In an experiment, the factor that is manipulated by the researcher to observe its effect on another variable is called the independent variable.
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independent
The independent variable is the one actively changed or controlled by the experimenter to see its impact.
Question 2
Researchers use random assignment to ensure that participants in different experimental groups are equivalent at the start of the study, minimizing pre-existing differences.
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random
Random assignment helps to distribute any participant characteristics evenly across all experimental conditions, increasing the internal validity of the study.
Question 3
A double-blind study helps to prevent both participant and experimenter expectations from influencing the results, thereby reducing bias.
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double-blind
In a double-blind study, neither the participants nor the researchers directly interacting with them know who is in the experimental group and who is in the control group.
Question 4
After repeatedly pairing a specific bell tone with the presentation of food, a dog begins to salivate merely at the sound of the bell, which has become a conditioned stimulus.
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conditioned
A conditioned stimulus is a previously neutral stimulus that, after association with an unconditioned stimulus, comes to trigger a conditioned response.
Question 5
When Pavlov's dogs stopped salivating to the bell after it was presented many times without food, the process of extinction had occurred.
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extinction
Extinction in classical conditioning is the gradual weakening and eventual disappearance of the conditioned response when the conditioned stimulus is repeatedly presented without the unconditioned stimulus.
Question 6
A child who learns to fear all white, furry objects after being bitten by a white dog is demonstrating stimulus generalization.
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generalization
Stimulus generalization occurs when a conditioned response is elicited by stimuli that are similar to the original conditioned stimulus.
Question 7
Giving a child a sticker for completing homework is an example of positive reinforcement, as it adds a desirable stimulus to increase a behavior.
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positive
Positive reinforcement involves presenting a desirable stimulus after a behavior to increase the likelihood of that behavior occurring again.
Question 8
Taking away a teenager's phone privileges for missing curfew is an example of negative punishment, as it removes a desirable stimulus to decrease a behavior.
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negative
Negative punishment involves removing a desirable stimulus after a behavior to decrease the likelihood of that behavior occurring again.
Question 9
A rat pressing a lever repeatedly to receive food pellets on an unpredictable schedule is operating under a variable-ratio schedule of reinforcement.
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variable-ratio
A variable-ratio schedule delivers reinforcement after an unpredictable number of responses, leading to high and steady response rates.
Question 10
Remembering the capital of France or the date of a historical event are examples of declarative memory, which involves conscious recall of facts and events.
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declarative
Declarative memory, also known as explicit memory, refers to the conscious recollection of facts, events, and concepts.
Question 11
The inability to form new long-term memories after a brain injury is known as anterograde amnesia.
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anterograde
Anterograde amnesia is a type of memory loss where a person cannot create new memories after the event that caused the amnesia.
Question 12
The process by which sensory receptors convert physical energy into neural signals is called transduction.
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transduction
Transduction is the fundamental process in sensation where physical stimuli are transformed into electrical signals that the brain can interpret.
Question 13
The minimum stimulation needed to detect a particular stimulus 50 percent of the time is defined as the absolute threshold.
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absolute
The absolute threshold is the lowest level of a stimulus that an individual can detect.
Question 14
After staring at a bright light, your eyes become less sensitive to it, a phenomenon known as sensory adaptation.
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adaptation
Sensory adaptation is the decrease in sensitivity to a constant stimulus over time.
Question 15
An infant who shows distress when a caregiver leaves and is comforted upon their return is exhibiting a secure attachment style.
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secure
Secure attachment is characterized by a child's confidence in their caregiver's availability and responsiveness, leading to distress upon separation and comfort upon reunion.
Question 16
The debate over whether psychological traits are primarily influenced by inherited factors or environmental influences is known as the nature versus nurture debate.
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nurture
The nature versus nurture debate explores the relative contributions of genetic inheritance (nature) and environmental factors (nurture) to human development.
Question 17
The psychodynamic perspective emphasizes the influence of unconscious drives and conflicts on behavior and personality development.
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psychodynamic
The psychodynamic perspective, rooted in Freud's work, focuses on how unconscious forces and early experiences shape psychological processes.
Question 18
Researchers adopting the cognitive perspective would primarily focus on mental processes such as memory, problem-solving, and decision-making to understand human behavior.
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cognitive
The cognitive perspective examines how mental processes, including perception, thought, memory, and language, influence behavior.