PSY 110 Exam 1 Questions and Answers(A+ Solution guide)

Biological/ Physiological psychology are the study of... - Answer-the brain, the nervous system, genetics, and effects of medication on behavior Cognitive psychology - Answer-study of mental processes: memory, thinking, and decision making Developmental psychology - Answer-Study of change over the life span Social psychology - Answer-Study of psychological disorders: causes, treatment, prevention What are the 7 steps of studying human behavior? - Answer-1. Develop a research question 2. Use theory to generate plausible answers 3. State a hypothesis(testable prediction) 4. Develop operational definitions 5. Select participants 6. Test hypothesis by gathering data 7. Draw Conclusion operational definitions - Answer-Specify exactly how variables are measured or quantified. Example: lot of sugar, 20 grams per day recorded in food diary. Must be precise. Allows other to replicate the study. Select participant - Answer-A). population: whole group of interest B). sample: select group of cases form the population C). Random sample: everyone in population has an equal chance or being selected What are the four kinds of non-experimental research methods? - Answer-1). Naturalistic observations 2). Case Study 3). Surveys 4). Correlation Studynaturalistic observation - Answer-watch and record behavior in natural environment Case study - Answer-study of one or a few individuals, necessary when population is small, but participants may be a-typical. A major advantage is it provides detailed information. A disadvantage if that it is time consuming and not general enough for the public. it only pertains to the one subject. Surveys - Answer-questions ppl via paper, computer, or interview. Economical, practical. Sometimes the only way to get data. Warning: self- reports may be inaccurate Correlational study - Answer-Measure (collect data on) 2 or more variables. See how variables are related by calculating a correlation coefficient. Non experimental methods - Answer-do not involve manipulation of variables and cannot confirm causation Experimental method - Answer-manipulate one variable and study the effects on another variable Independent variable - Answer-variable that is manipulated, its effects on another variable is being studied Dependent variable - Answer-variable that is not directly manipulated expected to change in response to independent variable What is the difference between the experimental group and control group and placebo group? - Answer-Experimental- exposed to some manipulation of the independent variable Control- receives no treatment a comparison group Placebo- inactive condition, used to rule out expectancy effects Examples of bias (two) - Answer-Sample bias: recruit multiple samples and do not over generalize Wording bias: phrase same idea in many different ways and expectancy effects Expectancy effects - Answer-behavior changes that occur because participants or researchers expect them. An example is the placebo effectDouble blind study - Answer-neither researcher nor participants know who is in control and experimental group. REsearcher ethics: - Answer-1). research involving humans or animals must be reviewed by ethics boards human research: - Answer-1). voluntary participation 2). Must obtain inforced consent (tell what participant involves, includes risks) 3). No adverse effects for non participant 4). confidential 5). No lasting harm, discomfort, embarrassment unless benefits far out weigh the risk 6). use deception only when reasonable alternatives are not possible 7). Must debrief participants tell study's purpose after it's over, answer questions. What did the stone age people believe that caused behavior? - Answer-believed behaviors were controlled by spirits. This led to practices such as trephining (aka drilling a hole into their head to release the evil spirits)