Chapter 2

Question 1

What does the scientific approach to research assume?

Answer 1

assumes that there are laws of behaviour that can be discovered through empirical research

Question 2

What are the goals of science in psychology?

Answer 2

1. Measurement and description of behaviour
2. Understand the prediction of behaviour
3. The application of knowledge to the task of controlling behaviour

Question 3

What are the 2 methods of scientific research used?

Answer 3

1. Descriptive methods

2. Experimental methods

Question 4

What are the 5 steps to investigating research?

Answer 4

1. Formulate a testable hypothesis
2. Select the research method and design study
3. Collet data
4. Analyze the data and draw conclusions
5. Report the findings

Question 5

What are the advantages to scientific method of research?

Answer 5

We can trust it more because its evidence based

Question 6

How do you build theory?

Answer 6

• by generating a set of principles that tie facts and observations together in a framework
• needs to be repeated to ensure they are accurate

Question 7

What is descriptive method of research?

Answer 7

observes and describes a specific behaviour in as much detail as possible

Question 8

What are the 3 types of descriptive research?

Answer 8

Case studies
Surveys
Natural observation

Question 9

What are the pros and cons of the descriptive method of CASE STUDY?

Answer 9

PRO- very in-depth study

CON- observers bias, generalizability

Question 10

What is observers bias?

Answer 10

people are not always as objective as they would like to be; people hear what they want to hear

Question 11

What is generalizability?

Answer 11

you are looking at one specific case so you can’t generalize specifically

Question 12

What are the pros and cons of SURVEYS?

Answer 12

Pro- they are fast, cheap, and easy to do

Con- response bias (social desirability bias), and sampling bias

Question 13

What is responses bias?

Answer 13

when there are void questions or the answers are skewed because of social desirability

Question 14

What is sampling bias?

Answer 14

the group sampled must represent the the group you are interested in

Question 15

What is naturalistic observations?

Answer 15

observe subject in the place they live

Question 16

What are some pros and cons of naturalistic observation?

Answer 16

Pro- most powerful widely used method

Con- observers effect ( we react to the presence of an observer

Question 17

When 2 variables relate to one another they are….

Answer 17

correlated

Question 18

What does the correlation coefficient represent?

Answer 18

(r ) the degree of correlations

Question 19

When one variable increases as the other increases this is what kind of correlation?

Answer 19

Positive correlation

Question 20

When one variable decreases at the other increases this is what kind of correlation

Answer 20

Negative correlation

Question 21

What are the (3) steps to the experimental method?

Answer 21

1. manipulate a variable you think effects behaviour
2. create 2 or more groups of participants, alike in all respects, who get different treatment
3. record whether manipulating the variable has any effect on behaviour

Question 22

What is the independent variable?

Answer 22

(x) the suspected cause of the change

Question 23

What is the dependant variable?

Answer 23

(y) the effect of the independent variable

Question 24

What is an experimental group?

Answer 24

subjects that receive the treatment

Question 25

What is the control group?

Answer 25

subjects that do not receive the treatment

Question 26

What are extraneous variables?

Answer 26

factors that a researcher wants to prevent from affecting the outcome of the experiment

Question 27

What is the logic behind the experimental method?

Answer 27

take 2 groups alike, give one the independent variable and not the other and the resulting differences in the 2 groups MUST be DUE to the INDEPENDANT VARIABLE

Question 28

What do you need to watch for in the experimental method i order to prevent error?

Answer 28

• placebo effect

- experimental bias

Question 29

What is the placebo effect?

Answer 29

expectation of effect create the cause

Question 30

What is experimental bias?

Answer 30

the experimenters expectations can also effect outcome

Question 31

What are statistics?

Answer 31

Using mathematics to organize, summarize, and interpret numerical data

Question 32

What are descriptive statistics?

Answer 32

the organizing and summerizing data

Question 33

What are inferential statistics?

Answer 33

interpreting data and drawing conclusions

Question 34

Give an example of types of descriptive statistics.

Answer 34

measures of central tendency (mean, median, and mode)

Question 35

What is the lowest value for statistical significance?

Answer 35

very low statistical significance is less than 5%

Question 36

What are some ethical considerations?

Answer 36

• possible deception
• controversy of animal research
• ethical standard of research from APA
  (ensure that both human an animal subjects are treated with dignity)

Question 37

Name the (6) ethical principles.

Answer 37

• protect and promote welfare of participant
• avoid harm
• benefits must be proportionately greater than risks
• consent
• consent can not be coerced
• ensure privacy and confidentiality