chapter 2 lecture 1

Question 1

Scientific method tries to

Answer 1

minimize influence of bias

Question 2

all science exists to overcome

Answer 2

known weaknesses in our psychology

Question 3

Variable:

Answer 3

any object, concept, or event that is the focus of a scientific investigation

Question 4

any object, concept, or event that is the focus of a scientific investigation

Answer 4

Variable:

Question 5

Objectivity

Answer 5

( objective measurement): is achieved when measurement of a variable is consistent despite who is doing the measurement or what tools they are using to measure it with

Question 6

( objective measurement): is achieved when measurement of a variable is consistent despite who is doing the measurement or what tools they are using to measure it with

Answer 6

Objectivity

Question 7

Operational definition

Answer 7

the procedures to measure a variable

Question 8

the procedures to measure a variable

Answer 8

Operational definition

Question 9

Validity

Answer 9

the degree to which a measurement procedure actually measures the variable it was developed to measure

Question 10

the degree to which a measurement procedure actually measures the variable it was developed to measure

Answer 10

Validity

Question 11

Reliability:

Answer 11

the degree that a measure produces the same measurement for a variable across measurement events

Question 12

the degree that a measure produces the same measurement for a variable across measurement events

Answer 12

Reliability:

Question 13

Test-retest reliability

Answer 13

the extent of a similarity in scores generated by the same measure across two testing sessions

Question 14

the extent of a similarity in scores generated by the same measure across two testing sessions

Answer 14

Test-retest reliability

Question 15

Alternate forms reliability

Answer 15

: the extent of which different forms of the same test generate similar scores for the same person across two testing sessions

Question 16

: the extent of which different forms of the same test generate similar scores for the same person across two testing sessions

Answer 16

Alternate forms reliability

Question 17

Inter-rater reliability

Answer 17

the degree of similarity in observations recoreded by two observers ( or raters)

Question 18

the degree of similarity in observations recoreded by two observers ( or raters)

Answer 18

Inter-rater reliability

Question 19

Generalizability

Answer 19

the degree that the findings of a research study apply to people and situations other than those that are specific to the study
Random samples are ideal when possible because they justify generalizeability when using them to make statements about the population

Question 20

the degree that the findings of a research study apply to people and situations other than those that are specific to the study
Random samples are ideal when possible because they justify generalizeability when using them to make statements about the population

Answer 20

Generalizability

Question 21

Convenience samples

Answer 21

require more caution when generalizing results, but are often the only practical research option for psychologists

Question 22

require more caution when generalizing results, but are often the only practical research option for psychologists

Answer 22

Convenience samples

Question 23

Ecological validity

Answer 23

the extent that results obtained in a research study will apply in the world outside of the laboratory

Question 24

the extent that results obtained in a research study will apply in the world outside of the laboratory

Answer 24

Ecological validity

Question 25

Experimenter bias

Answer 25

– a researchers beliefs and expectations can distort their research findings even without their awareness

Question 26

– a researchers beliefs and expectations can distort their research findings even without their awareness

Answer 26

Experimenter bias

Question 27

Hawthorne effect

Answer 27

refers to the distorting influence the mere presence of researchers can have on participants in psychological research studies

Question 28

refers to the distorting influence the mere presence of researchers can have on participants in psychological research studies

Answer 28

Hawthorne effect

Question 29

Placebo effects

Answer 29

occur when a person’s expectation that some treatment will improve their health actually causes health improvements, even when the treatment is known to be completely ineffective

Question 30

occur when a person’s expectation that some treatment will improve their health actually causes health improvements, even when the treatment is known to be completely ineffective

Answer 30

Placebo effects

Question 31

How to reduce the effect of demand characteristics

Answer 31

first – maintain participants anonymity (or at least ensure their responses are confidential)
Second: keep the true purpose of the study a secret until after collecting responses from a participant (single-blind study)

Question 32

Anonymity-

Answer 32

there is no connection between participants responses and their identity

Question 33

there is no connection between participants responses and their identity

Answer 33

Anonymity-

Question 34

Confidentiality –

Answer 34

only the researcher can link participants to their identity and they promise to keep the information a secret

Question 35

only the researcher can link participants to their identity and they promise to keep the information a secret

Answer 35

Confidentiality –

Question 36

How to reduce the effect of bias

Answer 36

keep important aspects of the study (such as which condition each participant is in) a secret from the experimenter until the study is over – this set up is called a double blind study

Question 37

Peer review

Answer 37

to be considered legitimate, research findings must be published in respectable scholarly journals – research articles only succeed in getting published by respectable journals after receiving a thorough review and criticisms from other experts

Question 38

to be considered legitimate, research findings must be published in respectable scholarly journals – research articles only succeed in getting published by respectable journals after receiving a thorough review and criticisms from other experts

Answer 38

Peer review

Question 39

Replication

Answer 39

repeating a study and obtaining essentially the same result

Question 40

repeating a study and obtaining essentially the same result

Answer 40

Replication

Question 41

Feratueres of poor research studies

Answer 41

1) The research hypothesis is not falsifiable – explanations that make reference to luck are unfalsifiable
2) The research relies on anecdotal evidence
3) The research suffers from data selection bias
4) The research relies on appeals to authority
5) The research relies on appeals to common sense