Chapter 2 Flashcards
Two core beliefs of science:
The universe operates according to certain natural laws. Such laws are discoverable and testable
The scientific method uses:
Inductive and deductive reasoning
Explain the scientific method
Deductive reasoning is using general principles to apply to a specific situation. Subject to thinkers biases.
Inductive reasoning uses specific examples to make general conclusions.
Inductive reasoning is based on….
empirical (objectively testable) observations that lead to development of theories
Ideas about laws that govern phenomena is a description of…?
Inductive Reasoning
Inductive Reasoning uses what the most?
hypothetico-deductive reasoning
Inductive Reasoning begin with an educated guess and design controlled observations to support or invalidate their
Hypotheses
Two goals of psychological research
To isolate factors that affect behaviour and to examine how those factors interact with each other. Also to deal with issues with values, morality and personal preference and tries to provide society with useful info for practical application.
The term that describes using the scientific method to study human behaviour and mental processes is….
Psychology
Define Pseudo-psychology
No use of the scientific method to study human behaviour and mental processes.
2 examples of pseudo psychology:
Parapsychology and astrology
Identify the 6 steps to the scientific method
1) Identify questions of interest 2) develop a testable hypothesis 3) Select a research method, choose participants 4) analyze the data and accept or reject hypothesis 5)seek scientific review, publish and replicate 6) Build a theory
Define a variable
a condition, event or situation that is of interest or may have an influence on your study.
What are the two names of the two types of variables?
An independent variable and a dependent variable
Explain the two types of variables
IV: the variable that you manipulate. A condition or event that is thought to be a factor in chaining another condition or event (ie. Sleep deprivation). DV: is the variable that you measure (or the variable that is changed by the IV (behaviour)
What is an extraneous variable (EV)
something that could somehow effect the relationship between the IV and DV such as drug intake, personality, gender, age
What is a Confounding Variable
not only can effect results but can lead to changes in one of the variable
In addition to identifying and defining the variable, a researcher must also….?
Operationalize them
What defines operationalize? Give any example
how we (the researcher) decide to measure our variables. For example how would you measure love? Increase heart rate, temperature, etc.
Define Participants
Those who participate in your study
Population
the entire group that is of interest to researchers (not all will participate in the study)
Sample
A portion or subset of any population that is selected for the study
Random Selection
Choosing participants in such a way that everybody in a population of interest has an equal chance of participating in the study
What is the benefit of random selection?
minimizes the chance of only having participants who confirm your hypothesis
Sampling Bias
Choosing a sample that does not represent your population
What are the two types of research?
Descriptive and Experimental
What is descriptive research? (3 pts)
research method used to observe and describe behaviour. It is used to determine the existence of a relationship between the variables. It does not specify causation between variables.
What is experimental research (2 pts)
To demonstrate a cause and effect relationship between the variables. It manipulates at least one variable to examine change in another
What are three types of descriptive research?
Case study, Naturalistic Observation and Surveys
What is a case study?
An intensive study of 1 or 2 people
What are the advantages of case studies? (2)
It is the only method you can use if the type of behaviour you are looking at is rare and it is very detailed