WGU C180 – Introduction to
Psychology: Exam Preparation
Psychology definition The scientific study of the mind and behavior.
Three Levels of Analysis in Psychology 1. The brain
2. The person
3.The group
3 levels of analysis in psychology's purpose To answer questions about a person's successes & failure
Humanism A school of thought in psychology that assumes people have
positive values, free will, & deep inner creativity. Theorists are
Abraham Maslow and Carl Roger's.
Gestalt Psychologists who focus on the macro-level of psychology,
considering the behavior as a whole, rather than the
micro-level view of the parts. Theorist Max Wertheimer.
Structuralism A school of thought in psychology concerned with analyzing
the mind by looking at its smallest & simplest component
&
seeing how they fit together to form complete experiences.
Theorists are Wilhelm Wundt and his student Edward
Titchener.
Functionalism Those that sought to understand how the mind helps
individuals adapt to the world around them & function
effectively in it. Theorist William James.
Behaviorism Focuses on how a specific stimulus evokes a specific
response. Stimulus response associations. Theorists are Ivan
Pavlov, B.F. Skinner, Edward Lee, Thorndike, & John B. Watson.
Psychodynamic Theory that mental events are engaged in continual push &
pull interactions among conscious & unconscious thoughts &
feelings. These interactions affect behavior. Theorist Sigmund
Freud.
3 major types of psychologists 1. Clinical & counseling psychologists. Those who help
people deal with personal problems or stress.
2. Academic psychologists. Those who teach &
usually also conduct research on the mind and
behavior.
3.Applied psychologists. Those who seek to solve
specific practical problems, such as helping athletes
perform better.
, Descriptive Research Comes in 3 variations:
1. Naturalistic observation
2.Case studies
3.Surveys.
Correlational Research Shows the strength of a relationship between two variables.
Researchers use this method when they want to study the
relationship of two potentially connected variables without
actually altering anything about those variables.
Experimental Research Allows the psychologist to alter the independent variables &
observe the direct effect.
Experimental Research- Experimental Group Receives the complete procedure that defines the
experiment.
Experimental Research- Control Group Will be treated the same as the experimental group expect it
does not receive the manipulations of the independent
variable that constitutes the treatment.
Case Study Research Method In depth analysis of one person group or event.
positive correlation The mathematical description of a relationship where
increases in one variable are accompanied by increases in
another variable.
Negative Correlation The mathematical description of a relationship where
increases in one variable are accompanied by decreases in
another variable.
Independent Variable Aspect of a situation that is deliberately & independently
varied while another aspect is measured.
Dependent Variable Aspect of a situation that is measured as the values of an
independent variable are changed, the value of the
dependent variable depends on the value of the independent
variable.
Random Assignment The technique of assigning participants randomly (by
chance) to experimental & control groups so that members
of the two groups are comparable in all relevant ways.
Replication The process of repeating the method of a study to compare
results with those of the original study.
QuaNTITative data Data in the form of numerical values.
QuaLITative data Non numerical data based on recorded observations.
Psychology: Exam Preparation
Psychology definition The scientific study of the mind and behavior.
Three Levels of Analysis in Psychology 1. The brain
2. The person
3.The group
3 levels of analysis in psychology's purpose To answer questions about a person's successes & failure
Humanism A school of thought in psychology that assumes people have
positive values, free will, & deep inner creativity. Theorists are
Abraham Maslow and Carl Roger's.
Gestalt Psychologists who focus on the macro-level of psychology,
considering the behavior as a whole, rather than the
micro-level view of the parts. Theorist Max Wertheimer.
Structuralism A school of thought in psychology concerned with analyzing
the mind by looking at its smallest & simplest component
&
seeing how they fit together to form complete experiences.
Theorists are Wilhelm Wundt and his student Edward
Titchener.
Functionalism Those that sought to understand how the mind helps
individuals adapt to the world around them & function
effectively in it. Theorist William James.
Behaviorism Focuses on how a specific stimulus evokes a specific
response. Stimulus response associations. Theorists are Ivan
Pavlov, B.F. Skinner, Edward Lee, Thorndike, & John B. Watson.
Psychodynamic Theory that mental events are engaged in continual push &
pull interactions among conscious & unconscious thoughts &
feelings. These interactions affect behavior. Theorist Sigmund
Freud.
3 major types of psychologists 1. Clinical & counseling psychologists. Those who help
people deal with personal problems or stress.
2. Academic psychologists. Those who teach &
usually also conduct research on the mind and
behavior.
3.Applied psychologists. Those who seek to solve
specific practical problems, such as helping athletes
perform better.
, Descriptive Research Comes in 3 variations:
1. Naturalistic observation
2.Case studies
3.Surveys.
Correlational Research Shows the strength of a relationship between two variables.
Researchers use this method when they want to study the
relationship of two potentially connected variables without
actually altering anything about those variables.
Experimental Research Allows the psychologist to alter the independent variables &
observe the direct effect.
Experimental Research- Experimental Group Receives the complete procedure that defines the
experiment.
Experimental Research- Control Group Will be treated the same as the experimental group expect it
does not receive the manipulations of the independent
variable that constitutes the treatment.
Case Study Research Method In depth analysis of one person group or event.
positive correlation The mathematical description of a relationship where
increases in one variable are accompanied by increases in
another variable.
Negative Correlation The mathematical description of a relationship where
increases in one variable are accompanied by decreases in
another variable.
Independent Variable Aspect of a situation that is deliberately & independently
varied while another aspect is measured.
Dependent Variable Aspect of a situation that is measured as the values of an
independent variable are changed, the value of the
dependent variable depends on the value of the independent
variable.
Random Assignment The technique of assigning participants randomly (by
chance) to experimental & control groups so that members
of the two groups are comparable in all relevant ways.
Replication The process of repeating the method of a study to compare
results with those of the original study.
QuaNTITative data Data in the form of numerical values.
QuaLITative data Non numerical data based on recorded observations.
