related
- A negative correlation between two variables means that the higher a subject scores on one variable, the lower they will score on the other
- Correlation does not imply causation
Neuro-Imaging and Ethics
- Modern neuro-imaging techniques use computer programs to transform data from brain scans into images
- Deception is considered useful in a study when demand characteristics would influence the results of an important study
- Ethics in research with animals balances the costs to the animal against the benefits to humanity
Critical Thinking
- The three principles underpinning critical thinking are scepticism, objectivity, and open-mindedness### Consistency and Reliability
- A test provides consistent results each time it is used, which is important for reliability.
- There are different types of reliability: test-retest, internal consistency, and interrater reliability, and all are important in their own context.
Validity
- A study has external validity if its findings can be generalized to situations outside the laboratory.
- External validity means that the study's findings can be applied to the entire population of interest to the researcher.
- Generalisability refers to the applicability of the findings to the entire population of interest to the researcher.
Measures and Prediction
- A central characteristic of a valid measure is that it can predict other variables with which it should be related theoretically.
- A measure is valid if it can predict other variables with which it should be related theoretically.
Research Methods
- In an experiment, the investigator focuses on manipulated variables and their effects on behaviour, is interested in cause-effect relationships, and manipulates some factor.
- Psychology takes an empirical approach to research that involves the rigorous testing of theories using methods that can be replicated.
Notable Studies
- The Harlow study found that infant monkeys were drawn to their mothers by the security and comfort provided, not by the mother's role as a source of food.
- The study showed that attachment is not just about nourishment, but also about security and comfort.
Placebo Effect and Statistics
- A placebo effect occurs when simply believing that a treatment is effective has an impact.
- Inferential statistics help draw conclusions about a population from what happens to a sample.
Research Methods
- An experiment compares student GPAs between those who eat breakfast and those who don't, but the two groups also differ in terms of who listens to music, making music a confounding variable.
- Descriptive statistics are used to summarize the essential features of a data set.
- Inferential statistics are used to determine whether the relationship between the independent and dependent variables is meaningful and unlikely to have been caused by chance.
- Experimental research involves manipulating some aspect of a situation (the independent variable) and examining the impact on the way participants respond (the dependent variable).
- Dependent variables are the responses of participants that depend on their exposure to the independent variable.
- Confounding variables are variables that can produce effects that are confused with the effects of the independent variable, compromising the internal validity of a study.
- Single-blind study is a study where participants are kept unaware of the goals of the research, but the experimenter is not.
- Experimental methods are used to establish cause and effect directly.
- Quasi-experimental research shares many of the features of experimental research, except that random assignment to conditions is not possible.
- Descriptive research attempts to describe psychological phenomena rather than manipulate variables.
- Survey research is a type of descriptive research that involves asking people about their attitudes, thoughts, or behaviors.
- Stratified random sampling is a method of selecting participants where the proportion of each category is specified and then participants are randomly selected from each category.
- Naturalistic observation is the in-depth observation of a phenomenon in its natural setting.
- Case study involves in-depth observation and study of one person or a small group of individuals.
Correlation and Causation
-
Correlational research examines the relationship between two or more variables to determine if they are related.
-
A correlation coefficient of zero means that the variables are unrelated.
-
A correlation coefficient of +1.0 or -1.0 means that the variables are perfectly related.
-
Correlation does not imply causation.
-
A positron emission tomography (PET) scan is a neuroimaging method that requires injection of a small quantity of radioactive glucose into the bloodstream.
-
A computerised axial tomography (CAT) scan is a technique that involves the rotation of an x-ray machine around the head to generate a picture of the brain.### Neuroimaging Techniques
-
Positron emission tomography (PET) scan involves injecting radioactive glucose into the bloodstream, which is used by neurons for energy, and tracking its use through the brain.
-
PET scan is used to study neural activity, such as observing activity levels in various parts of the brain.
-
Computerised axial tomography (CAT) scan involves rotating an x-ray tube around a person's head and combining x-ray pictures into a composite visual image of the brain using computer software.
Electrophysiology
- Electroencephalogram (EEG) measures electrical activity on the outer layers of the brain (near the skull) by placing electrodes on the scalp.
- EEG is used to study neural activity, such as reading, by measuring electrical activity produced by nerve cells firing.
Research Design
- A positive correlation between two variables means that the higher individuals measure on one variable, the higher they are likely to measure on the other.
- Correlation does not necessarily imply causation; an underlying aspect of personality may explain the outcome.
Ethics in Research
- Informed consent requires participants to be aware that they are free to withdraw from the research at any time.
- Researchers must consider the benefits of the research and balance them against any suffering inflicted on non-human animals used in the research.
- Deception is permitted in research only if the study is important enough to warrant it, and participants must be debriefed afterwards.
Critical Thinking
- A straw man argument is a fallacy that involves destroying an alternative (often simplified) argument to strengthen one's own argument.
- An appeal to authority is a fallacy that involves arguing that an argument must be true because of the authority of the person making it.
- Scepticism involves questioning assumptions or conclusions and analyzing whether the evidence presented supports the results.
Research Methods
- The context of discovery involves descriptive research methods and allows an exploration of the nature of a phenomenon.
- The context of justification involves testing hypotheses and theories using experimental, quasi-experimental, and correlational methods.
Abnormal Psychology
Thomas Szasz's View
- According to Thomas Szasz, a person should only be treated for mental illness if they consider their symptoms a problem.
Psychopathology
- Refers to problematic patterns of thought, feeling or behaviour that disrupt an individual's sense of well-being, social or occupational functioning.
Psychoses
- Are chronic and severe disturbances that substantially inhibit the capacity to love and to work.
- Can involve a loss of touch with reality (e.g., hearing voices, believing in conspiracy theories).
Psychodynamic Psychology
- Asks three questions to create a set of hypotheses about a patient's personality structure and meaning of their symptoms:
- What does the patient wish for and fear?
- What psychological resources does the person have at their disposal?
- How does the patient experience themselves and others?
Aetiology of Psychoses and Neuroses
- Psychoses result primarily from biological abnormalities.
- Neuroses and personality disorders stem more from environmental experiences.
Cognitive-Behavioural Practitioners
- Integrate an understanding of:
- Classical conditioning
- Operant conditioning
- Cognitive-social perspective
Biological Approach
- Looks for the roots of mental disorders in:
- Genetic factors
- Brain regions
- Brain circuitry
Systems Approach
- Examines the physical and psychological limits of the family and its subsystems.
- Includes looking at family boundaries.
Clinical Syndromes
- Constellations of symptoms that tend to occur together.
Diathesis-Stress Model
- Proposes that people with an underlying vulnerability may develop a disorder under stressful circumstances.
Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
- Characterized by impulsiveness, inattention, and hyperactivity.
Schizophrenia
- Heritability estimated at 83%.
- Positive symptoms: delusions, hallucinations, loose associations.
- Negative symptoms: blunted emotional response, lack of motivation, socially inappropriate behaviour, and intellectual impairment.
Dopamine Hypothesis
- Suggests that individuals with schizophrenia have excess dopamine in subcortical circuits.
Environmental Variables
- Expressed emotion (criticism, hostility, emotional over-involvement) can contribute to the onset and course of schizophrenia.
Mood Disorders
- Depression is likely to be associated with anxiety disorders.
- Women are more likely to suffer from depression than men.
Cognitive Distortions
- Mechanisms by which a depressed person transforms neutral or positive information in a depressive direction.
Generalised Anxiety Disorder
- Characterized by persistent anxiety at a moderate but disturbing level and excessive and unrealistic worry about life circumstances.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
- More likely to develop in veterans with lower IQ.
Panic Disorder
- Characterized by attacks of intense fear and feelings of doom or terror not justified by the situation.
Eating Disorders
- Binge eating disorder is a new disorder included in the DSM-5.
Personality Disorders
- Chronic and severe disturbances that substantially inhibit the capacity to love and to work.
- Examples include borderline, histrionic, and schizotypal personality disorders.
Schizoaffective Disorder
- A diagnostic category used to describe individuals who seem to have attributes of both schizophrenia and psychotic depression.
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
- More frequent during the winter months due to lack of sunlight.
Conduct Disorder
- A disturbance of childhood characterized by persistent violation of societal norms and the rights of others.
Schizophrenia Onset
-
Most forms of schizophrenia begin in the late teens and early twenties.### Amphetamines and Psychosis
-
Amphetamines increase dopamine activity, leading to psychotic-like symptoms such as paranoia and hallucinations in normal people when taken in high doses.
Major Depressive Episodes
- Major depressive episodes typically last about 5 months.
Mania Symptoms
- Symptoms of mania include an inflated sense of self, racing thoughts, and a constant need to talk.
- People during a manic episode are not persistent, and their thoughts and behavior jump from one thing to another.
Bipolar Disorder
- Bipolar disorder is characterized by periods of mania and depression.
- Individuals with bipolar disorder experience both depression and mania.
Psychodynamic Theories of Depression
- Psychodynamic theories of depression focus on motivation, including identification with a depressed or belittling parent or an attachment history that predisposes fear of rejection or abandonment.
Compulsions and Obsessions
- Compulsions include counting, hand washing, and touching.
- Repetitive thoughts are an obsession, not a compulsion.
Substance-Related Disorders
- Substance-related disorders are characterized by continued use of a substance that negatively affects psychological and social functioning.
Personality Disorders
- Borderline personality disorder is more prevalent in women.
- Antisocial personality disorder is more prevalent in men.
Labelling Theory
- Labelling theory suggests that a diagnosis of mental illness is simply a way to categorize individuals whom a society considers deviant.
Psychodynamic Formulation
- A psychodynamic formulation is a set of hypotheses about a patient's personality structure and the meaning of the symptom, used to assess psychopathology.
Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy
- Cognitive-behavioural therapists integrate an understanding of classical and operant conditioning with a cognitive-social perspective.
Family Systems Model
- Family systems model suggests that families use homoeostatic mechanisms to preserve equilibrium.
Hallucinations and Schizophrenia
- Hallucinations are perceptual experiences that distort or occur without external stimulus, and are common in individuals suffering from schizophrenia.
- Auditory hallucinations (hearing voices) are the most frequent kind experienced by people suffering from schizophrenia.
Mania
- Mania is characterized by a period of abnormally elevated or expansive mood, during which an individual has an inflated sense of self that reaches grandiose proportions.
- During a manic episode, people generally require less sleep, experience their thoughts as racing, and feel a constant need to talk.
Abnormal Psychology
Thomas Szasz's View
- According to Thomas Szasz, a person should only be treated for mental illness if they consider their symptoms a problem.
Psychopathology
- Refers to problematic patterns of thought, feeling or behaviour that disrupt an individual's sense of well-being, social or occupational functioning.
Psychoses
- Are chronic and severe disturbances that substantially inhibit the capacity to love and to work.
- Can involve a loss of touch with reality (e.g., hearing voices, believing in conspiracy theories).
Psychodynamic Psychology
- Asks three questions to create a set of hypotheses about a patient's personality structure and meaning of their symptoms:
- What does the patient wish for and fear?
- What psychological resources does the person have at their disposal?
- How does the patient experience themselves and others?
Aetiology of Psychoses and Neuroses
- Psychoses result primarily from biological abnormalities.
- Neuroses and personality disorders stem more from environmental experiences.
Cognitive-Behavioural Practitioners
- Integrate an understanding of:
- Classical conditioning
- Operant conditioning
- Cognitive-social perspective
Biological Approach
- Looks for the roots of mental disorders in:
- Genetic factors
- Brain regions
- Brain circuitry
Systems Approach
- Examines the physical and psychological limits of the family and its subsystems.
- Includes looking at family boundaries.
Clinical Syndromes
- Constellations of symptoms that tend to occur together.
Diathesis-Stress Model
- Proposes that people with an underlying vulnerability may develop a disorder under stressful circumstances.
Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
- Characterized by impulsiveness, inattention, and hyperactivity.
Schizophrenia
- Heritability estimated at 83%.
- Positive symptoms: delusions, hallucinations, loose associations.
- Negative symptoms: blunted emotional response, lack of motivation, socially inappropriate behaviour, and intellectual impairment.
Dopamine Hypothesis
- Suggests that individuals with schizophrenia have excess dopamine in subcortical circuits.
Environmental Variables
- Expressed emotion (criticism, hostility, emotional over-involvement) can contribute to the onset and course of schizophrenia.
Mood Disorders
- Depression is likely to be associated with anxiety disorders.
- Women are more likely to suffer from depression than men.
Cognitive Distortions
- Mechanisms by which a depressed person transforms neutral or positive information in a depressive direction.
Generalised Anxiety Disorder
- Characterized by persistent anxiety at a moderate but disturbing level and excessive and unrealistic worry about life circumstances.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
- More likely to develop in veterans with lower IQ.
Panic Disorder
- Characterized by attacks of intense fear and feelings of doom or terror not justified by the situation.
Eating Disorders
- Binge eating disorder is a new disorder included in the DSM-5.
Personality Disorders
- Chronic and severe disturbances that substantially inhibit the capacity to love and to work.
- Examples include borderline, histrionic, and schizotypal personality disorders.
Schizoaffective Disorder
- A diagnostic category used to describe individuals who seem to have attributes of both schizophrenia and psychotic depression.
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
- More frequent during the winter months due to lack of sunlight.
Conduct Disorder
- A disturbance of childhood characterized by persistent violation of societal norms and the rights of others.
Schizophrenia Onset
-
Most forms of schizophrenia begin in the late teens and early twenties.### Amphetamines and Psychosis
-
Amphetamines increase dopamine activity, leading to psychotic-like symptoms such as paranoia and hallucinations in normal people when taken in high doses.
Major Depressive Episodes
- Major depressive episodes typically last about 5 months.
Mania Symptoms
- Symptoms of mania include an inflated sense of self, racing thoughts, and a constant need to talk.
- People during a manic episode are not persistent, and their thoughts and behavior jump from one thing to another.
Bipolar Disorder
- Bipolar disorder is characterized by periods of mania and depression.
- Individuals with bipolar disorder experience both depression and mania.
Psychodynamic Theories of Depression
- Psychodynamic theories of depression focus on motivation, including identification with a depressed or belittling parent or an attachment history that predisposes fear of rejection or abandonment.
Compulsions and Obsessions
- Compulsions include counting, hand washing, and touching.
- Repetitive thoughts are an obsession, not a compulsion.
Substance-Related Disorders
- Substance-related disorders are characterized by continued use of a substance that negatively affects psychological and social functioning.
Personality Disorders
- Borderline personality disorder is more prevalent in women.
- Antisocial personality disorder is more prevalent in men.
Labelling Theory
- Labelling theory suggests that a diagnosis of mental illness is simply a way to categorize individuals whom a society considers deviant.
Psychodynamic Formulation
- A psychodynamic formulation is a set of hypotheses about a patient's personality structure and the meaning of the symptom, used to assess psychopathology.
Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy
- Cognitive-behavioural therapists integrate an understanding of classical and operant conditioning with a cognitive-social perspective.
Family Systems Model
- Family systems model suggests that families use homoeostatic mechanisms to preserve equilibrium.
Hallucinations and Schizophrenia
- Hallucinations are perceptual experiences that distort or occur without external stimulus, and are common in individuals suffering from schizophrenia.
- Auditory hallucinations (hearing voices) are the most frequent kind experienced by people suffering from schizophrenia.
Mania
- Mania is characterized by a period of abnormally elevated or expansive mood, during which an individual has an inflated sense of self that reaches grandiose proportions.
- During a manic episode, people generally require less sleep, experience their thoughts as racing, and feel a constant need to talk.
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Description
This quiz covers the three main goals of the scientific approach to research, including description, prediction, and understanding. Learn how these goals are achieved in research studies.