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ch 2 Flashcards

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1
Q

What are the two core beliefs of science?

A

The universe operates according to natural laws, and these laws are discoverable and testable.

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2
Q

What is the scientific method?

A

A process using logical reasoning to discover and test natural laws, involving steps like observation, hypothesis formulation, testing, and theory building.

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3
Q

What is deductive reasoning?

A

Reasoning that starts from general principles and applies them to specific situations.

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4
Q

What is inductive reasoning?

A

Reasoning that starts with specific observations and leads to general conclusions.

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5
Q

What is a hypothesis?

A

A specific, testable statement about how variables relate, which can be disproved or supported.

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6
Q

What is the hypothetico-deductive method?

A

A process where scientists begin with a hypothesis, test it through controlled observations, and adjust theories based on the results.

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7
Q

What is bias in research?

A

Distorted beliefs based on a person’s subjective reality, which can affect the objectivity of research.

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8
Q

What are empirical observations?

A

Observations that can be tested in objective ways

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9
Q

What is a theory in science?

A

A set of ideas about laws that govern phenomena, built on empirical observations and hypotheses.

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10
Q

What is the difference between inductive and deductive reasoning?

A

Inductive reasoning builds generalizations from specific observations, while deductive reasoning applies general principles to specific cases.

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11
Q

What is the role of a hypothesis in psychological research?

A

It guides the research by predicting a relationship between variables, which can be tested through experiments.

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12
Q

What is an independent variable?

A

The variable in an experiment that is manipulated by the researcher to observe its effect on another variable.

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13
Q

What is a dependent variable?

A

The variable in an experiment that is expected to change as a result of changes in the independent variable.

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14
Q

What does it mean to operationalize variables?

A

Defining variables in precise, measurable terms to ensure they can be tested in an experiment.

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15
Q

What is a sample in psychological research?

A

A subset of a population used to represent the population in a research study.

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16
Q

What is random selection?

A

A process where every individual in the population has an equal chance of being chosen for a study, reducing bias.

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17
Q

What is random assignment?

A

Assigning participants to experimental or control groups in a random manner to reduce pre-existing differences between groups.

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18
Q

What is a case study?

A

An in-depth examination of a single individual, often used in early stages of research to generate hypotheses.

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19
Q

What is naturalistic observation?

A

Observing subjects in their natural environment without interference to study behavior in real-life contexts.

20
Q

What is the Hawthorne effect?

A

When people change their behavior because they know they are being observed, not due to experimental manipulation.

21
Q

What is a survey?

A

A research method where participants are asked a series of questions to gather information about their behaviors, attitudes, or opinions.

22
Q

What is participant bias?

A

When participants alter their behavior or responses based on what they believe is socially acceptable or expected by the researcher.

23
Q

What is an experiment in psychology?

A

A controlled study where researchers manipulate one or more variables to observe their effect on other variables, establishing cause and effect.

24
Q

What is a control group?

A

The group in an experiment that does not receive the experimental treatment, used for comparison with the experimental group.

25
Q

What is an experimental group?

A

The group in an experiment that is exposed to the independent variable.

26
Q

What is a correlation?

A

A statistical measure that describes the relationship between two variables, showing how changes in one relate to changes in another.

27
Q

What is a positive correlation?

A

A relationship where as one variable increases, the other also increases

28
Q

What is a negative correlation?

A

A relationship where as one variable increases, the other decreases.

29
Q

What does a correlation coefficient tell us?

A

It tells us the strength and direction of the relationship between two variables, ranging from -1.00 (perfect negative) to +1.00 (perfect positive).

30
Q

What is a perfect correlation?

A

A relationship where the scores of two variables are always exactly related, either positively (+1.00) or negatively (-1.00).

31
Q

What is the difference between correlation and causation?

A

Correlation shows a relationship between two variables, but it does not prove that one causes the other.

32
Q

What is statistical significance?

A

A measure of whether the results of a study are likely due to the manipulation of variables and not just due to chance (often with a probability value of p < 0.05).

33
Q

What is replication in research?

A

Repeating a study to confirm that the original findings were not due to chance and to verify the results under different conditions.

34
Q

What is the mean in statistics?

A

The arithmetic average of a set of scores.

35
Q

What is the standard deviation?

A

A measure of how much scores in a data set vary around the mean.

36
Q

What is a t-test?

A

A statistical test used to compare the means of two groups to determine if they are significantly different from each other.

37
Q

What is informed consent?

A

The process by which researchers inform participants about the details of the study and obtain their permission to participate.

38
Q

What is debriefing in psychological research?

A

Explaining the purpose of the research and any deception used to participants after the study has been completed.

39
Q

What is a double-blind procedure?

A

A study design where neither the participants nor the researchers know who is in the experimental or control groups, reducing bias.

40
Q

What is a placebo?

A

A substance or treatment with no active ingredients, often used in control groups to test the effectiveness of a new drug or treatment.

41
Q

What is demand characteristic?

A

Cues in an experiment that suggest to participants how they are expected to behave.

42
Q

What are descriptive research methods?

A

Research methods that observe and describe behavior without manipulating variables, including case studies, surveys, and naturalistic observation.

43
Q

What is pseudoscience?

A

Claims or beliefs that appear scientific but are not based on the scientific method or empirical evidence, like astrology.

44
Q

What are the ethical steps psychologists must follow in research?

A

Obtaining informed consent, protecting participants from harm, ensuring confidentiality, and debriefing participants after the study.

45
Q

What is a theory in psychology?

A

A broad explanation that integrates a set of principles and observations about behaviors or mental processes.

46
Q

What is the role of the Canadian Council on Animal Care (CCAC)?

A

To protect the needs and well-being of animals used in research in Canada.

psychology (7 decks)

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