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Understanding Human Behavior: Genetics, Environment, and Evolution Study Guide

This guide explores the fundamental principles of psychological research, detailing various research designs such as experimental, correlational, and longitudinal studies. It explains key concepts like independent and dependent variables, random assignment, and the crucial distinction between correlation and causation. The guide also addresses threats to experimental validity, different types of validity (internal, external, ecological), and practical applications of research methods in real-wor

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Foundations of Psychological Science and History

Psychological Science and Research Methods

A study guide covering the characteristics of scientific research, psychological theories, reasoning methods, and ethical guidelines.

  • Empirical methods
  • Hypothesis
  • Theory
  • Systematic observation
  • Cumulative knowledge
  • Informed consent
  • Confidentiality
  • Debriefing
  • Inductive reasoning
  • Deductive reasoning
  • Representative sample
  • Falsifiability
  • Pseudoscience
  • Null hypothesis significance testing
  • Type I error
  • Type II error
  • Biological level of explanation
  • Cognitive level of explanation
  • Behavioural level of explanation
  • Social level of explanation

History and Evolution of Psychology

Psychology developed from philosophy and physiology through various schools of thought including structuralism, functionalism, behaviourism, and the cognitive revolution.

  • Philosophy and physiology roots
  • Empiricism
  • Psychophysics
  • Structuralism
  • Functionalism
  • Gestalt psychology
  • Behaviourism
  • Operant conditioning
  • Conditioned reflexes
  • Cognitive revolution
  • Applied psychology
  • Scientist-practitioner model
  • Scholar-practitioner model

Statistical Thinking and Research Designs

Statistical Thinking and Research Methodology

A guide to the basic investigation cycle, reliability, validity, p-values, confidence intervals, and the distinction between random sampling and random assignment.

  • Basic investigation cycle
  • Reliability
  • Validity
  • p-values
  • Null hypothesis
  • Confidence intervals
  • Population parameter
  • Margin of error
  • Random sampling
  • Random assignment
  • Generalization
  • Causal conclusions
  • Statistical significance
  • Effect size
  • Correlation
  • Causation

Psychological Research Designs and Methods

This study guide examines various research designs, including correlational, experimental, and longitudinal methods, alongside real-world research techniques and validity types.

  • Correlational research
  • Correlation coefficient
  • Experimental research
  • Independent variable
  • Dependent variable
  • Random assignment
  • Confounds
  • Placebo effects
  • Participant demand characteristics
  • Experimenter expectancy effects
  • Double-blind procedures
  • Surveys
  • Longitudinal research
  • Quasi-experiments
  • Qualitative and naturalistic methods
  • Participant observation
  • Case study
  • Narrative methods
  • Naturalistic observation
  • Internal validity

Biological, Evolutionary, and Learning Foundations

Nature, Nurture, and Evolutionary Psychology

This study guide explores the nature-nurture debate, behavioural genetics, evolutionary theories, and epigenetic mechanisms in psychology.

  • Nature-Nurture debate
  • Behavioural genetics
  • Adoption studies
  • Twin studies
  • Monozygotic twins
  • Dizygotic twins
  • Heritability
  • Gene-environment interaction
  • Natural selection
  • Survival adaptations
  • Reproductive adaptations
  • Sexual selection
  • Intrasexual competition
  • Intersexual selection
  • Inclusive fitness
  • Psychological adaptations
  • Sexual Strategies Theory
  • Error Management Theory
  • Epigenetics
  • DNA methylation

Factors Influencing Learning and Conditioning

Learning is a relatively lasting change in knowledge, behaviour, perception, or response caused by experience through processes such as classical conditioning, operant conditioning, and observational learning.

  • Implicit learning
  • Implicit memory
  • Perceptual learning
  • Nonassociative learning
  • Habituation
  • Sensitization
  • Classical conditioning
  • Operant conditioning
  • Unconditioned stimulus
  • Unconditioned response
  • Conditioned stimulus
  • Conditioned response
  • Prediction error
  • Blocking
  • Preparedness
  • Extinction
  • Spontaneous recovery
  • Renewal
  • Law of effect
  • Positive reinforcement

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