Classical Conditioning Summarization

Classical conditioning was the first behaviorism related learning style, brought to light by Ivan Pavlov. Classical conditioning is defined by a stimulus eliciting a response. No new behaviors are learnded in classical conditioning, but rather an association is created so that a person responds a certain way to a certain stimulus. Unconditional stimuli is a stimulus that already exists, so no learning is required to connect the stimulus and response. The neutral stimulus is something you recognize, but do not necessarily respond to. During conditioning, a neutral stimulus will be introduced, followed by an unconditioned stimulus. Over time the learner develops an association with the two stimuli. After conditioning, the neutral stimulus will now elicit the unconditioned response. The consitioned stimulus has now created a conditioned response.

Operant Conditioning Summarization

Operant conditioning is one of the most common ways psychologists study human behavior. The idea of operant conditioning is that a person may or may not repeat a certain behavior as a result of either positive or negative consequences given to them. Operant conditioning can be seen as a more elaborate version of classical conditioning. Both Ivan Pavlov and Ewdard Thorndike introduced and tested classical conditioning, but B.F. Skinner was the first psychologist to bring the idea of operant conditioning to the rest of the world. He also did what the others didn't, which was to also include humans in this. In operant conditioning, good behaviors are rewarded and reinforced while bad behaviors have punishments. This means a behavior can be removed or changed through its consequences.

Headline Match Game (RE-SUBMIT)

1. Select two of the headlines on the Correlation or Causation page. Identify whether those headlines make causal or correlational claims.



Headline #1: Fear of hell makes us richer, Fed says


Is the headline: Causal Correlational (Circle one)
Correlational. States that the belief or lack thereof of hell will make a society more rich or more poor.


Headline #2: In Study, Texting Lifts Crash Risk by Large Margin


Is the headline: Causal Correlational (Circle one)
Correlational. States that texting raises risk of car crashes





2. Click the link of each headline you selected and read the accompanying article. Does the research described in the article support the type of claim (correlational or causal) made in the headline?
I think that the research taken in the first article somewhat supports the claim. The article states that St. Louis feds took research that economists did. It says the researchers studied 35 different countries and found that in countries where a majority of the population believes in hell, there is less corruption and a higher standard of living. Whether this is related to the population's belief in hell or not, the information can be used to support the claim made.

In the second article, the research supports the claim. In the article they state that the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute conducted experiments on truck drivers. They were filmed for 18 months, while texting, and the experiment results said that risk for collision increased 23 times when drivers texted. It also says that in moments of a near crash, drivers usually spent 5 seconds looking down at their phones. In this time, at highway speeds, drivers can cover the distance of a football field.


Headline #1: Yes No In a paragraph, explain why you answered "yes" or "no."

I answered correlational, because the statement is a cause and effect. It says that fear of hell makes us richer. This states that the societies that have a majority population believing in hell are better off economically than those who may not.

Headline #2: Yes No In a paragraph, explain why you answered "yes" or "no."

I also answered correlational for my second article. The title makes a claim. In the article, research supports the claim that texting increases the likelihood of a person getting into a car accident. It is a correlation because it states that if you text behind the wheel, you have a higher chance of crashing, which doesn't really need much research to be believable, but they have backed it up anyways.

Research Methods Assignment

Name: Brooks Metzler


Go to: http://www.wadsworth.com/psychology_d/templates/student_resources/workshops/resch_wrk.html

Go to: Research Methods.

Go to: Survey

1. Explain why psychologists use surveys.

They use surveys to gain access to information that people may not be willing to share openly

2. Identify and define the 3 types of ?s used for surveys.

close-ended

partially closed

open-ended

3. Answer the question posed on slide 7.

If someone close to the person surveyed has been victim of a violent crime, he or she may be biased against weapons/violence

4. Determine why a representative sample is necessary for our survey development.

Because we need to get something to make a comparison too when we get larger amounts of data

5. Explain the type of sampling method will we use for our survey

Stratified random samples, because we need to get an idea of the population while not picking all people who think the same

Go to:

http://www.s-cool.co.uk/alevel/psychology/research-methods.html

Go to: Research Methods

Go to: Choosing Participants – Sampling.

Go to: Relationship between Researchers and Participants.

1. Explain researcher effects.

Mea ns that the researcher can affect the behavior of the participants and therefore affect the outcome of the experiment

2. Explain the ways used to minimize these effects in research.

disguising the purpose of the investigation: stops participants from guessing the purpose and changing their behavior as a result

single-blind design: patients do not know if they are experimental or control

double-blind design: neither participants nor experimenter know which condition people are being treated as



Go to: Correlations

1. Define positive correlation.

Both variables increase together

2. Define negative correlation.

One variable increases while another decreases

Go to: Questionnaires & Interviews.

1. List the strengths and weaknesses of using surveys.

Strengths: people can be tested quickly, easy to generate quantitative data and easy to analyze; collect large amounts of data about what people think and do; convenient; can quickly show changes in attitude or behavior before and after certain events

Weaknesses: People say what they think will look good; people may not tell the truth; if the researcher is present, it may affect the answers; it is difficult to phrase questions clearly

2. Determine how we will use quantitative or qualitative data analysis. (Justify your rationale.)

Quantitative: To associate a number with a question or answer in order to ease the process of gathering data

Qualitative: Asking a specific question or asking for a specific answer

Go to: Data Analysis & Presentations.

1. State the type of graph or chart will work best for our survey purposes.

Bar chart