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PSYCH 101 Exam 1 > Chapter 2 > Flashcards

Chapter 2 Flashcards

1
Q

define: empiricism

A

the conviction that accurate knowledge of the world can be acquired by observing it

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2
Q

define: the scientific method

A

the procedure for using empirical evidence to establish facts

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3
Q

define: theories

A

explanations of natural phenomena (that are supported well by evidence) and why

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4
Q

define: hypothesis

A

a falsifiable prediction made by a theory

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5
Q

how is a theory proven?

A

there can be a lot of really strong empirical evidence to support it and at the moment it can be accepted as true

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6
Q

define: an empirical method

A

a set of rules and techniques for observation

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7
Q

define: method

A

technologies that enhance the power of the senses

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8
Q

what three human qualities make them difficult to study?

A

complexity, variability, reactivity

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9
Q

define: operational definition

A

a description of a property in measurable terms, must have construct validity, ex. the number a person smiles per hour to measure happiness

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10
Q

define: construct validity

A

a feature of operational definitions whose specified operations are generally considered good indicators of the specified properties

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11
Q

define: detector

A

an instrument or device used to measure a property, quality is measure through power and reliability

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12
Q

define: detector power

A

the detectors ability to detect the presence of differences or changes in the magnitude of a property

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13
Q

define: detector reliability

A

a detector’s ability to detect the absence of differences or changes in the magnitude of a property (doesn’t make up evidence)

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14
Q

what are the qualities of measurement in observation?

A

operational definition for a property that has construct validity and a powerful and reliable detector

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15
Q

define: demand characteristics

A

aspects of an observational setting that cause people to behave as they think someone else wants or expects (unnatural behavior)

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16
Q

how are demand characteristics mediated?

A

naturalistic behavior, privacy and control, and unawareness

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17
Q

define: naturalistic observation

A

a technique for gathering information by unobtrusively observing people in their natural environments, limited by a lack of frequency of certain events and lack of direct interaction

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18
Q

what is the purpose of privacy

A

people are less likely to be influenced by the observer when their privacy is respected

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19
Q

what does measuring uncontrollable attributes of behavior mean?

A

measuring things that you cannot control (ie pupil dilation) that might indicate reaction of the brain

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20
Q

define: unawareness in a study

A

people are unaware of the true purpose of the observations

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21
Q

define: observer bias

A

the tendency for observers’ expectations to influence both what they believe they observed and what they actually observed

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22
Q

define: double blind study

A

a study in which neither the researcher nor the participant knows how the participants are expected to behave

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23
Q

define: population

A

the complete collection of people, all the data possible to collect

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24
Q

define: sample

A

partial collection of people drawn from a population

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25
define: frequency distribution
a graphic representation showing the number of times that the measurement of a property takes on each of its possible values
26
define: negative skew
data leans right
27
define: positive skew
data leans left
28
define: normal distribution
a mathematically defined distribution in which the frequency of measurements is highest in the middle and decreases symmetrically in both directions
29
define: central tendency of a frequency distribution
statements about the value of the measurements that tend to lie near the center or midpoint of the frequency distribution
30
define: mode
the value of the most frequently observed measurement
31
define: mean
average value of all the measurements
32
define: median
the value that is in the middle, ie greater than or equal to half the measurements and less than or equal to half the measurements
33
define: variability of a frequency distribution
how much the measurements in a frequency distribution differ from one another or how wide it is
34
define: range of a frequency definition
the simplest measure of variability, the value of the largest measurement in a frequency distribution minus the value of the smallest measurement
35
define: standard deviation
how each of the measurements in a frequency distribution differs from the mean (on average)
36
define: correlation
a relationship between variables in which the changes in one variable are synchronized with the other, can be used to predict one variable from the other
37
define: direction of correlation
positive (as x increases, y increases) or negative (as x increases, y decreases)
38
define: correlation coefficient
a mathematical measure of both the direction and strength of a correlation, r ranged between -1 and 1, where 0 is the least amount of strength, -1 is perfect negative correlation, and 1 is perfect positive correlation
39
define: natural correlation
a correlation that is observed in the natural world
40
define: the third variable problem
a third variable that could be responsible for the observed correlation between two other variables (we think a causes b, when it could be that c causes a and b)
41
define: experimentation
a technique for establishing the causal relationship between variables
42
define: manipulation
a technique for determining the causal power of a variable by changing its value across different groups and observing the results
43
what is the technique for determining causation?
manipulating independent variable, measure the effect on the dependent variable, compare the dependent variables measurement
44
define: random assignment
a procedure that assigns participants to conditions by chance, equal chance of exceptional cases occurring
45
define: statistically significant
p < 0.05, the probability that the results were just due to dumb luck
46
define: internal validity
is an attribute of an experiment that allows it to establish causal relationships, everything in the experiment is operating as it should in order to draw causality
47
define: representativeness restriction
the results of the experiment depend on how the independent and dependent variables are operationally defined
48
define: external validity
an attribute of an experiment in which variables have been operationally defined in a representative way (aligned with the real world), minimizes the representativeness restriction
49
define: generalizability restriction
restricting the study’s findings to those who were included in the study
50
define: case study
a procedure for gathering scientific information by studying a single individual, conclusions are limited to the specific individual but can provide insight
51
define: random sampling
a technique for selecting participants that ensures that every member of a population has an equal chance of being included in the sample, allows for greater generalization
52
define: reliability restriction
how reliable are the findings? does this restrict their power?
53
define: replication
an experiment that uses the same procedures as a previous experiment but with a new sample from the same population, expecting similar results, not necessary for valuable results
54
define: type I error
when researchers conclude that there is a causal relationship between two variables when there isn’t, false positive
55
define: type II error
when researchers conclude that there is not a causal relationship between two variables where there is one, false negative
56
how should one practice critical thinking?
doubt your conclusions, consider what you don't see, and approach everything with skepticism (fairly)
57
define: belmont report
principles for all research involving humans, 1) show respect for persons and the right to make decisions without coercion, 2) researchers should try to maximize benefits and reduce risks to participants, 3) should be just by distributing benefits and risks equally among participants
58
define: informed consent
a verbal agreement to participate in a study made by an adult who has been informed of all the risks that participation may entail
59
define: freedom from coercion
psychologists may not coerce participation in the study
60
define: protection from harm
psychologists must take every possible precaution to protect research participants from physical or psychological harm
61
define: risk benefit analysis
participants may not be asked to accept large risks such as severe pain or psychological trauma, risks are outweighed by social benefits
62
define: deception
psychologists may use deception only when its justified by the study’s scientific, educational, or applied value and there is no alternative
63
define: debriefing
a verbal description of the true nature and purpose of the study after the study if they were initially deceived
64
define: confidentiality
obligated to keep private and personal information obtained during the study confidential
65
what are the attributes of the honor system?
publishing in journal requires truthful reporting, required to share credit faithfully, obligated to share raw data
66
what are the requirement for psychological testing with animals
supervised by trained psychologist, minimizes discomfort, illness, and pain, pain can only be cause when their is no alternative and the value of the study justifies it, minimizing animals pain during and after surgeries

PSYCH 101 Exam 1 (4 decks)

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