Chapter 1

Question 1

Epiricism

Answer 1

• knowledge that comes from (is observed through) the 5 senses making it verifiable by other people
• clear evidence, not subjective

Question 1

Theories

Answer 1

• set of statements that describes general principles about how variables relate to one another

Question 2

5 things that make a good theory

Good theories are tentative

Answer 2

• willing to modify or adapt a theory when it is challenged (instead of dismissing the contrary data/findings)

Question 3

5 things that make a good theory

Good theories are falsifiable

Answer 3

• can at least be proven wrong

Question 4

5 things that make a good theory

Good theories are rigorosly evaluated

Answer 4

• tested over and over again
• repeated evidence

Question 5

5 things that make a good theory

Good theories are parsimonious

Answer 5

• explain evidence w/the fewest possible assumptions
• based on logic + evidence

Question 6

Do studies prove theories?

Answer 6

• no
• cannot confirm 100% fact, can only find evidence that supports it
• can’t test everyone

Question 7

Data

Answer 7

• a set of observations

Question 8

Hypothesis

Answer 8

• statement that clearly + specifically indicates the nature of the expected relationship between variables under study
• is consistent w/but goes beyond previous research
• offers a prediction about what will happen

Question 9

Ideally, hypotheses are preregistered. What does that mean?

Answer 9

• designed before collecting data
• researcher states publicly what the study’s outcome is expected to be
• not convincing if data is collected first (sketchy)

Question 10

Replication

Answer 10

• the study is conducted again to test whether the result is consistent

Question 11

Applied research

Answer 11

• conduct their research in a local, real-world context
• done with a practical problem (ex. is this setup working in a classroom)

Question 12

Basic research

Answer 12

• goal is to enhance a general body of knowledge

Question 13

Translational research

Answer 13

• use of lessons from basic research to develop and test applications to health care, psychotherapy, or other forms of treatment and intervention

Question 14

What are the 5 steps of the theory cycle?

Answer 14

1) theory
2) research question
3) research design (hypothesis)
5) preregistration
6) data

Question 15

Merton’s scientific norms

Universalism

Answer 15

• scientific claims are evaluated according to their merit, independent of the researcher’s creds or reputation

Question 16

Merton’s scientific norms

Communality

Answer 16

• scientific knowledge is created by a community, and it’s findings belong to the community

Question 17

Merton’s scientific norms

Disinterestedness

Answer 17

• scientists strive to discover the truth, whatever it is
• not swayed by antything

Question 18

Merton’s scientific norms

Organized skepticism

Answer 18

• scientists question everything, including their own theories

Question 19

Comparison Groups

Answer 19

• helps us compare what would happen both with and without the thing we’re interested in

Question 20

Why is experience not a reliable source of information?

Answer 20

• we tend to jump to causal conclusions

Question 21

What are 3 issues with using experience as a source of information?

Answer 21

1) experience has no comparison groups
2) experience is confounded - it is something that confuses us and makes it difficult for us to explain what we see because there can be more 1 way to interpret it
3) experience is probabilistic - no comparison groups, may misunderstand things, isn’t based on probabilities like research is

Question 22

Confounds

Answer 22

• alternative explanations for an outcome
• found data “confuses” us
• think one thing caused another but it wasn’t the only cause

Question 23

What does: research results are probabilistic: mean?

Answer 23

• findings do not explain all cases of the time (not 100% correct)
• research conclusions are based on observed patterns that can’t be seen without comparison groups