Chapter 2: Methods in Psychology Flashcards

1
Q

Outline the process of the scientific method

A

Step 1: Observe an interesting behaviour
Step 2: Form initial theory
Step 3: Construct hypothesis from initial theory
Step 4: test the hypothesis by manipulating IV and measuring DV.
Step 5: if results don’t support hypothesis, revise theory and construct a new hypothesis.
Step 6: If results support hypothesis, try to replicate the results.
Step 7: If results can be replicated, theory is established
Step 8: If the results cant be replicated, theory is rejected
Step 9: Form new theory, construct hypothesis and repeat steps.

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2
Q

What are the challenges in studying human behaviour?

A
  • People are highly complex
  • People are highly variable
  • People are highly reactive
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3
Q

Name the properties of a good operational definition.

A
  • It is the description of a property in measurable terms.

- Has good construct validity: how well the property is characterized

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4
Q

What are some of the methods psychologists use to avoid demand characteristics?

A
  • Naturalistic observation: observing people in their natural environment
  • Privacy and control: gathering info privately/anonymously and measuring behaviours people can’t/wont control
  • Unawareness: people being observed are unaware of true purpose.
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5
Q

What is a frequency distribution?

A
  • A graphic representation showing how many times a value occurs.
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6
Q

How do psychologists avoid observer bias?

A
  • Double-blind study: neither researcher/participant knows how the participants are expected to behave
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7
Q

Describe the two main types of descriptive statistics?

A
  • Central tendency: measurements that tend to lie near the centre/midpoint of the frequency distribution
  • Variability: how much measurements differ
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8
Q

Explain what you can/cannot conclude from correlational research.

A

Can:
- Predict the value of one variable from the knowledge of the other value
Cannot:
- That they are related

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9
Q

What are the components of an experiment?

A
  • Manipulation
  • Control
  • Random assignment
  • Random selection
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10
Q

How do experiments solve the third-variable problem?

A
  • Done through manipulation and by eliminating/controlling other possible causes.
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11
Q

What are type I and type II errors?

A
  • Type I: conclude that there is a relationship between two variables when there is not (false positive)
  • Type II: conclude that there is no relationship between two variables when there is (false negative)
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12
Q

What are the three basic principles that ethical research must follow?

A
  • Researchers should show respect for persons, be beneficent and just.
  • Ethical data reporting is necessary and approval from institutional review boards should be gained
  • Psychologists must report truthfully, share credit and data
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