WGU C180 Study Guide
What do psychologists study? - ✔✔ correct answer • Biological Foundations
• Mental Life
• Change
• Self and Others
• Potential and Dysfunction
What is the scientific method and how is it applied to psychological research? - ✔✔ correct answer
The scientific method is the set of assumptions, rules, and procedures scientists use to conduct
research. In addition to requiring that science is verifiable, the scientific method demands that
procedures are free of personal bias.
What is the definition of a hypothesis? - ✔✔ correct answer A specific and falsifiable prediction
about the relationship between two or more variables.
What is an operational definition? Provide an example. - ✔✔ correct answer An operational
definition refers to a precise statement of how a conceptual variable ( abstract idea that form the
basis of research hypotheses ) which is turned into a measured variable ( varialbes consisting of
numbers that represent the conceptual variables )
(Conceptual Variable) Depression - (operational definition) Number of negative words used in a
creative story; number of appointments made with a psychotherapist
Why are ethical guidelines needed within psychological research? - ✔✔ correct answer These are
needed with psychological research is the prevent physical and/or emotional harm to the
participants.
What are the various research methods in the field of psychology? - ✔✔ correct answer Descriptive
Research
Correlational Research
Experimental Research
What is descriptive research? - ✔✔ correct answer research designed to provide a snapshot of the
current state of affairs.
What is Correlational Research - ✔✔ correct answer research designed to discover relationships
among variables and to allow the prediction of future events from present knowledge.
,WGU C180 Study Guide
What is Experimental Research - ✔✔ correct answer research in which there is a random assignment
of research participants into two groups. This is followed by a manipulation of a given experience for
one group while the other is not manipulated. One group is the experimental group that receives the
manipulation. The other group is the control group that does not. The two groups are then compared
to determine the influence of the manipulation.
What is the relationship between a population and a sample? - ✔✔ correct answer The people
chosen to participate in the research, called a sample, are selected to be representative of all the
people that the researcher wishes to know about, called the population. "Sampling is the process of
selecting a representative group from the population under study. The target population is the total
group of individuals from which the sample might be drawn. A sample is the group of people who
take part in the investigation. The people who take part are referred to as "participants"."
Independent Variable - ✔✔ correct answer The variable in an experiment that is manipulated or
compared
Dependent Variable - ✔✔ correct answer The variable in an experiment that is measured; the
outcome of an experiment
Control Group - ✔✔ correct answer The group of subjects in an experiment that does not receive the
independent variable
Experimental Group - ✔✔ correct answer EXPERIMENTAL GROUP is the group receiving the
independent variable
What does a correlational research design examine? Provide an example. - ✔✔ correct answer
research designed to discover relationships among variables and to allow the prediction of future
events from present knowledge.
Describe examples of a positive and a negative correlation. - ✔✔ correct answer Correlational-To
assess the relationships between and among two or more variables.
Postiive - As children age they get better at math
Negative - Age of a child and the number of diapers they use "Negative correlation, the variables
move in inverse, or opposite, directions. As one variable increases, the other variable decreases. For
example, there is a negative correlation between self-esteem and depression. Positive correlation is
when there is an increase in one variable it is associated with an increase in another variable. For
example: with height and weight, taller people tend to be heavier."
, WGU C180 Study Guide
What are the differences in interpretations of correlational and experimental designs? - ✔✔ correct
answer In correlational studies a researcher looks for associations among naturally occurring
variables, whereas in experimental studies the researcher introduces a change and then monitors its
effects.
"An experiment isolates and manipulates the independent variable to observe its effect on the
dependent variable, and controls the environment in order that extraneous variables may be
eliminated. Experiments establish cause and effect. A correlation identifies variables and looks for a
relationship between them."
What are the four parts of a neuron and its role in neural communication? - ✔✔ correct answer Cell
Body (Soma), Dendrites, Axon, Myelin Sheath
Cell Body (Soma) - ✔✔ correct answer contains the nucleus of the cell and keeps the cell alive
Dendrites - ✔✔ correct answer a branching, treelike fiber which collects information from other cells
and sends the information to the soma
Axon - ✔✔ correct answer a long, segmented fiber which transmits information away from the cell
body toward other neurons or to the muscles and glands.
Myelin Sheath - ✔✔ correct answer Covers the axon of some neurons and helps speed neural
impulses
What is a neurotransmitter? What are a few examples? - ✔✔ correct answer Neurochemical
messengers that are released by terminal buttons when an action potential triggers them.
Acetylocholine (ACh), Dopamine, Endorphins, GABA (Gamma Aminobuytric Acid), Glutamate,
Serotonin
Neurotransmitter: Acetylcholine (ACh) - ✔✔ correct answer Used in spinal cord to simulate muscle
contractions and in brain to regulate memory, sleeping and dreaming. Undersupply associated with
Alzheimer's disease.
Neurotransmitter: Dopamine - ✔✔ correct answer Used as brains reward system. Involved in
movement, motivation, and emotion. Used in learning. Increase = Schizophrenia. Under supply =
Parkinsons
What do psychologists study? - ✔✔ correct answer • Biological Foundations
• Mental Life
• Change
• Self and Others
• Potential and Dysfunction
What is the scientific method and how is it applied to psychological research? - ✔✔ correct answer
The scientific method is the set of assumptions, rules, and procedures scientists use to conduct
research. In addition to requiring that science is verifiable, the scientific method demands that
procedures are free of personal bias.
What is the definition of a hypothesis? - ✔✔ correct answer A specific and falsifiable prediction
about the relationship between two or more variables.
What is an operational definition? Provide an example. - ✔✔ correct answer An operational
definition refers to a precise statement of how a conceptual variable ( abstract idea that form the
basis of research hypotheses ) which is turned into a measured variable ( varialbes consisting of
numbers that represent the conceptual variables )
(Conceptual Variable) Depression - (operational definition) Number of negative words used in a
creative story; number of appointments made with a psychotherapist
Why are ethical guidelines needed within psychological research? - ✔✔ correct answer These are
needed with psychological research is the prevent physical and/or emotional harm to the
participants.
What are the various research methods in the field of psychology? - ✔✔ correct answer Descriptive
Research
Correlational Research
Experimental Research
What is descriptive research? - ✔✔ correct answer research designed to provide a snapshot of the
current state of affairs.
What is Correlational Research - ✔✔ correct answer research designed to discover relationships
among variables and to allow the prediction of future events from present knowledge.
,WGU C180 Study Guide
What is Experimental Research - ✔✔ correct answer research in which there is a random assignment
of research participants into two groups. This is followed by a manipulation of a given experience for
one group while the other is not manipulated. One group is the experimental group that receives the
manipulation. The other group is the control group that does not. The two groups are then compared
to determine the influence of the manipulation.
What is the relationship between a population and a sample? - ✔✔ correct answer The people
chosen to participate in the research, called a sample, are selected to be representative of all the
people that the researcher wishes to know about, called the population. "Sampling is the process of
selecting a representative group from the population under study. The target population is the total
group of individuals from which the sample might be drawn. A sample is the group of people who
take part in the investigation. The people who take part are referred to as "participants"."
Independent Variable - ✔✔ correct answer The variable in an experiment that is manipulated or
compared
Dependent Variable - ✔✔ correct answer The variable in an experiment that is measured; the
outcome of an experiment
Control Group - ✔✔ correct answer The group of subjects in an experiment that does not receive the
independent variable
Experimental Group - ✔✔ correct answer EXPERIMENTAL GROUP is the group receiving the
independent variable
What does a correlational research design examine? Provide an example. - ✔✔ correct answer
research designed to discover relationships among variables and to allow the prediction of future
events from present knowledge.
Describe examples of a positive and a negative correlation. - ✔✔ correct answer Correlational-To
assess the relationships between and among two or more variables.
Postiive - As children age they get better at math
Negative - Age of a child and the number of diapers they use "Negative correlation, the variables
move in inverse, or opposite, directions. As one variable increases, the other variable decreases. For
example, there is a negative correlation between self-esteem and depression. Positive correlation is
when there is an increase in one variable it is associated with an increase in another variable. For
example: with height and weight, taller people tend to be heavier."
, WGU C180 Study Guide
What are the differences in interpretations of correlational and experimental designs? - ✔✔ correct
answer In correlational studies a researcher looks for associations among naturally occurring
variables, whereas in experimental studies the researcher introduces a change and then monitors its
effects.
"An experiment isolates and manipulates the independent variable to observe its effect on the
dependent variable, and controls the environment in order that extraneous variables may be
eliminated. Experiments establish cause and effect. A correlation identifies variables and looks for a
relationship between them."
What are the four parts of a neuron and its role in neural communication? - ✔✔ correct answer Cell
Body (Soma), Dendrites, Axon, Myelin Sheath
Cell Body (Soma) - ✔✔ correct answer contains the nucleus of the cell and keeps the cell alive
Dendrites - ✔✔ correct answer a branching, treelike fiber which collects information from other cells
and sends the information to the soma
Axon - ✔✔ correct answer a long, segmented fiber which transmits information away from the cell
body toward other neurons or to the muscles and glands.
Myelin Sheath - ✔✔ correct answer Covers the axon of some neurons and helps speed neural
impulses
What is a neurotransmitter? What are a few examples? - ✔✔ correct answer Neurochemical
messengers that are released by terminal buttons when an action potential triggers them.
Acetylocholine (ACh), Dopamine, Endorphins, GABA (Gamma Aminobuytric Acid), Glutamate,
Serotonin
Neurotransmitter: Acetylcholine (ACh) - ✔✔ correct answer Used in spinal cord to simulate muscle
contractions and in brain to regulate memory, sleeping and dreaming. Undersupply associated with
Alzheimer's disease.
Neurotransmitter: Dopamine - ✔✔ correct answer Used as brains reward system. Involved in
movement, motivation, and emotion. Used in learning. Increase = Schizophrenia. Under supply =
Parkinsons
