Psychology Notes PDF
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These notes provide an overview of key concepts in psychology, including research methods, experimental design, descriptive statistics, and key psychological terms. It covers various research methods, case studies, and correlation, with examples provided to solidify the knowledge.
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UNIT 0 Topic 1 Experimental Method Key Features: ○ Independent Variable (IV): The variable manipulated by the researcher (e.g., type of therapy). ○ Dependent Variable (DV): The variable measured for change (e.g., stress levels). ○ Random As...
UNIT 0 Topic 1 Experimental Method Key Features: ○ Independent Variable (IV): The variable manipulated by the researcher (e.g., type of therapy). ○ Dependent Variable (DV): The variable measured for change (e.g., stress levels). ○ Random Assignment: Assigning participants to groups by chance to reduce bias. Random Sampling: Selecting a representative sample from a population to generalize findings. Strengths: ○ Establishes cause-and-effect relationships. Weaknesses: ○ Can be artificial; not always generalizable to real life. Other Research Methods 1. Correlation/Survey: ○ Measures the relationship between variables (e.g., study time vs. grades). ○ Strength: Identifies relationships between variables. ○ Weakness: Cannot prove causation. ○ Correlation Coefficient: Ranges from -1.0 to +1.0 (closer to ±1 = stronger relationship). 2. Case Study: ○ In-depth study of a single individual or group. ○ Strength: Detailed information on rare cases. ○ Weakness: Results may not generalize to others. 3. Naturalistic Observation: ○ Observing behavior in its natural environment without interference. ○ Strength: Provides real-world insights. ○ Weakness: Observer bias; no control over variables. Key Psychological Terms Hindsight Bias: "I knew it all along" phenomenon. Theory: An explanation based on evidence. Hypothesis: A testable prediction. Operational Definition: Specific definitions for variables (e.g., "happiness = self-reported smiles/hour"). Replication: Repeating studies to confirm findings. Ethics in Research Importance: Protects participants' rights and maintains scientific integrity. Guidelines: 1. Informed Consent: Participants must agree to the study after being informed of its nature. 2. Protection from Harm: Physical and emotional safety must be ensured. 3. Confidentiality: Participant information must remain private. 4. Debriefing: Explain the study and its purpose afterward, especially if deception is used. Descriptive Statistics 1. Mean: The average (add all scores, divide by the number of scores). 2. Median: The middle score when ordered. 3. Mode: The most frequently occurring score. Example Scenario: ○ Test Scores: 80, 90, 90, 95, 100. ○ Mean: (80 + 90 + 90 + 95 + 100) ÷ 5 = 91. ○ Median: Middle score = 90. ○ Mode: Most frequent score = 90. Standard Deviation and Normal Curve Standard Deviation (SD): Measures how spread out scores are from the mean. Normal Curve (Bell Curve): ○ 68% of data falls within 1 SD of the mean. ○ 95% within 2 SDs. ○ 99.7% within 3 SDs. Skewed Distributions: ○ Positive Skew: Tail is on the right (e.g., income levels). ○ Negative Skew: Tail is on the left (e.g., retirement age). Statistical Significance Definition: The likelihood that a result is not due to chance. Threshold: Typically p
