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Question 1

theory

Answer 1

A plausible or scientifically acceptable, well-substantiated explanation of some aspect of the natural world

Question 2

A plausible or scientifically acceptable, well-substantiated explanation of some aspect of the natural world

Answer 2

theory

Question 3

What are the characteristics of a theory?

Answer 3

Can’t be proven

Set of assumptions about the causes of phenomenons

Rules

Question 4

scientific laws

Answer 4

empirically verified, quantitative relationships between two or more variables and thus are not normally subject to the disconfirmation that theories are

Question 5

empirically verified, quantitative relationships between two or more variables and thus are not normally subject to the disconfirmation that theories are

Answer 5

scientific laws

Question 6

models

Answer 6

the application of a general theoretical view

Question 7

the application of a general theoretical view

Answer 7

models

Question 8

models can be…

Answer 8

a synonym for theory

Question 9

What are the different types of theories?

Answer 9

quantitative vs qualitative

level of description of the theory

domain of theories

Question 10

quantitative

Answer 10

relationships between variables and constants in a set of mathematical formulas

pros:

cons:

Question 11

relationships between variables and constants in a set of mathematical formulas

Answer 11

quantitative

Question 12

qualitative

Answer 12

theories that are not quantitative

pros:

cons:

Question 13

theories that are not quantitative

Answer 13

qualitative

Question 14

descriptive theories

Answer 14

describe relationships

pros:

cons: weakest form of explanation

Question 15

describe relationships

Answer 15

descriptive theories

Question 16

analogical theories

Answer 16

explains the relationships through analogy

pros: provide conceptual organization for the data and may predict relationships
cons: the analogy can only be pushed so far (the analogy breaks down)

Question 17

explains the relationships through analogy

Answer 17

analogical theories

Question 18

fundamental theories

Answer 18

explain phenomena within a particular area of research

pros: says what directly relates the variables and constants of the system
cons: rare in psychology
ex: Festinger’s cognitive dissonance theory

Question 19

explain phenomena within a particular area of research

Answer 19

fundamental theories

Question 20

domain of theories

Answer 20

the scope of the theory - the range of situations to which the theory may be legitimately applied

Question 21

the scope of the theory - the range of situations to which the theory may be legitimately applied

Answer 21

domain of theories

Question 22

What are the characteristics of a good theory?

Answer 22

account for data
explanatory relevance
test-ability
prediction of novel events
parsimony (theory that makes the fewest assumptions)

Question 23

What are the strategies for testing theories?

Answer 23

confirmational and disconfirmational

Question 24

confirmational

Answer 24

strategy

look for evidence to confirm predictions from a theory

Question 25

strategy

look for evidence to confirm predictions from a theory

Answer 25

confirmational

Question 26

disconfirmational

Answer 26

strategy

using a positive research result to disconfirm a theory’s predictions

Question 27

strategy

using a positive research result to disconfirm a theory’s predictions

Answer 27

disconfirmational

Question 28

When should we develop theories?

Answer 28

f