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Introduction to Psychology - Key Concepts and Research Methods

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  • What is the definition of psychology?

    Psychology is the scientific study of behaviour and mental processes.

  • What are the four main goals of psychology?

    1. Description - describe behaviour or mental processes
    2. Explanation - determine cause-effect relationships
    3. Prediction - specify conditions when behaviour occurs
    4. Influence - apply principles to change behaviour or outcomes

  • What is the difference between basic and applied research in psychology?

    Basic research seeks new knowledge and understanding (goals 1-3). Applied research aims to solve practical problems and improve quality of life (goal 4).

  • What is naturalistic observation?

    Observing and recording behaviour in its natural setting without influencing or controlling it.

  • What is laboratory observation?

    Observation conducted in a controlled laboratory setting, often using equipment to measure responses.

  • What is a case study in psychology research?

    In-depth study of one or a few subjects using observation, interviews, or tests, useful for rare conditions or experiences.

  • What is survey research?

    Using interviews or questionnaires to gather information about attitudes, beliefs, or behaviours from a representative sample.

  • What does a positive correlation indicate?

    Two variables vary in the same direction; as one increases, the other also increases, or both decrease together.

  • What does a negative correlation indicate?

    Two variables vary in opposite directions; as one increases, the other decreases.

  • Does correlation imply causation?

    No. Correlation shows a relationship but does not prove one variable causes the other.

  • What is the experimental method in psychology?

    A research method that can identify cause-effect relationships by manipulating an independent variable and measuring a dependent variable.

  • Define independent and dependent variables in an experiment.

    Independent variable (IV): manipulated cause.
    Dependent variable (DV): measured effect.

  • What is random assignment and why is it important?

    Randomly assigning participants to groups to prevent selection bias and ensure groups are comparable at the start.

  • What is the placebo effect and how is it controlled?

    Improvement due to expectations rather than treatment; controlled by including a control group receiving a placebo.

  • What is experimenter bias and how can it be prevented?

    Researcher’s expectations influencing participants or results; prevented by double-blind studies where both are unaware of group assignments.

  • What are the characteristics of a reliable and valid psychological test?

    Reliable: consistent results.
    Valid: measures what it intends to measure.

  • What was the focus of structuralism in psychology?

    Reducing mental experiences to basic elements using introspection.

  • What did functionalism emphasize?

    How mental processes function and help organisms adapt to their environment.

  • What is the main idea of Gestalt psychology?

    Perception is more than the sum of its parts; we perceive whole patterns and objects.

  • What does behaviourism focus on?

    Observable, measurable behaviour shaped by learning and environment, ignoring mental processes.

  • What is the psychoanalytic perspective?

    Emphasizes the unconscious mind and how unconscious motives influence behaviour.

  • What does humanistic psychology emphasize?

    Human uniqueness, free choice, growth, and psychological health.

  • What is the focus of cognitive psychology?

    Study of mental processes like memory, problem solving, reasoning, and language.

  • What does the biological perspective study?

    Biological processes and heredity to understand behaviour.

  • What is the evolutionary perspective?

    How behaviours evolved to aid survival and reproduction.

  • What does the sociocultural perspective emphasize?

    Social and cultural influences on behaviour and interpretation of others' behaviour.