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78 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
Clinical research |
A branch of psychology concerned with the assessment and treatment of mental illness, abnormal behavior and psychiatric problems |
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Applied research |
A scientific study and research that seeks to solve practical problems. Used to find solutions to everyday problems, cure illness and develop innovative technologies |
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Evolutionary theory |
The application of the principles of evolution to explain psychological processes and phenomena. |
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Biological theory |
Emphasizes studying the physical bases of human and animal behavior. including the nervous system, endocrine system, immune system and genetics
NEUROSCIENCE
Reasons for illness=biological/physical Medication as remedy |
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Psychoanalytical theory |
The role of the unconscious |
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Behaviorism |
JOHN B WATSON |
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Cognitive theory |
Thinking, learning, memorizing |
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Social learning theory |
FOUNDATION FROM BEHAVIORISM
we observe our social environment then imitate= either rewarded or punished which affects our future behavior and thinking |
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Humanism |
People have all the power needed to change, withing themselves Therapists job is to create a warm and nurturing environment for the client |
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Divisions of psych: Clinical |
Studies causes, diagnosis, treatment and prevention of different types of behavioral and emotional disorders such as anxiety, major depressive disorder, eating disorders. |
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Divisions of psych: Developmental |
Studies the physical, social and psychological changes that occur at different ages and stages of the lifespan, from conception to old age |
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Divisions of psych: Cognitive |
Investigates mental processes, including reasoning and thinking, problem solving, memory, perception, mental imagery and language |
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Divisions of psych: Experimental |
is the term traditionally used to describe research focused on such basic topics as sensory and perceptual processes, and principles of learning, emotion and motivation. |
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Divisions of psych: Cross cultural |
Behavior across/between different cultures is used as a foundation for locating the errors and sources of our own problems |
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Scientific method hypothesis theory |
1. formulate a hypothesis |
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Variable |
A factor that can vary or change in ways that can be observed measured and verified |
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Operational definition |
A precis description of how the variables in a study will be manipulated or measured |
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Statistics |
A branch of mathematics used by researchers to organize, summarize and interpret data |
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Statistically significant |
A mathematical indication that research results are not very likely to have happened by chance |
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Quantitative data |
-Concrete -Objective -Closed ended -Superficial -Numerical form -Easy to interpret -Easy to use |
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Qualitative data |
-Abstract -No numerical form -Subjective -Questions such as "any comments" (written text etc) |
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Quantitative data vs Qualitative data |
Easier to compare quantitative data. no real way to accurately compare qualitative data |
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Meta-analysis |
A statistical technique that involves combining and analyzing the results of many research studies on a specific topic in order to identify overall trends |
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Theory |
A tentative explanation that tries to integrate and account for the relationship of various findings and observations |
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Descriptive research methods |
Scientific procedures involve systematically observing behavior in order to describe the relationship among behaviors and events |
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Case study |
An intensive study of a single person or a small group of individuals
Cannot be used to identify the cause of the behavior |
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Naturalistic observation |
the systematic observation and recording of behaviors as they occur in their natural setting |
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Surveys |
Subjects read a list of written Q's and check off specific answers. Quick easy and fast |
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Experiments |
is a research method used to demonstrate cause-and-effect relationship between one variable and changes in another |
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Cause and effect |
noting a relationship between actions or events such as one or more are the result of the other or others |
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Independent variable |
the purposely manipulated variable thought to produce change in an experiment |
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dependent variable |
the factor that is measured and observed for change in an experiment; thought to be influence by the independent variable |
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Experimental group |
in an experiment, this is the group of participants who are exposed to all experimental conditions, including the independent variable |
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Control group |
the control group is composed of participants who do not receive the experimental conditions, including the independent variable |
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Confounding variables |
a factor or a variable other than the ones being studied that if not controlled could affect the outcome of the experiment |
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Random sample |
a subset of individuals that are randomly selected from a popultion. |
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Random assignment |
the process of assigning participants in either the control group or experimental group randomly |
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Longitudinal studies |
same age group measured t different times in their lives. |
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Cross sectional studies |
different age groups measured at one time. People born in the 60's, 70's etc |
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Cohort effects |
group of people that you move with in your development. the effects of being born at the same time, exposed to the same events in society, and influenced by the same demographic trends and thus having similar experiences that make the group unique form other groups |
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Positive correlation |
Two variables moving the same way |
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Negative correlation |
Two variable moving opposite directions |
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Descriptive statistics central tendency |
is an index of the central location within a distribution of scores |
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Mode |
the most frequently occuring score in a set of scores |
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Median |
the point is a distribution of scores that divides the distribution exactly in half |
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Mean |
the average of all scores, arrived by adding scores together and dividing by the total amount of scores |
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Measures of variability |
statistics that describe the amount of difference and spread in a data set. These measures include variance, standard deviation, and standard error of the mean. if the numbers corresponding to these statistics are high it means that the scores or values in our data set are widely spread out and not tightly centered around the mean |
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Range |
measure of variance. Subtract the lowest score form the highest score and then adding 1. |
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Standard deviation |
how much do you deviate from the mean? |
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Normal distribution |
describe how traits are described through a population. often referred to as "bell curves". it tracks rare occurances of a trait on both the high and low ends of the curve with the majority of occurances appearing in the middle section of the curve. The most commonly known example comes form IQ tests with the majority of the population scoring within the normal or middle range of intelligence |
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Correlation coeffecient |
a numerical indication of the magnitude and direction of the relationship between two variables. -1 to +1. Number=strength! |
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Inferential statistics |
statistical analysis of two or more sets of numerical data to determine sttistical significance of results in research. indicates how confident one can be in drawin conclusions or inferences about a population based on findings obtained form a sample |
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Statistically significant |
P VALUE! Probability of some result from a statistical test occuring by chance |
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Neurons |
Cell body, dendrites and axon. Highly specialized cell that communicates information in electrical and chemical form |
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Glial cells |
Support around the neuron, provide insulation to prevent from interference from other electrochemical signals. Provide nutrients and remove rubbish from the cell. Release chemicals that influence a neurons growth and function. |
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Dendrites |
receives incoming signals from axons of other neurons. |
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Cell body |
Contains the nucleus. The soma. Processes nutrients and provides energy for the neuron to function |
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Axon |
carries signals away from the soma. Carries a neurons message to other body areas |
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Terminal button |
located at the branching end of the axon that hold vesicles that contain neurotransmitters |
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Myelin sheet |
protects the info/electroimpulses going through the axon |
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Resting potential |
state in which a neuron is prepared to activate and communicate its message if it receives sufficient stimulation |
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Action potential |
a brief electrical impulse by which information is transmitted along the axon of a neuron |
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Synapse |
the point of communication between two neurons |
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Synaptic gap |
the tiny space between the axon terminal of one neuron and the dendrites of another |
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Neurotransmitters |
Chemical messengers released at axon bulb or terminal. Dozens of different chemicals made by neurons and then used for communication between neurons during the performance of mental or physical activities |
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Aceltylcholine |
NEUROTRANSMITTER Muscle actions, memory |
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GABA |
Anxiety: lower gaba levels Relax, lower inhibition: increase in GABA |
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Norepimephrine |
Stress and mania: increased levels |
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Serotonin |
regulation of sleep, mood, attention, learning |
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Endorphins |
Natural opates. Mediate feelings of pleasure and pain |
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Receptors |
the part of a nerve that receives and reads chemical signals (neurotransmitters) from other nerves to transmit the electrical signals that transfer info through the brain and nervous system. Happens in the synapse!! |
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Peripheral nervous system |
division of the NS that includes all the nerves lying outside the central nervous sytem |
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Somatic division |
PNS |
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Autonomic division |
permits involuntary functioning of blood, organs, glands. response to my INTERNAL environment |
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Afferent (sensory) nerves |
Carry nerve impulses FROM receptors or sense organs toward the central nervous system |
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Somatic nervous system |
PNS communicates sensory information to the central nervous system and carries motor messages from the CNS to the muscles |
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Efferent (motor) nerves |
carry nerve impulses away from the CNS to effectors such as muscles or glands |
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Autonomic nervous system |
PNS |