2.1 - Evaluating Evidence And Thinking Critically Flashcards
What four things make up research in psychology?
Hypothesis
Method
Results
Interpretation
What is a hypothesis?
A clear and predictive statement
In psych, they must lead to predictions
Found in if-then form
What is scientific method in psychology?
HOW researchers conduct procedure
If studies with different methods come to the same conclusion, then the conclusion is stronger.
What do results require to be “good results?”
A researcher must determine what outcomes are able to reach an explanation vs if the outcomes are chance.
What is interpretation?
Researcher interpreta results to see whether their hypothesis was supported or not
What happens after a research study is finished? What does it become?
A theory
What is a theory?
An explanation or model that fits many observations and makes valid predictions
Technically no theory is true unless backed by research
What makes a theory “falsifiable?” Define falsifiable.
If many attempts to falsify a theory fail, then the theory is falsifiable.
Describes a theory stated in clear terms so that we can see what evidence would count against it.
What is burden of proof and who shows it?
Obligation to present evidence to support one’s claim
Anyone who makes the claim (for ex - prosecution in jury) is responsible for acquiring evidence.
What are replicable results?
Results that anyone can reproduce, at least approximately, by following the same procedure.
What is a non-replicable result example?
(1960s-1970s) Researchers claimed that chemicals in rats that could accomplish a task may be extracted (via syringe) and put into another rat’s brain, making the second rat able to do the task the first rat was trained to do. When other scientists tried to replicate this, they found no results.
Define meta-analysis.
Combines the results of many studies and analyzes them as if they were all one huge study
Determines which variatuons in procesure increase or decrease effects
Define Parsimony. What is it also known as? Is it a conservative or liberal idea?
Simplest and most consistent explanation for an occurance that stays in line with other well established theories.
AKA Occam’s razor
It is a conservative idea where we try not to assume more complex solutions if a current answer is already simpler.
The skepticismt towards the story of Clever Hans the Amazing Horse and his trainer von Osten is an example of what?
Applied parsimony - Oskar Pfungst applied parsimony to Hans and Osten, meaning that an easier way to explain the miracle horse was that the horse was looking for visual keys from the trainer, not necessarily understanding complex math
DOES NOT technically disprove it though
Define ESP. How does parsimony play a role in evaluating ESP?
ESP - that some people sometimes are able to acquire info without receiving energy through any organ
Parsimony and assuming the easiest solution deems that ESP is roo complicated and unnecessary of an explanation for random events that could be explained in simpler terms
