Chapter 1 Flashcards
Statistical notation
Code for communicating statistical results and for simplifying statistical formulas
Scientific method
A set of rules consisting of certain assumptions, attitudes, goals, and procedures for creating and answering questions about nature
Lawful
Every event can be understood as a predictable sequence of natural causes and effects
Determinism
Behavior is solely influenced by natural causes and does not depend on an individual’s choice or “free will”
What must behavior be assumed to be in order to be studied scientifically?
Lawful, determined, and understandable
Opne-minded
Leaving biases and preconceptions behind
Research ethics
Neither researchers nor their research should cause harm to others
What traits should scientists have?
Uncertain, open-minded, skeptical, cautious, and ethical
Design
Specific manner in which the study is set up and conducted
Subjects/Participants
Specific people or animals to study
Empirical
Learned by observation
Objectivity
The researcher’s biases, attitudes, or subjective impressions do not influence the observations or conclusions
Systematic
Observations are obtained in a methodical, step-by-step fashion
Control
Eliminating factors that might influence the behavior being observed
Acceptable scientific evidence is obtained through what?
Empirical, objective, and controlled research.
Pseudo-explanation
Giving as the reason for an event another name for that event
To completely understand a behavior, researchers strive to do what?
Describe it, explain its causes, and predict and control its occurrence
Applied research
Solving an existing, real-life problem
Basic research
Research conducted simply for the knowledge it produces
What is the purpose of basic research?
To obtain knowledge
What is the purpose of applied research?
To solve an existing problem
What is one specific study in light of a behavior?
A “snapshot” or small portion, representing a very limited and simplified view and contributing minutely to the goals of understanding a behavior
Hypothesis
A formally stated expectation about how a behavior operates
Casual hypothesis
Tentatively identifies a particular cause for, or influence on, a behavior
Descriptive hypothesis
Tentatively describes a behavior in terms of its characteristics or the situation in which it occurs, and allows us to predict when it occurs. NOT causes
Main difference between casual and descriptive hypotheses?
Casual postulates an influence, descriptive postulates characteristics
Testable
It is possible to devise a test
Falsifiable
The test can potentially show that the hypothesis is incorrect
Precise
Clearly defined
Rational
Logically fits with what is already known
Parsimonious
As simple as possible
What characteristics should a scientific hypothesis have?
Falsifiable, testable, precise, rational, and parsimonious
Theory
An integrated set of proposals that defines, explains, organizes, and interrelates knowledge about many behaviors
Two major functions of theories?
Organize findings and guide research
What is a theory?
An organized body of research that describes and explains a wide range of behaviors
Model
A description that, by analogy, explains the process underlying particular behaviors. More specific and concrete than a theory
Prediction
A specific statement about how we will see the behavior manifested in the research situation, describing results we expect to see
Four flaws in evidence
Some behaviors cannot be studied in a completely empirical, objective, systematic, and controlled way, decisions made in designing a study, technical limitations that produce misleading info, and the results of one study may be biased or a fluke
What does the design of eh study determine?
The snapshot of the behavior and the evidence for the hypothesis
Disconfirmation
Evidence that the hypothesis is false
Confirmation
Findings are consistent with the hypothesis, but does not make the hypothesis true
Where does the best evidence come from?
Disconfirming competing hypotheses and confirming your own
What do we do when we confirm a hypothesis?
Merely more confidant that it is true, it can never be proven
What is our confidence in any hypothesis based on?
The quantity and quality of evidence
Replication
Repeatedly conducting studies that test and confirm a hypothesis
Literal replication
Duplicate precisely the specific design and results of a previous study, eliminates “chance factors”
Conceptual replication
Provides additional confirmation while measuring the behavior in a different way, with different types of participants, or with a different design
