Friday May 18, 2012
Definition: After watching an episode of a crime-solving drama on television, are you ever left with the feeling that horrific crimes you just witnessed are all to common in real life? According to psychologists Amos Tversky and Daniel Kahneman, this tendency to believe that things are more likely simply because they come to mind readily is known as an availability heuristic. They suggest that this tendency operates on the principle that "if you can think of it, it must be important."
It's the reason why you might be afraid to go into the water after watching "Shark Week" programming. Because examples of shark attacks spring to mind so easily, you mistakenly believe that such events are far more common and likely than they really are. Find more examples and observations in this definition of the availability heuristic.
Thursday May 17, 2012
While many students in the U.S. are probably thinking about the upcoming summer break, it will soon be time to start thinking about final exams. While there are no sure-fire shortcuts when studying for a psychology test, there are things that you can do to get the most out of your study time. By following these relatively simple strategies, you can be sure that you'll be ready when test day arrives. Learn more about how to study for a psychology test.
More Test-Taking Tips
Photo by Hannah Boettcher
Wednesday May 16, 2012
Have you checked out the Request for Research Participants section of the About.com Psychology Forums? It's a great place to find opportunities to participate in psychology research or to post your own requests for participants.
One recent poster writes:
"I am currently looking for participants for my research into body image perceptions and the media influences, I am studying age ranges, 18-30 and 40-55. I would most appreciate if you could take the time out to complete my survey, it is only a few questions and should take no more than 5 minutes."
If it sounds like something that might interest you, be sure to visit the forum to find a link to the survey.
Image by YarranzTuesday May 15, 2012
Are you fretting over your final exams or standardized tests? Do you ever feel so nervous during a test that you can't concentrate on the material or even forget the answers to questions? Test anxiety is quite common among students. For some, this might mean dealing with a bad case of "butterflies in the stomach," while other students might even have a full-blown anxiety attack.
Kelly Roell, About.com's Guide to Test Prep, has some great ideas for how you can overcome test anxiety. She suggests that setting realistic expectations and using positive imagery are two possible ways to deal with the symptoms of test anxiety. Learn more about what you can do in her article on overcoming test anxiety and share your own tips for dealing with test-related stress.
Learn more about test anxiety:
Image courtesy Julia Nichols / iStockPhoto
