Chapter 2

Question 1

Define empiricism

Answer 1

the belief that accurate knowledge can be acquired through observation

Question 2

Define scientific method

Answer 2

a procedure for finding facts by using empirical evidence

Question 3

Define theory

Answer 3

hypothetical explanation of a natural phenomenon

Question 4

What is the rule of parsimony?

Answer 4

the simplest theory that explains all the evidence is the best one

Question 5

Define hypothesis

Answer 5

falsifiable prediction made by a theory

Question 6

What is an empirical method?

Answer 6

a set of rules and techniques for observation

Question 7

What 3 qualities of ppl make them unusually difficult to study?

Answer 7

1) complexity- soo many neurons
2) variability- every person is unique
3) reactivity- ppl behave differently if they know they are being observed

Question 8

What are 2 problems with observation?

Answer 8

unstable & can’t tell us everything about what we want to know

Question 9

What must we do to make measurements?

Answer 9

DEFINE what we want to measure and find a way to DETECT it i.e. measuring happiness by seeing frequency of smiles

Question 10

What is an operational definition?

Answer 10

A description of a property in concrete, measureable terms

Question 11

Define instrument

Answer 11

anything that can detect the condition to which an operational definition refers

Question 12

Define validity

Answer 12

the extent to which a concrete event defines a property; most important feature of an operational definition; i.e. # of smiles (concrete event) is valid way to define happiness (property)

Question 13

A good instrument has ______ and _____

Answer 13

reliability; power

Question 14

Define reliability

Answer 14

the tendency for an instrument to produce the same measurement whenever it is used to measure the same thing

Question 15

Define power

Answer 15

an instrument’s ability to detect small magnitudes of the property i.e. if person smiles diff. # of time son tues and wed, instrument should show diff results

Question 16

Define demand characteristics

Answer 16

those aspects of an observational setting that cause people to behave as they think someone else wants or expects

Question 17

What is naturalistic observation?

Answer 17

a technique for gathering scientific information by unobtrusively observing people in their natural environments

Question 18

How can scientists reduce demand characteristics?

Answer 18

measure traits ppl can’t control, intersperse real questions w/fakes, unawareness, privacy and control

Question 19

T/F expectations can’t influence observations

Answer 19

FALSE; they can and do

Question 20

T/F expectations can influence reality

Answer 20

TRUE

Question 21

Descriptive statistics are used to describe two important features of a frequency distribution: ___ and ____

Answer 21

central tendency (where do most of the scores lie?) and variability (how much do the scores differ from each other?)

Question 22

What is internal validity?

Answer 22

an attribute of an experiment that allows it to establish causal relationships

Question 23

What is external validity?

Answer 23

an attribute of an experiment in which variables have been defined in a normal, typical, or realistic way

Question 24

What is the case method?

Answer 24

a procedure for gathering scientific information by studying a single individual

Question 25

According to Sir Francis Bacon, what are the two enemies of critical thinking?

Answer 25

1) the tendency to see what we expect or want to see

2) the tendency to ignore what we can’t see

Question 26

What 3 things must psychologists do when they report the results of their research?

Answer 26

1) report truthfully on what they did and what they found
2) share credit fairly
3) share data