Chapter 2 Flashcards
What is the core belief of rationalism?
reason and logical argument, not experience, are the most important for acquiring knowledge.
Which philosopher is closely associated with rationalism?
René Descartes.
What does a scientific theory provide?
Rational explanations to describe and predict future behaviors.
What are the 6 steps of the scientific method?
- Identify the problem, 2. Gather information, 3. Generate a hypothesis, 4. Design and conduct an experiment, 5. Analyze data and formulate conclusions, 6. Restart the process.
What is the first step of the scientific method?
Identify the problem.
What is a field experiment?
An experiment that takes place in real-world settings where researchers manipulate and control conditions of observed behavior.
What is naturalistic observation?
Observing behavior as it happens naturally, without interference or manipulation.
What is the Hawthorne Effect?
The phenomenon where behavior changes because individuals realize they are being observed.
What is a major disadvantage of naturalistic observation?
Researchers have no control over the environment or influencing factors.
What role does the hippocampus play in memory?
It helps transfer certain types of memories into long-term memory stores.
What is the entorhinal cortex?
It is part of the temporal lobes and plays a role in behavior and memory.
What are procedural memories?
Memories related to how something is done, such as motor skills like walking or riding a bicycle.
What does ‘beneficence’ mean in research ethics?
Striving to do good and avoid intentional harm.
What are the APA ethical guidelines for human research?
- No coercion, 2. Informed consent, 3. Anonymity/confidentiality, 4. Minimize risk, 5. Debrief participants.
What is the role of the Institutional Review Board (IRB)?
It ensures that research is conducted ethically and follows principles such as justice and integrity.
What does a correlation coefficient indicate?
The strength and direction of a relationship between two variables.
What is a positive correlation?
A situation where both variables increase or decrease together.
What is a negative correlation?
A situation where one variable increases as the other decreases.
What is a key limitation of correlation studies?
Correlation does not imply causation.
What are the three measures of central tendency?
Mean (average score), median (middle score), and mode (most recurring score).
What is standard deviation?
The measure of variability in a data set.
What is response bias?
Responding in ways that are inaccurate, such as giving expected answers.
What is acquiescent response bias?
Also known as yea-saying, where participants agree with most survey questions regardless of their opinion.
What is socially desirable bias?
When participants respond in a way they believe is socially acceptable rather than truthful.
What are the ‘3 Rs’ in animal research?
- Replacement (use non-animal methods), 2. Reduction (use fewer animals), 3. Refinement (reduce suffering).
What does justification mean in animal research?
The study must have a clear scientific purpose.
What is the purpose of experimental research?
To explain cause-and-effect relationships.
What is an independent variable?
The variable that is manipulated in an experiment.
What is a dependent variable?
The variable that is being measured in an experiment.
What makes a hypothesis valid?
It must be consistent with prior observations, simple, specific, testable, and falsifiable.
What is descriptive statistics?
The collection of methods to describe data simply, often using quantitative values.
What are examples of descriptive statistics?
Mean, median, mode, and frequency.
