1_Key Terms

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Key Terms for (Psychological) Essay Writing
Christine Lia
Flashcards by Christine Lia, updated more than 1 year ago More Less
Christine Lia
Created by Christine Lia over 8 years ago
Christine Lia
Copied by Christine Lia over 8 years ago
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Resource summary

Question Answer
Account for Explain, clarify, give reasons for
Analyse Resolve into its component parts. Examine critically or minutely
Assess Determine the value of, weigh up
Compare Look for similarities and differences between, perhaps reach conclusion about which is preferable and justify this clearly
Contrast Set in opposition in order to bring out the differences sharply
Compare and contrast Find some points in common ground between x and y and somewhere or how they differ
Criticise Make a judgement (backed by a discussion of the evidence or reasoning involved) about the merit of theories or opinions or about the truth of facts
Define State the exact meaning of a word or phrase. In some cases it may be necessary or desirable to examine different possible or often used definitions
Describe Give a detailed account of...
Discuss Explain, then give two sides of the issue and any implications
Distinguish or differentiate Look for differences between...
Evaluate Make an appraisal of the worth/validity/Effectiveness of something in the light of its truth or usefulness
Examine the argument that... Look in detail at this line of argument
Explain Give details about how and why it is...
How far... To what extent... Usually involves looking at evidence/arguments for and against and weighing them up
Illustrate Make clear and explicit. Usually requites the use of carefully chosen examples
Justify Show adequate grounds for decisions or conclusions and answer the main objections likely to be made about them
Outline Give the main features or general principles of a subject, omitting minor details and emphasising structure and arrangement
State Present in a brief, clear form
Summarise Give a concise, clear explanation or account of...presenting the chief factors and omitting minor details and explamples
Apply Use the information in a similar or different context or in response to a question, assignment or project
Claims Ideas that are used to support an argument. These should be based on and derived from evidence that can be clearly stated and referenced
Coexist Where particular perspectives, theories and methods on a particular topic have no point of contact, they neither conflict nor compliment each other (They provide alternative explanations that 'live together')
Cognitive Mental processes associated with perceiving, remembering and thinking
Complement Where contrasting claims are mutually compatible and can be accommodated within a common explanatory framework (They provide explanations which complement each other)
Conflict Where conflicting claims from different perspectives, theories and methods are mutually exclusive and they cannot be resolved (They disagree)
Description A detailed account of the key points, assumptions, argument and evidence presented
Epistemology 'Theory of knowledge' - the principles of what can be known and how we can know it; that is, how we can find out about it
Evidence The data, facts, studies, etc. used to support the information presented
Evaluate Assess the worth of the information in terms of its strengths, weaknesses, evidence base and its relationship to other knowledge, information and experiences
Implications The effect of issues arising out of the original topic of study on other topics and areas of study
Interpret Drawing together of conclusions based on the information provided
Notes Summary of the information presented. Those that involve critical thinking are notes that analyse the materials, group them together as a whole, link them to other areas of study, and include your own ideas with the evidence to support these
Paradigm A thought pattern and set of practices that define a discipline during a particular time period. In DSE212, the 'doing' of psychology within a given paradigm is called a perspective
Perspective The term perspective refers to a particular set of theoretical assumptions about a subject matter, which will influence the types of questions asked and how these are investigated
Process Take in the information (What you have read, heard, seen or touched)
Read, heard, seen or touched Information which can come in many forms. You may be reading your module book, listening to some audio-visual materials, watching or feeling materials
Reasoned arguments Arguments where the claims, reasoning, rationale and evidence to support the propositions being made are clear
Synthesize Draw together different strands of information and make logical connections between the information
Think more deeply Thinking that involves interacting with the information in ways that develop understanding of the subject, relate new knowledge, ideas & concepts to previous knowledge, ideas and experience; examine & relate evidence to conclusions you may draw in order to better examine
Thinking skills A set of skills that enable you to process and make connections between information
Understand Comprehend the key points, assumptions, arguments and evidence presented
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