Chapter 2

Question 1

Empiricism

Answer 1

Involves using evidence form senses at the basis for conclusions.

Question 2

5 steps for the scientific method

Answer 2

1) identify a question
2) form hypothesis
3) test hypothesis
4) analyze data
5) build a body of knowledge

Question 3

Hypothesis

Answer 3

A tentative explanation or prediction about some phenomenon. Gives support to a theory.

Question 4

Theory

Answer 4

A set of formal statements that explain how and why certain events or phenomena are related to one another

Question 5

What makes a good theory

Answer 5

• organizes info in a meaningful way
• its testable
• supported by research
• conforms to law of parsimony

Question 6

Law of parsimony / Occams Razor

Answer 6

All things being equal, the simplest explanation is the best explanation.

Question 7

Operational definition

Answer 7

• defines a variable in terms of specific procedures used to produce or measure it
• a description of a property in concrete, measurable terms

Question 8

Self-report measures

Answer 8

Partipants report on thier own knowledge, feelings, experiences.

Question 9

Special desirability bias

Answer 9

Desire to make a good impression, effects data form being accurate.

Question 10

Measures of overt behaviour

Answer 10

Observers record observable behaviour.

Question 11

Issues with measures of overt behaviour

Answer 11

participants can change their behaviour when being observed.

Question 12

Demand characteristics

Answer 12

Aspects of an observational setting that make people behave as they think they should

Question 13

Solution to demand characteristics

Answer 13

Observing people without them knowing (unethical)

Question 14

Archival measures

Answer 14

Makes use of pre-existing records or documents

Question 15

Psychological tests

Answer 15

Specialized tests designed to measure certain variables

Question 16

Descriptive research

Answer 16

Seeks to explain how we behave, esp. in natural environments

• All variables measured
• Tend to examine natural contexts
• Extraneous factors not controlled
• Some examples include case studies, naturalistic, observation, and surveys

Question 17

What are the 3 conditions for random sampling not to be needed

Answer 17

1. Similarity of a sample and a population doesn’t matter
2. Multiple experiments conducted on different samples
   have similar results
3. Similarity of sample and population is sometimes
   reasonable

Question 18

Correlational research

Answer 18

Looking for a correlation between variables

Question 19

Bidirectionality problem

Answer 19

If X and Y are correlated, which one causes which?

Question 20

Third variable problem

Answer 20

A third variable could be the cause of either X or Y.

Question 21

Independent variable

Answer 21

Manipulated variable

Question 22

Dependant variable

Answer 22

Measured variable

Question 23

Can random assignment prevent third variable problems ?

Answer 23

YES, cause any differences within the ppl wouldn’t matter as they were randomly assigned

Question 24

Between groups design

Answer 24

2 groups with 2 experiences, 1 group per experience

Question 25

Repeated measures design

Answer 25

Each participant is exposed to each experience

Question 26

Inferential statistics:

Answer 26

tests the significance of differences between groups to see if the effect we
are observing is meaningful

Question 27

Significance:

Answer 27

the likelihood that a relationship between two or more variables is caused by something other than chance

Question 28

Internal validity

Answer 28

The degree to which the experiment supports a causal conclusion

Question 29

External validity

Answer 29

The degree to which the results of the study can be generalized to other pops, settings and conditions

Question 30

Replication

Answer 30

Respected study with similar results

Question 31

Meta-analysis

Answer 31

Combining the results of many studies of the same topic to guest overall significance of the findings