Chapter 2

Question 1

What are the two core tenets of science?

Answer 1

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

Question 2

What is the scientific method?

Answer 2

A method used to discover the laws governing the universe

Question 3

What is psychology?

Answer 3

The scientific study of human behavior and mental processes

Question 4

What is pseudopsychology?

Answer 4

Commenting on human behavior and mental processes without using the scientific method (e.g., parapsychology, astrology, psychics)

Question 5

What is inductive reasoning?

Answer 5

Starts with observation and leads to a general theory

Question 6

What is deductive reasoning?

Answer 6

Starts with a theory and leads to predictions about specific situations

Question 7

What is hypothetico-deductive reasoning?

Answer 7

The testing of hypotheses

Question 8

What is an independent variable (IV)?

Answer 8

The variable that you manipulate in an experiment

Question 9

What is a dependent variable (DV)?

Answer 9

The variable that you measure or that is changed by the IV

Question 10

Identify the IV and DV: Dr. Smith examines how daily exposure to a sun lamp impacts people’s depression levels.

Answer 10

IV: Sun lamp exposure; DV: Depression levels

Question 11

What is an operational definition?

Answer 11

How the researcher decides to measure their variables

Question 12

What is a population in research?

Answer 12

The entire group that is of interest to researchers

Question 13

What is a sample in research?

Answer 13

A portion of the population that is selected for the study

Question 14

What is random selection?

Answer 14

Randomly choosing a sample from a population

Question 15

What is sampling bias?

Answer 15

Choosing a sample that does not represent your population

Question 16

What is descriptive research?

Answer 16

Research method used to observe and describe behavior

Question 17

What is experimental research?

Answer 17

Research method used to demonstrate cause-and-effect relationships between variables

Question 18

What are case studies?

Answer 18

An intensive study of 1 or 2 people

Question 19

What is naturalistic observation?

Answer 19

Systematic observation of people behaving as they normally do

Question 20

What are surveys?

Answer 20

Asking people directly about their behaviors using questionnaires or interviews

Question 21

What are the advantages and disadvantages of case studies?

Answer 21

Advantages: Can study rare behaviors, very detailed. Disadvantages: Cannot generalize results, cannot determine cause and effect

Question 22

What are the advantages and disadvantages of naturalistic observation?

Answer 22

Advantages: Can study unethical topics, natural behavior. Disadvantages: Time-consuming, cannot determine cause and effect

Question 23

What are the advantages and disadvantages of surveys?

Answer 23

Advantages: Quick data collection, cheap. Disadvantages: People may lie, cannot determine cause and effect

Question 24

What is a hypothesis?

Answer 24

A testable prediction about the relationship between variables

Question 25

What is a theory?

Answer 25

A well-substantiated explanation of some aspect of the natural world

Question 26

What is one key advantage of experimental research?

Answer 26

It can establish cause and effect.

Question 27

What is a key disadvantage of experimental research?

Answer 27

Results might not be generalizable.

Question 28

What does experimental research examine?

Answer 28

How one variable causes another variable to change.

Question 29

What is the role of the experimental group in an experiment?

Answer 29

It is the group exposed to the independent variable (IV).

Question 30

What is the role of the control group in an experiment?

Answer 30

It is the group not exposed to the IV, used for comparison.

Question 31

What is random assignment in experimental research?

Answer 31

Randomly assigning participants to groups to make them similar before the study.

Question 32

What is a double-blind procedure?

Answer 32

Neither the participant nor the researcher knows who is in which group.

Question 33

What is the goal of descriptive research?

Answer 33

To show if there is a relationship between variables.

Question 34

What does experimental research use to test hypotheses?

Answer 34

Statistics to indicate meaningful differences between groups.

Question 35

What is a positive correlation?

Answer 35

When one variable increases, the other increases.

Question 36

What is a negative correlation?

Answer 36

When one variable increases, the other decreases.

Question 37

Why can't correlations determine cause and effect?

Answer 37

Because two variables may be related but not causally linked.

Question 38

What is descriptive statistics?

Answer 38

It describes the data in an experiment.

Question 39

What is the mean in descriptive statistics?

Answer 39

The average of all the scores.

Question 40

What is standard deviation?

Answer 40

It shows how much participants' scores vary from one another.

Question 41

What is inferential statistics?

Answer 41

It helps draw conclusions from the data using tests like p-values.

Question 42

What does a p-value indicate?

Answer 42

The probability that the experiment's results are not due to chance.

Question 43

What p-value is typically considered statistically significant?

Answer 43

A p-value lower than .05.

Question 44

What do Research Ethics Boards (REB) do?

Answer 44

They evaluate research to protect participants' rights.

Question 45

What is informed consent?

Answer 45

Participants' permission after knowing the study's risks and benefits.

Question 46

What must researchers protect participants from?

Answer 46

Harm and discomfort.

Question 47

What must be protected in research involving participants?

Answer 47

Confidentiality.

Question 48

What is the role of the Canadian Council on Animal Care?

Answer 48

It oversees research involving animals as subjects.

Question 49

When can animals be used in research?

Answer 49

When the research promises significant benefit and there is no alternative.

Question 50

What are humane research guidelines for using animals?

Answer 50

Using the smallest number of animals and limiting all pain and distress.