Chapter 1: Psychology is a Way of Thinking Flashcards
Consumer of Research
Reading about research so they can later apply it to their work, hobbies, relationships or personal growth
Example: Reading about the structure of the brain
Why it’s beneficial to be a critical consumer of information?
When reading printed or online new news stories based on research studies …
- Exposed to a lot of information
- Have to be careful with what we encounter
- Need to question everything like how the study was conducted. It’s important to think critically about the study
It is beneficial for your future career. So, as a consumer you need to know how to interpret research data with a critical eye
Evidence Based Approach
A psychotherapy technique whose effectiveness has been supported by empirical research
Example: Becoming an effective teacher
- So, you can look into studies on how to become an effective teacher. Tend to look at evidence to support your study
Scientists are Empiricists
(aka the empirical method or empirical research)
- Basing one’s conclusions on systematic observation
- Collecting data systematically and using it to develop, support or challenge a theory. It involves
using evidence from the senses or from instruments that assisted the senses. It
aims to be systematic and rigorous and to make their work independently veritable by other observers
The Theory - Data Cycle
It is where scientists collect data to test, change or update their theories
1. Theories
2. Research Questions
3. Research Design
4. Hypothesis
5. Data
6. Revision
7. Suport
Theories
Leads researchers to pose particular questions
- Critical part of a research
- It is a set of statements that describe general principles about how variables relate to one another
- Lead to a specific hypothesis about the answer
- It is intended to test only part the study (not the entire study)
Hypothesis
- Yet, to be tested
- Expectations on a certain study/predicted outcomes
- Stated in terms if the theory is accurate
- They are pre-registered - the researchers has stated publicly what the study’s outcome is expected to be
Data
- Set of observation s
- It can either support or challenge the theory
- The data that matches the theory hypothesis strengthen the research confidence in the theories
- The data that does not match the theory’s hypothesis, results indicate that the theory needs to be revised or the research design needs to be improved
Features of Good Scientific Theories
- Supported by data
- Containing Falsifiable
- Having parsimony
- Not proving anything (Instead of prove, it’s finding support of the theory)
Falsifiable
When theory is tested, it can actually fail to support the theory
Parsimony
Simple theory is better than complicated theories (prefer simple theory)
Applied Research
- Conducted in the real world
- It might be looking for better ways to identify those who are likely to do well at particular job, so on
Example: Has our school’s new medication program helped students focus on longer on their math lesson?
Basic Research
- Expand our general knowledge (gives us the basic knowledge of the research)
- To enhance the general body of knowledge rather than address a specific, practical problem
Example: What parts of the brain are active when experienced mediators are mediating?
Translational Research
- A bridge between basic and applied research
- The lessons from basic research to develop and test application to health care, psychotherapy or other forms of treatment and interventions
Empirical Journals
- Read primary by other scientists and by psychology students but really by the general public
- It is submitted to a scientific journal and goes to various review process
