| A | B |
|---|
| Behaviorism | The science of behavior that focuses on observable behavior only |
| Biopsychological Perspective | Perspective that attributes human and animal behavior to biological events occurring in the body, such as genetic influences, hormones, and the activity of the nervous system |
| Case Study | Study of one individual in great detail; modern perspective that focuses on memory, intelligence, perception, problem solving, and learning |
| Cognitive Neuroscience | Study of the physical changes in the brain and nervous system that occur during thinking or other mental processes |
| Cognitive Perspective | Modern perspective that focuses on memory, intelligence, perception, problem solving, and learning |
| Control Group | Subjects in an experiment that are not subjected to the independent variable and who may receive placebo treatment |
| Correlation | A measure of the relationship between two variables |
| Correlation Coefficient | A number for measuring a correlation that indicates the strength and the direction of the relationship between two variables |
| Critical Thinking | Making reasoned judgements about claims |
| Dependent Variable | Variable in an experiment that represents the measurable response or behavior of the subjects in the experiment |
| Double-Blind Study | Study in which neither the experimenter nor the subjects know if the subjects are in the experimental or the control group |
| Evolutionary Perspective | Perspective that focuses on the biological bases of universal mental characteristics that all humans share |
| Experiment | A deliberate manipulation of a variable to see if corresponding changes in behavior result, allowing the determination of cause and effect relationships |
| Experimental Group | Subjects in an experiment that are subjected to the independent variable |
| Experimenter Effect | Tendency of the experimenter's expectations for a study to unintentionally influence the results of the study |
| Functionalism | Early perspective in psychology associated with William James, in which the focus of study is how the mind allows people to adapt, live, work, and play |
| Gestalt Psychology | Early perspective in psychology focusing on perception and sensation, particularly the perception of patterns and whole figures |
| Humanistic Perspective | Perspective that emphasizes human potential and the idea that people have the freedom to choose their own destiny |
| Hypothesis | A statement about some event that can then be tested through observation |
| Independent Variable | Variable in an experiment that is manipulated by the experimenter |
| Introspection | The process of examining and measuring one's own thoughts and mental activities |
| Naturalistic Observation | Study in which the researcher observes people of animals in their normal environment |
| Observer Bias | Tendency of observers to see what they expect to see |
| Observer Effect | Tendency of people or animals to behave differently from normal when they know they are being observed |
| Operational Definition | Definition of a variable of interest that allows it to be directly measured |
| Placebo Effect | The phenomenon in which the expectations of the participants in a study can influence their behavior |
| Population | The entire group of people or animals that the researcher is interested in |
| Psychiatric Social Worker | A social worker with some training in therapy methods who focuses on environmental conditions that can have an impact on mental disorders, such as poverty, overcrowding, stress, and drug abuse |
| Psychiatrist | A medial doctor who has specialized in the diagnosis and treatment of psychological disorders |
| Psychoanalysis | The theory and therapy based on the work of Sigmund Freud |
| Psychoanalyst | Either a psychiatrist or psychologist who has special training in the theories of Sigmund Freud and his method of psychoanalysis |
| Psychodynamic Perspective | Modern version of psychoanalysis that is more focused on the development of a sense of self and the discovery of other motivation behind a person's behavior than sexual motivations |
| Psychologist | A professional with an academic degree and specialized training in one or more areas of psychology |
| Random Assignment | Process of assigning subjects to the experimental or control groups randomly, so that each subject has an equal chance of being in either group |
| Replicate | In research, repeating a study or experiment to see if the same results will be obtained in an effort to demonstrate the reliability of the results |
| Representative Sample | Randomly selected sample of subjects from a larger population |
| Scientific Method | System of gathering data so that bias and error in measurement are reduced |
| Single-Blind Study | Study in which the subjects do not know if they are in the experimental or the control group |
| Sociocultural Perspective | Perspective that focuses on the relationship between social behavior and culture |
| Structuralism | Early perspective in psychology associated with Wilhelm Wundt and Edward Titchener, in which the focus of study is the structure or basic elements of the mind |
| Survey | Study conducted by asking a series of questions to a group of people |
