Understanding Behavioral Research: Definitions and Methods, Quizzes of Psychology

Download Understanding Behavioral Research: Definitions and Methods and more Quizzes Psychology in PDF only on Docsity! TERM 1 Problems in studying Learning & Behavior (3) DEFINITION 1 1. Circular Reasoning (man slammed door because angry how do we know he is angry because he slammed door)2. Poor definitions3. Poor defined variables (Poor hypothesis) TERM 2 Behavioral Research DEFINITION 2 BEFORE GOING ANYWHERE: Define behavior, in terms of its measurement. (mL of saliva if measuring salivation) Interested in objective (scientific) over subjective.Then begin by developing a HYPOTHESIS or deciding on a specific area of interest.Employ a research method (Choose between naturalistic observations, case studies, control group designs, single-subject designs)Then collect behavioral data TERM 3 Behavioral Definitions DEFINITION 3 MUST properly define the behaviorWe must refer to some observable aspect of the individual's behavior and be clearly define.Define "yelling" - loud vocalization that continues for more than 5 seconds and can be heard outside a closed door. TERM 4 Variable DEFINITION 4 CHARACTERISTICS of a person, place, or thing that CAN CHANGE (vary) over time or from one situation to another. TERM 5 Independent Variable DEFINITION 5 Systematically varies across different conditions in an experiment.MANIPULATED by the EXPERIMENTER TERM 6 Dependent Variable DEFINITION 6 The aspect of an experiment that is allowed to vary freely to see if it is affected by changes in the independent variableMEASURED by the EXPERIMENTER TERM 7 Functional Relationship DEFINITION 7 The relationship between changes in an independent variable and changes in a dependent variable.Cause and effect relationshipBehavioral researchers are interested in determining the functional relationship between STIMULUS and RESPONSES TERM 8 Stimulus DEFINITION 8 Any event that can potentially INFLUENCE behavior. (red light; food)OUTSIDE and INSIDE the skin can influence our behavior. TERM 9 Response DEFINITION 9 A particular instance of a behaviorPress the break (when you see a red light); salivating (when see food)Response of one organism can act as a stimulus that influences the response of another organismOne rat bites another? TERM 10 Overt Behavior DEFINITION 10 Behavior that has the potential for being directly observed by an individual other than the one performing the behavior. TERM 21 Topography DEFINITION 21 Looking in a mirror the person was asked to trace a star. After trial 15 they had fewer mistakes. Seen in topography TERM 22 Rate of Response DEFINITION 22 How many cigarettes smoking per day (how OFTEN) - well defined from start to finish of smoking a cigarette (light it to when you burn it out)Frequency with which a response occurs in a certain period of time: How many m&ms eaten in 1st hour; 2nd hour...Most appropriate when the response is of brief duration, with a well-defined start and finish TERM 23 Cumulative Record DEFINITION 23 Pigeon pecks on disc... makes pen move...The pen moves on the slow constant paper unravelling when response is made. High rate = steep line. low rate = shallow line. TERM 24 Intensity DEFINITION 24 Force or magnitude of the behavior- the Quality of a behavior.Needs to press 21 grams (certain force) to make lever go down - graph of how hard rat was able to push down - change stimulus to see if he learns to press harder TERM 25 Duration DEFINITION 25 Length of time that an individual repeatedly or continuously performs a certain behaviorThis measure is appropriate when either increasing or decreasing length of time the behavior occursExample: Length of time a student studies - Increase study time decrease time watching tv TERM 26 Speed DEFINITION 26 Measure of how quickly or slowly a behavior occurs or the rapidity with which one progresses through some type of distanceHow quickly or slowly measure of learningHow long it takes kids to learn to write their name, read book. Speed decreases as learn to color more efficiently TERM 27 Latency DEFINITION 27 Length of time required for the behavior to begin (between stimulus and response)How long it takes for response to happen (demonstrate learned answer to a question buzz in at jeopardy) TERM 28 Interval Recording DEFINITION 28 The measurement of whether or not a behavior occurs within a series of CONTINUOUS intervalsResearcher does not have to record every single responseMeasure if aggression happens in classroom - yes or no during 10 minutes. TERM 29 Time-Sampling Recording DEFINITION 29 Measures whether or not a behavior occurs within a series of DISCONTINUOUS intervalsExample: Record whether at least one aggressive incident occurred during a 10 minute interval at the start of each half hour TERM 30 Descriptive Research DEFINITION 30 Involves simply describing the behavior and the situation within which it occursNo manipulation of variablesCase study approach: Intensive examination of one or a few individuals (is good if you don't have access to a lot of people - rare disease). Can be done in natural settings or more structured settings.Get good info, but it can take a lot of time and might not be representative info TERM 31 Descriptive-Anecdotal Evidence DEFINITION 31 1st or 2nd hang reports of personal experiences."they say that..." "in my experience""when I was a girl my friends kissed and got mono" - doesn't tell you anything in scientific manner TERM 32 Descriptive- Naturalistic Observations DEFINITION 32 Naturalistic observation involves the systematic OBSERVATION and recording of behavior in its natural environment (Jane Goodall's study of chimps). Get rich information.The coolest. Can't do cause & effect since you are not manipulating anything.Different from case study because cannot be used with animals. TERM 33 Experimental Research DEFINITION 33 Experiments to discover cause-and-effect relationships between environmental events and behavior.One or more independent variables are systematically varied.Control group designs vs. single-subject designs. TERM 34 Control Group Designs DEFINITION 34 Individuals are randomly assigned to either an experimental group or a control goupExperimental group: Exposed to a certain manipulation or treatmentControl group: Not exposed to it.Want minimal differences between groups on all variables. TERM 35 How to minimize differences? DEFINITION 35 Random assignment- completely randomMatched sampling- two rats, same sage, environment is same, same weight matched together TERM 46 Pro and Cons of Multiple Baseline Design DEFINITION 46 Pro: Takes care of problems in other designsCons: Need person, setting, behaviorTreatment effect might generalize across different settings or behaviors TERM 47 Criterion-Changing Design DEFINITION 47 Gradually reduce smoking (better for smoking since it is intended to change gradually - can't quit cold turkey) The weakness is that it is superficial - how they act in lab may not be same as their home.Effect of treatment is demonstrated by how closely behavior matches a criterion that is systematically altered16 cigarettes - at 17 you have to give a quarter15 cigarettes - at 16 you have to give a quarterAt 1 cigarette you have to give a quarterBUT if on day 40 we say you can smoke 100 and he does, we know he is only going by the amount set - didn't actually quit TERM 48 Advantages of Using Animals in Research DEFINITION 48 Able to control pool (huge liter available)Able to control learning (humans are brought up so differently)Able to control experimental environmentsSome research CANT be ethically conducted with humans. TERM 49 Arguments about Animal Research DEFINITION 49 Have limited applicability to humansNo practical value (but they have so many similarities with us)Is morally wrong to someAnimals should have similar rights to humans TERM 50 Explaining Behavior Goal of behavior science is? Natural Science approach makes what assumptions? DEFINITION 50 TO EXPLAIN BEHAVIORNATURAL SCIENCE APPROACH makes following assumptions:All behavior is caused and it precedes effect (don't just stop smoking randomly)Causes of behavior due to natural phenomenaSimplest explanation fits data is best explanation (Law of Parsimony) TERM 51 According to Arthur Schopenhauer - "all truth passes through..." what three stages DEFINITION 51 1. RIDICULE2. OPPOSED3. ACCEPTED