Question

what is the difference between the following terms

1-theory-law

2-correlation-causation

3-single blind procedure- double blind procedure

4-nature-nurture

5-fraternal twins- identical twins

6- stimulant- depressant

7-top- down processing- bottom-up processing

8-dependent variable- independent variable

9- sympathetic nervous system -parasympathetic nervous system

10- axon- dendrite

Answer 1

1. A law mainly refers to a statement that is generally considered as fact by the scientific community. For example: Newton’s Law of Gravity, which states that all objects in the universe are attracted to each other, and hence are likely to pull each other towards themselves with a force, i.e. the gravitational force. The law is considered to be true and taken as a fact because it can be observed. The reason for this is not stated nor explained by the law. The law merely states that the object does fall to the earth every time. Hence, it must be true. However, attempts are made to explain the reasoning behind the law. These attempted reasoning are known as ‘Theories.’ he main difference between a law and a theory is that a theory tries to explain the reasoning behind something that occurs in nature, whereas laws are just descriptive accounts of how something occurs in nature.

2. A correlation is a relationship that you observe between two variables that appear to be related. For example sale of icecream and temperature are related. So, there is a correlation between sale of icecream and temperature. A correlation does not neccesarily imply causation. Causation is the connection between two events or states such that one produces or brings about the other; where one is the cause and the other its effect.

3. In a single blind procedure only the participant does not know whether they are part of the treatment or control group, whereas in a double-blind procedure both the participant and the experimenter are kept in the dark as to who is in the treatment and who is in the control group.

4. Nature is what we think of as pre-wiring and is influenced by genetic inheritance and other biological factors. Nurture is generally taken as the influence of external factors after conception, e.g., the product of exposure, experience and learning on an individual. The nature vs.nurture debate within psychology is concerned with the extent to which particular aspects of behavior are a product of either inherited (i.e., genetic) or acquired (i.e., learned) characteristics.

5. Twins can be either monozygotic ("identical"), meaning that they develop from one zygote, which splits and forms two embryos, or dizygotic ("fraternal"), meaning that they develop from two different eggs. In fraternal twins, each twin is fertilized by its own sperm cell.

6. Most addictive drugs come in two general classes: stimulants and depressants. The most fundamental way in which these two types differ can be inferred by their names. Stimulants stimulate the central nervous system and depressants do the opposite, slowing it and all the parts of the body.