Chapter 2

Question 1

What are the two core beliefs of science?

Answer 1

The universe operates according to certain natural laws, and these laws are discoverable and testable.

Question 2

What is the scientific method?

Answer 2

The scientific method is a process that involves making controlled, observations to generate conclusions and test hypotheses.

Question 3

What is deductive reasoning in the scientific method?

Answer 3

Deductive reasoning starts with basic principles and applies them to specific situations, aiming to make predictions.

Question 4

Who was Sir Francis Bacon, and what did he contribute to the discussion of deductive reasoning?

Answer 4

Philosopher who questioned deductive reasoning, as he felt it was susceptible to biases. He advocated for inductive reasoning as a more unbiased approach.

Question 5

What is inductive reasoning, and why is it important in science?

Answer 5

Inductive reasoning proceeds from specific observations to more general truths, avoiding biases.

Question 6

What is Pseudopsychology?

Answer 6

No use of the scientific method when commenting on human behaviour and mental processes

Question 7

Inductive reasoning

Answer 7

starts with observation
and leads us to a general theory

Question 8

Deductive reasoning

Answer 8

starts with a theory and leads us to predictions about specific situations

Question 9

Hypothetico-deductive reasoning

Answer 9

testing of hypotheses

Question 10

Operational definition

Answer 10

how we (the researcher)
decide to measure our variables

Question 11

What is descriptive research?

Answer 11

correlations indicate if there is a relationship between the variables

Question 12

What is experimental research?

Answer 12

statistics indicate if the hypothesis has been supported or if there is a meaningful difference between the groups.

Question 13

Prior to the nineteenth century, what were the primary influences on the field of psychology?

Answer 13

Philosophy, religion, and mysticism.

Question 14

How does psychology differ from physical sciences like biology in the area of description?

Answer 14

While physical sciences aim to isolate and describe the smallest elements contributing to a larger whole, psychology studies complex behaviours influenced by multiple factors simultaneously.

Question 15

What is operationalization of variables?

Answer 15

Operationalization involves creating precise definitions of the independent and dependent variables, allowing researchers to measure and test them.

Question 16

What is a case study?

Answer 16

A case study focuses on a single individual or entity. It provides an in-depth analysis of that subject but may suffer from researcher bias and lacks generalizability to larger populations.

Question 17

What is naturalistic observation?

Answer 17

In naturalistic observation, researchers observe and record people’s behavior as it occurs in a natural setting without intervention. It aims to capture real-world behavior but can be affected by the Hawthorne effect and researcher bias.

Question 18

What is double-blind procedure?

Answer 18

study in which neither the participant nor the researcher knows what treatment or procedure the participant is receiving.

Question 19

What does empirical mean?

Answer 19

ability to be tested in objective ways.