Chapter 2: Methods In Psychology

Question 1

The scientific attitude

Answer 1

Composed of:
- curiosity (open-mindedness)
- skepticism (critical thinking)
- humility (ability to accept the truth, even if you don’t want to believe it)

Question 2

Critical thinking

Answer 2

Must be applied to examine the argument under evaluation:
- decisions are based on evidence and logic
- requires examining whether evidence is reliable and has been interpreted in a unbiased way

Question 3

The amazing Randi

Answer 3

Applies critical thinking to test mystic and supernatural claims

Question 4

The scientific method

Answer 4

a procedure psychologists use for finding the truth by the use of empirical (observational) evidence

Question 5

Theory

Answer 5

Proposed explanation of natural phenomena, supported by empirical evidence obtained by use of scientific method

Question 6

Hypothesis

Answer 6

A testable prediction, often prompted by a theory but can also be based on prior observations

Question 7

Empirical approach

Answer 7

The key characteristic of science is the use of observation and measurement

Question 8

Conceptual definition

Answer 8

• Explain what a concept means?

Question 9

Operational definition

Answer 9

describes behavior so that it is observable and measurable

Question 10

Construct validity

Answer 10

The degree to which a test measures what it claims to be measuring

Question 11

Reliability

Answer 11

Likelihood for a measurement to achieve the same result when applied to the same object twice

Question 12

Power

Answer 12

A measure’s ability to recognize small differences in what it is measuring

Question 13

Demand characteristics

Answer 13

Traits of an observing environment that lead people to act in ways they believe others want or expect them to act

Question 14

Single-blind procedure

Answer 14

Participants are unaware of the hypothesis and purpose of the study

Question 15

Observe bias

Answer 15

Expectations can influence observations and influence decisions receptions of reality

Question 16

Double-blind procedure

Answer 16

Both the participants and the observer are unaware of the expected outcome

Question 17

Placebo effect

Answer 17

When an improvement of symptoms is observed, despite using a non active treatment

Question 18

Population

Answer 18

Complete selection of the people that you width to study

Question 19

Sample

Answer 19

A collection of people drawn from a population, provides an estimate of what you would find if u studied everyone

Question 20

Random sampling

Answer 20

Provides results that are representative of the population you are studying

Question 21

Descriptive statistics

Answer 21

statistics that involves summarizing, organizing, and presenting data meaningfully and concisely

Question 22

Variable

Answer 22

A trait with changeable value

Question 23

Frequency distribution

Answer 23

The number of times the set of data values are being examined.

Question 24

Normal distribution

Answer 24

Symmetrical bell-shaped curve on a graph that describes the distribution of many types of data

Question 25

Mode

Answer 25

The most frequently occurring score in a distribution

Question 26

Mean

Answer 26

The arithmetic average of scores in a distribution

Question 27

Media

Answer 27

The middle score in a rank-ordered (small to large) distribution

Question 28

Skewed distributions

Answer 28

When a frequency distribution is normal, the MMM are all the same but when it’s +/- skewed these three measures are different

Question 29

Range

Answer 29

The difference between the highest and lowest scores in a distribution

Question 30

Standard deviation

Answer 30

A quantity expressing by how much the members of a group differ from the mean value of a group

Question 31

Naturalistic observation

Answer 31

Passively (observing) and unobtrusively (recording) observing the behaviours of your subjects in natural environment

Question 32

Case study

Answer 32

An individual or others is studied in depth. Provides great deal of information about the subjects

Question 33

Survey

Answer 33

A technique for ascertaining the self- reported attitudes, opinions or behaviours of people

Question 34

Correlation

Answer 34

Two variables (traits, behaviours, etc.) are said to be correlated when changes are synchronized with changes in the value of the other

Question 35

Positive correlation

Answer 35

Both variables increase/decrease together

Question 36

Negative correlation

Answer 36

As one variable increases, the other decreases

Question 37

Scatterplot

Answer 37

A graph comprised of points that are generated by by values of two variables

Question 38

Correlation coefficient

Answer 38

A number that represents the strength and direction of a correlation -1, 0,+1

Question 39

Third- variable correlation

Answer 39

Facts that two variables are correlated only because each is causally related to a third variable

Question 40

Experiment

Answer 40

Manipulate variables that interest us, while making their factors are kept under control

Question 41

Independent variable

Answer 41

A variable that is manipulated

Question 42

Random assignment

Answer 42

In order to control for differences between groups, participants are randomly assigned to a group

Question 43

Dependent variable

Answer 43

Factor that may change in response to an independent variable. What is being measured

Question 44

External validity

Answer 44

examines whether the study findings can be generalized to other contexts.

Question 45

Internal validity

Answer 45

examines whether the study design, conduct, and analysis answer the research questions without bias.

Question 46

Replication

Answer 46

An experiment that uses the same procedures as a previous experiment but with a new sample from the same population

Question 47

Type 1 error

Answer 47

When researches conclude that there is a casual relationship between 2 variables when in fact there is not

Question 48

Type 2 error

Answer 48

When researches conclude that there is not a casual relationship between 2 variables but there is

Question 49

Debriefing

Answer 49

A verbal explanation of the actual nature and goal of a research