Chapter 2

Question 1

Empiricism

Answer 1

the belief that accurate knowledge can be acquired through observation

Question 2

Scientific method

Answer 2

a procedure for finding truth by using empirical evidence

Question 3

Theory

Answer 3

a hypothetical explanation of a natural phenomenon

• an explanation of how something in the natural works

Question 4

Hypothesis

Answer 4

a falsifiable prediction made by a theory

Question 5

Empirical method

Answer 5

a set of rules and techniques for observation

Question 6

3 Qualities that make empirical studies difficult

Answer 6

1) Complexity - brain is complex as hell
2) Variability - no 2 individuals are alike
3) Reactivity - when ppl know they are being studied they don’t always act the same

Question 7

operational definition

Answer 7

a description of a property in concrete, measurable terms

Question 8

Instrument

Answer 8

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

Question 9

types of research

Answer 9

1) descriptive - accurate & systematic measurement, increases awareness of multiple variables
2) Correlational - association between variables, predict relations between variables
3) Experimental - establish cause and effect relations

Question 10

3 Descriptive Approaches

Answer 10

1) Naturalistic observation - observe others in their natural habitat
2) Case study - study just one person
3) Surveys - questionnaires and interviews

Question 11

2 kinds of descriptive statistics

Answer 11

1) central tendency - mode, mean, median

2) Variability - range

Question 12

Keys to scientific measurement

Answer 12

validity - the goodness with which a concrete event defines a property

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

power - an instrument’s ability to detect small magnitudes of the property

Question 13

demand characteristics

Answer 13

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

Question 14

naturalistic observation

Answer 14

a technique for gathering scientific info by unobtrusively observing people in their natural environment

Question 15

correlation

Answer 15

2 variables are said to be correlated when variations in the value of one variable are synchronized w/ variations in the value of the other

Question 16

Positive correlation

Answer 16

one variable increases by a fixed amount and the second increases by a fixed amount

r=1

Question 17

Negative correlation

Answer 17

one variable increases by a fixed amount and the value of the second variable decreases by a fixed amount

r= -1

Question 18

Uncorrelated

Answer 18

one variable increases by a fixed amount and the value of the second variable neither increases or decreases systematically

r=0

Question 19

third-variable correlation

Answer 19

2 variables are correlated only because each is casually related to a 3rd variable

Question 20

Experiment

Answer 20

technique for establishing the casual relationship between variables

Question 21

Manipulation

Answer 21

changing a variable in order to determine its casual power

Question 22

Independent variable

Answer 22

the variable that is manipulated in an experiment

Question 23

Dependent variable

Answer 23

the variable that is measured in a study

we look to see whether our manipulation of the independent variable produced changes in the dependent variable

Question 24

2 groups of participants

Answer 24

1) experimental - group of people exposed to a particular manipulation
2) control - group of people not exposed to a particular manipulation

Question 25

Random assignment

Answer 25

a procedure that lets chance assign people to the experimental or control group at random

both groups will average to be the same

Question 26

disadvantages of experiements

Answer 26

can create baises, and vary results because of ur observations

Question 27

steps in the scientific process

Answer 27

1. notice something of interest
2. develop hypothesis
3. test hypothesis - design study & collect data
4. Analyze data & interpret findings
5. Test again?

Question 28

Respecting people

Answer 28

1. research should show respect for persons and their right to make decisions for and about themselves w/o undue influence
2. should be beneficent in attempts to maximize benefits and reduce risks to the participant
3. should be just - should distribute benefits and risks equally to participants without prejudice toward particular individuals or groups

Question 29

Rules that govern the conduct of psychological research

Answer 29

1. Informed consent - a written agreement w/ all of the risks
2. freedom of coercion - can’t give $ to persuade the participants
3. protection from harm - have to choose the safer method
4. risk-benefit analysis - cannot be asked to take large risks and if u are asking for small risk, the benefits need to outweigh the risk
5. deception - may only use deception when it’s justified
6. debriefing - need to be debriefed of the study
7. Confidentiality - obligated to keep personal matters private

Question 30

respecting animals

Answer 30

• must be supervised by psychologist who are trained w animals to ensure safety, comfort, health and humane treatment
• must make reasonable efforts to minimize the discomfort, illness, infections and pain of animal
• can use a procedure that subjects an animal to pain, stress or privation only when an alternative procedure isnt avaliable & when the procedure is justified by the scientific educational or applied value of the study
• must perform all surgical procedures under appropriate anesthesia and must minimize an animal’s pain during and after surgery

Question 31

respecting truth

Answer 31

• cant fabricate results
• cant mislead by omission
• obligated to share credit w all contributors
• obligated to share data