Ch1 Scientific Thinking Flashcards
Define the scientific method
A set of systematic tendencies used to acquire, modify, and integrate knowledge concerning observable and measurable phenomenon
What 3 tasks should a researcher perform before stating a research hypothesis?
Determine area of interest
Review literature
Identify new ideas
What are the six steps to the scientific method?
- Identify a problem
- Develop a research plan
- Conduct the study
- Analyze and evaluate the data
- Communicate the results 6.Generate more new ideas
What are three methods of communication and what style is most used in psychology?
Oral
Written- apa style
Poster
What are the five non scientific methods of knowing?
Tendency Intuition Authority Rationalism Empiricism
What are the four goals of science?
Describe
explain
predict
control
If researchers can make a behavior occur and not occur, then which goal of science have they met?
Control
What is the difference between basic and applied research?
Basic research is used to address theoretical questions regarding the mechanisms and processes of behavior, whereas applied research is used to address questions that can lead to immediate solutions to practical problems.
What is the difference between quantitative and qualitative research?
In quantitative research, all variables are measured numerically, whereas qualitative research is purely descriptive (variables are not measured numerically)
Science can be any systematic method of acquiring knowledge apart from ignorance. What method make science and unique approach to acquiring knowledge?
The scientific method
What is a variable?
Any value that can change or vary across observations
What is an operational definition?
A description of some observational event in terms of the specific process or manner by which it was observed or measured
What is a population?
A set of all individuals items or data of interest about which scientists will generalize
What is a sample?
A portion of individuals selected from the larger population of interest
