ch 2 Flashcards
What are the two core beliefs of science?
The universe operates according to natural laws, and these laws are discoverable and testable.
What is the scientific method?
A process using logical reasoning to discover and test natural laws, involving steps like observation, hypothesis formulation, testing, and theory building.
What is deductive reasoning?
Reasoning that starts from general principles and applies them to specific situations.
What is inductive reasoning?
Reasoning that starts with specific observations and leads to general conclusions.
What is a hypothesis?
A specific, testable statement about how variables relate, which can be disproved or supported.
What is the hypothetico-deductive method?
A process where scientists begin with a hypothesis, test it through controlled observations, and adjust theories based on the results.
What is bias in research?
Distorted beliefs based on a person’s subjective reality, which can affect the objectivity of research.
What are empirical observations?
Observations that can be tested in objective ways
What is a theory in science?
A set of ideas about laws that govern phenomena, built on empirical observations and hypotheses.
What is the difference between inductive and deductive reasoning?
Inductive reasoning builds generalizations from specific observations, while deductive reasoning applies general principles to specific cases.
What is the role of a hypothesis in psychological research?
It guides the research by predicting a relationship between variables, which can be tested through experiments.
What is an independent variable?
The variable in an experiment that is manipulated by the researcher to observe its effect on another variable.
What is a dependent variable?
The variable in an experiment that is expected to change as a result of changes in the independent variable.
What does it mean to operationalize variables?
Defining variables in precise, measurable terms to ensure they can be tested in an experiment.
What is a sample in psychological research?
A subset of a population used to represent the population in a research study.
What is random selection?
A process where every individual in the population has an equal chance of being chosen for a study, reducing bias.
What is random assignment?
Assigning participants to experimental or control groups in a random manner to reduce pre-existing differences between groups.
What is a case study?
An in-depth examination of a single individual, often used in early stages of research to generate hypotheses.
What is naturalistic observation?
Observing subjects in their natural environment without interference to study behavior in real-life contexts.
What is the Hawthorne effect?
When people change their behavior because they know they are being observed, not due to experimental manipulation.
What is a survey?
A research method where participants are asked a series of questions to gather information about their behaviors, attitudes, or opinions.
What is participant bias?
When participants alter their behavior or responses based on what they believe is socially acceptable or expected by the researcher.
What is an experiment in psychology?
A controlled study where researchers manipulate one or more variables to observe their effect on other variables, establishing cause and effect.
What is a control group?
The group in an experiment that does not receive the experimental treatment, used for comparison with the experimental group.
What is an experimental group?
The group in an experiment that is exposed to the independent variable.
What is a correlation?
A statistical measure that describes the relationship between two variables, showing how changes in one relate to changes in another.
What is a positive correlation?
A relationship where as one variable increases, the other also increases
What is a negative correlation?
A relationship where as one variable increases, the other decreases.
What does a correlation coefficient tell us?
It tells us the strength and direction of the relationship between two variables, ranging from -1.00 (perfect negative) to +1.00 (perfect positive).
What is a perfect correlation?
A relationship where the scores of two variables are always exactly related, either positively (+1.00) or negatively (-1.00).
What is the difference between correlation and causation?
Correlation shows a relationship between two variables, but it does not prove that one causes the other.
What is statistical significance?
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).
What is replication in research?
Repeating a study to confirm that the original findings were not due to chance and to verify the results under different conditions.
What is the mean in statistics?
The arithmetic average of a set of scores.
What is the standard deviation?
A measure of how much scores in a data set vary around the mean.
What is a t-test?
A statistical test used to compare the means of two groups to determine if they are significantly different from each other.
What is informed consent?
The process by which researchers inform participants about the details of the study and obtain their permission to participate.
What is debriefing in psychological research?
Explaining the purpose of the research and any deception used to participants after the study has been completed.
What is a double-blind procedure?
A study design where neither the participants nor the researchers know who is in the experimental or control groups, reducing bias.
What is a placebo?
A substance or treatment with no active ingredients, often used in control groups to test the effectiveness of a new drug or treatment.
What is demand characteristic?
Cues in an experiment that suggest to participants how they are expected to behave.
What are descriptive research methods?
Research methods that observe and describe behavior without manipulating variables, including case studies, surveys, and naturalistic observation.
What is pseudoscience?
Claims or beliefs that appear scientific but are not based on the scientific method or empirical evidence, like astrology.
What are the ethical steps psychologists must follow in research?
Obtaining informed consent, protecting participants from harm, ensuring confidentiality, and debriefing participants after the study.
What is a theory in psychology?
A broad explanation that integrates a set of principles and observations about behaviors or mental processes.
What is the role of the Canadian Council on Animal Care (CCAC)?
To protect the needs and well-being of animals used in research in Canada.
