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Psychology Test 1
1st semester.
99
Psychology
Undergraduate 1
10/07/2009

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Term
Scientific Method
Definition
A set of procedures used to gather and interpret information with minimal error.
Term
Overconfidence
Definition
Humans think they know more than they actually do.
Term
Hindsite Bias
Definition
Once the information is given or the behavior occurs, it seems obvious.
Term
Critical thinking
Definition
1. How do we know that?
2. Does evidence justify a cause and effect relationship?
3. Possible alternative explainations
4. What is this person's agenda
5. Effect..Compared to what?
Term
Experimental Method
Definition
X event causes Y event. Start with a hypothesis "Sitting at the front of the room makes you faster than sitting at the back."
1. Manipulate cause (ex.gender)
2. Hold everything else constant (control)
3.Must have a comparison group.
Term
Variable
Definition
Any condition or factor that can be manipulated, controlled, or measured.
Term
Independant Variable
Definition
Manipulated variable (Place in the room)"X"
Term
Dependant Variable
Definition
Measured output "Y"
Term
Confounding Variable
Definition
Any factors or conditions other than the independant variable that could cause observed changes to the dependant variable
Term
Selection Bias
Definition
The assignment of participants to groups with systamatic differences.

solution:random assignment
Term
Experimentor Bias
Definition
When a researcher influences the behavior of a subject, expectations (voice tone etc.), not necessarily intentional.

solution: double blind studies
Term
Experimental Group
Definition
Group exposed to the independant variable. (real pill)
Term
Control Group
Definition
Similar to the experimental group EXCEPT the independant variable. (Placeabo)
Term
PROS / CONS of experimental method
Definition
PRO:Allows you to make causal statements
CONS:Limitations (unethical)
Term
Descriptive Research Methods
Definition
yeild descriptions of behavior rather than causal explainations.
Term
Case Study
Definition
An in depth study of an individual/ a few individuals via observation, interviews, and perhaps psychological testing.
Term
PROS/CONS of a Case Study
Definition
Pros:Allows in depth analysis for investigation

CONS: cant establish the cause of observed behaviors. observer bias. don't know how applicable their findings are to larger groups or to different cultures.
Term
Observation
Definition
No manipulation, watching something occur in a natural setting.
Term
PROS/CONS of Observation
Definition
PRO: Opportunity to study behavior in natural settings.

CONS:must wait for events to occur. cant establish cause->effect relationship. observer bias.
Term
Surveys
Definition
Interviews/questionaires to gather information about the attitudes, beliefs, experiances, or behaviors of a large group of people.
Term
PROS/CONS of Surveys
Definition
PRO: Collects LOTS of information

CONS: can be effected by the question wording, the truthfullness of responses.
Term
Correlation
Definition
strength and direction of the relationship between two variables (+ or -)
Term
1, -1, 0
Definition
1: a perfect positive correlation, -1: a perfect negative correlation, 0: no correlation
Term
Motor Neuron
Definition
Activate muscles in the body
Term
sensory neurons
Definition
from receptors in sense organs to CNS
Term
Interneurons
Definition
carry information between neurons
Term
4 basic parts of a neuron
Definition
1.soma
2.dendrites
3.axon
4.terminal buttons
Term
neural impulse (how it fires)
Definition
1.receives signal from the sense receptors
2.stimulated by chemicals from surrounding neurons (This impulse is called ACTION POTENTIAL)
3.Electrical Charge travels down Axon
4.works like the wave
Term
Action Potential
Definition
The impulse fired by a neuron.
Term
How often do neurons fire?
Definition
further Action potentials are impossible for about 1MS (Absolute Refractory Period)
During about 2-4MS another Action Potential can occur but a stronger than usual stimulus is required (relativee refractory period)
Term
Law of ALL OR NONE
Definition
Once initiated, an Action Potential is the same strength and rate regardless of stimulus strength.
Term
Chemical Communication
Definition
a flow of chemicals accross the synaptic cleft between neurons (they dont touch!) communicates.
Term
Neurotransmitters
Definition
The chemicals that communicate between neurons.
Term
Peripheal Nervous System
Definition
Broken down into the:
SOMATIC-sensory neurons and motor neurons working togather (finger touches hot surface, sends signal to brain, move finger)

AUTONOMIC-not under conscious control. Controls smooth muscles of internal organs, glands, and blood vessels.
*Parasymphathetic-Vegatative "resting." NON EMERGENCY RESPONSES.
*Symphetatic- FIGHT OR FLIGHT.
Term
Central NS
Definition
Includes the spinal cord and brain.
Term
Spinal Cord
Definition
Attaches the brain to the rest of the body & transmits messages between brain and PNS. Protected by the spinal column and spinal fluid.
Term
Brain Stem
Definition
Regulates Life support
Term
Medulla
Definition
vital involuntary functions (I.E. breathing, heart rate, salivating)
Term
Pons
Definition
sleeping, walking, dreaming.
Term
Reticular Formation
Definition
Sleep, Arousal, Attention
Term
Cerebellum
Definition
Balance and movement
Term
Limbic System (4 parts)
Definition
CRITICAL TO MOVEMENT. INCLUDES:

1. Amygdala-agression center, threat detection
2.Hippocampus-memory formation, regulates arousal.
3.Hypothalamus-regulates temperature, hunger, activity of ANS, and hormone release via pituitary.
4. thalamus-sensory relay station
Term
Cerebrum
Definition
The two hemispheres of the brain. connected by the corpus callossum
1.Motor Cortex & Somatosensory Cortex
2.Broca's Area
Term
LOBES of Brain (4)
Definition
Frontal, Parietal, Temporal, Occipital
Term
Brocas Area
Definition
Language production, in the frontal lobe.
Term
somatosensory cortex
Definition
located in the parietal lobe
Term
motor cortex
Definition
located in the frontal lobe.
Term
frontal lobe
Definition
planning, motivation, memory
Term
Parietal Lobe
Definition
Attention
Term
Temporal Lobe
Definition
Long term memory, emotions, auditory cortex
Term
Occipital Lobe
Definition
Visual processes
Term
Sensation
Definition
stimulization of sense organs, raw material.
Term
Perception
Definition
organized output
Term
bottom up
Definition
raw material -> finished product
Term
top down
Definition
finished product -> raw material
Term
Psychophysics
Definition
study of the relationship between physical stimulus and a sensory experiance
Term
Just noticeable difference
Definition
lowest level of change in stimulus that can be noticed 50% of the time.
Term
Cones
Definition
respond more to color (not intensity) less sensitive, more acute
Term
rods
Definition
respond in lower intensity of light. more sensitive but less acute.
Term
Blind Spot
Definition
no rods or cones where the optic nerve leaves the eye.
Term
Optic Nerve
Definition
How information gets from the eyes to the brain
Term
Trichromatic theory
Definition
there are three types of cones that sense either red, green, or blue light.
Term
opponant process theory
Definition
the theory that three types of cells increase / decrease their firing rate to produce certain colors.
-red/green
-yellow/blue
-white/black
Term
How do we hear?
Definition
sound must travel through air and therefore cannot occur in a vaccuum.
Term
Gesalt Principles
Definition
"The whole can be greater than the sum of its parts"
-forms a figure and background
-grouping things that are close togather or similar
-closure continues broken lines etc.
-continuity (arrow through heart)
Term
binocular clue
Definition
-retinal disperity (different view from each eye)
-convergence (body senses how much eyes look inward toward eachother while focusing..crosseyed).
Term
Monocular clues
Definition
-relative size
-interposition (object blocking another -> closer.
-linear perspective (parallel line converging in the distance)
-light/shadowing-nearby object reflect more light
-Texture gradient
-atmospheric pressure-far away things look "blue-er"
-motion parallax-we move toward objects, objects appear to be moving backwards & closer objects move faster than farther away objects.
Term
Perceptual Constancies
Definition
preceive object as unchanging irrespective of size, color, shape or brightness.
Term
size constancy
Definition
preceive objects as having a constant size.
Term
Optical Illusions
Definition
our perception of the object doesnt meet with the true physical characteristics of the object.
Term
attention
Definition
state of focused awareness.
-goal directed- pay attention to what you want
-stimulus directed-pay attention to something that catches your attention (slamming book on table)
Term
What happens to unobtained information?
Definition
Coded at some level but appears to be out of consciousness.
Term
Perceptual Set
Definition
bottom up -> top down.
Term
Classical Conditioning
Definition
learning predictable signals. "Pavlov's Dogs."
Term
UCS
Definition
any stimulus that naturally occurs
Term
UCR
Definition
the natural response to a stimulus
Term
CS
Definition
neutral stimulus that becomes paired with a response.
Term
CR
Definition
The response to the CS.
Term
Acquisition
Definition
repeated pairing of CS with UCS -> CR
Term
extinction
Definition
CR becomes weaker over time and eventually stops occuring
Term
spontaneous recovery
Definition
take a break, then present CS -> weaker CR
Term
stimulus generalization
Definition
automatic response to stimuli that has never been presented.
Term
stimulus discrimination
Definition
responding differently to different stimuli that are distinct from eachother.
Term
What factors influence CC?
Definition
-the number of pairings of the CS and the UCS
-The intensity of the UCS
-
Term
Operant Conditioning
Definition
Edward Thorndike. Trial and error learning.
Term
Law of Effect (OC)
Definition
a response followed by a satisfying reinforcer becomes more probable and a response followed by a disatisfying reinforcer is less likely.
Term
Positive reinforcer
Definition
Adds something GOOD
Term
Negative Reinforcer
Definition
TAKES AWAY something BAD
Term
Positive Punnishment
Definition
Adds something bad (spanking)
Term
Negative Punnishment
Definition
Takes away something good (TV)
Term
Fixed Interval reinforcer
Definition
reinforcer after a fixed period of time.(paid every 2 weeks)
Term
variable interval reinforcer
Definition
reinforcer at random time (pop quiz)
Term
fixed ratio
Definition
reinforcer after a fixed # of responses (paid for every 5 dolls you make)
Term
variable ratio
Definition
reinforcer after random # of responses (gambling) MOST EFFECTIVE!
Term
Shaping
Definition
reinforcement is used to guide a response closer and closer to a final desired response.
Term
Instinctual Drift
Definition
Learned Behavior turns toward instinctual behavior (racoon in circus is taught to put coin in piggy bank. Racoon eventually and instinctually tries to crack coin as if it is food)
Term
taste aversion
Definition
often permanant (get sick after eating bologna most likely won't eat it again)
Term
Observational Learning
Definition
occurs in situations that would not be predicted by traditional conditioning theory.
Term
BOBO DOLL EXPERIMENT
Definition
Adult beats up doll->child more likely to beat up doll than if they saw an adult act indifferent to the doll.
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