Chapter 1

Question 1

Research methods is about..

Answer 1

evaluating research claims (i.e., the findings of

scientists), looking closely at studies and ask questions about their reliability and validity.

Question 2

When Research methods might be important

Answer 2

• For your future as a
scientist.
• For honours and
graduate school
• For coursework in
psychology
• For working in a
research lab

Question 3

Producer role

Answer 3

where you actually need to DO SCIENCE.

Question 4

Consumer role

Answer 4

many careers require the ability to critically read
and interpret scientific findings. E.g., health professionals must stay informed and base their care on
evidence-based treatments.

Question 5

Who is in a consumer role

Answer 5

all of us

Question 6

Being an informed consumer of information sometimes

involves

Answer 6

knowing when things presented to us have no

basis and diverge from what science says

Question 7

Scared straight

Answer 7

Most studies find it actually increases reoffending compared

to “no treatment” controls

Question 8

Cause of rise of measles

Answer 8

parental decisions not to vaccinate.

Question 9

Andrew Wakefield

Answer 9

claimed a connection between the
MMR (measles, mumps, and
rubella) vaccine and autism.

Question 10

Problems with Andrew Wakefield’s study

Answer 10

• It had a sample size of 12.
• Wakefield was funded by
lawyers suing vaccineproducing companies.
• Eventually revealed that he
committed fraud, picking and
choosing which data to include.
• Retracted in 2010.

Question 11

A study across many nations showed that those high in anti-vaccination attitudes
tend to be

Answer 11

more open to conspiratorial beliefs and show high reactance (low
tolerance for impingements on their freedoms)

Question 12

Vaxxed

Answer 12

movie done by andrew wakefield and others

Question 13

Why celebrities have an important influence on the anti vaxxer movement

Answer 13

1) Classical conditioning: The positive responses people have toward celebrities come to be independently generated by endorsed items.
2) Self-conception: People follow advice from celebrities who match how they perceive (or want to perceive) themselves.
3) Cognitive dissonance: People unconsciously rationalize following celebrity medical advice to reduce the psychological discomfort that may otherwise result from holding incompatible views.
4) Attachment: People, especially those with low self-esteem, form attachments to celebrities who make them feel independent in their actions, supported by others, and competent in their activities.

Question 14

Scientists employ

Answer 14

empiricism to test theories

Question 15

Empiricism

Answer 15

conclusions based on evidence from the

senses and instruments that assist them

Question 16

The theory-data cycle

Answer 16

1) Theory leads researchers to pose particular 2) research question which leads to an appropriate 3) research design, in the context of the design researchers formulate 4) Hypotheses, researchers then collect and analyze 5) data, which feed back into the cycle. 6a) data supports theory and strengthens it 6b) Nonsupporting data data strengthen In the context of the design, lead to revised theories the theory. researchers formulate or improved research design.

Question 17

Theory

Answer 17

is a set of statements
describing general principles related
to how something works or how it
happens.

Question 18

A good theory…

Answer 18

• is supported by data
• is falsifiable; i.e., leads to a
  testable hypothesis
• exhibits parsimony
  (AKA Occam’s razor)

Question 19

Parsimony

Answer 19

Simplest explanation is probably the right one

Question 20

Hypothesis

Answer 20

a specific prediction
regarding the outcome of the study,
following directly from the theory
being tested. Note that it
necessarily follows research
questions and design.

Question 21

Harlow (1958) formulated a research question and designed an experiment to distinguish

Answer 21

Cupboard theory and Contact comfort theory

Question 22

Harlow’s hypothesis

Answer 22

monkeys would spend more time

with the cloth-covered “mother” than the wire “mother”.

Question 23

If data does not support theory

Answer 23

One possibility is to assess the research design.
Was the experiment well designed? Could it be done in a better way?

Another possibility is to revise the theory. Is there another explanation for how contagious yawning
occurs?

Question 24

Impact factor

Answer 24

Is a measure of how well-regarded the journal is – things like how often studies in it are cited by others

Question 25

Review articles

Answer 25

took the existing studies’ results into consideration, but not in a way that involved statistical analysis.

Question 26

Meta analysis

Answer 26

overview is done using complex statistical analysis of all those pooled results.

Question 27

The peer-reviewed part of publishing can lead to three possibilities

Answer 27

rejection, revision, acceptance

Question 28

A theory naturally leads directly to

Answer 28

a research question

Question 29

Scientific research can be divided into

Answer 29

basic, translational, and applied research.

Question 30

Basic research

Answer 30

looking at questions related to how nature works

Question 31

Translational research

Answer 31

aims to take what’s learned in basic research and apply that in the development of solutions to medical problems

Question 32

Applied research

Answer 32

takes solutions from translational and studies them in clinical trials