Chapter 2: Methods In Psychology Flashcards
The scientific attitude
Composed of:
- curiosity (open-mindedness)
- skepticism (critical thinking)
- humility (ability to accept the truth, even if you don’t want to believe it)
Critical thinking
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
The amazing Randi
Applies critical thinking to test mystic and supernatural claims
The scientific method
a procedure psychologists use for finding the truth by the use of empirical (observational) evidence
Theory
Proposed explanation of natural phenomena, supported by empirical evidence obtained by use of scientific method
Hypothesis
A testable prediction, often prompted by a theory but can also be based on prior observations
Empirical approach
The key characteristic of science is the use of observation and measurement
Conceptual definition
- Explain what a concept means?
Operational definition
describes behavior so that it is observable and measurable
Construct validity
The degree to which a test measures what it claims to be measuring
Reliability
Likelihood for a measurement to achieve the same result when applied to the same object twice
Power
A measure’s ability to recognize small differences in what it is measuring
Demand characteristics
Traits of an observing environment that lead people to act in ways they believe others want or expect them to act
Single-blind procedure
Participants are unaware of the hypothesis and purpose of the study
Observe bias
Expectations can influence observations and influence decisions receptions of reality
Double-blind procedure
Both the participants and the observer are unaware of the expected outcome
Placebo effect
When an improvement of symptoms is observed, despite using a non active treatment
Population
Complete selection of the people that you width to study
Sample
A collection of people drawn from a population, provides an estimate of what you would find if u studied everyone
Random sampling
Provides results that are representative of the population you are studying
Descriptive statistics
statistics that involves summarizing, organizing, and presenting data meaningfully and concisely
Variable
A trait with changeable value
Frequency distribution
The number of times the set of data values are being examined.
Normal distribution
Symmetrical bell-shaped curve on a graph that describes the distribution of many types of data
Mode
The most frequently occurring score in a distribution
Mean
The arithmetic average of scores in a distribution
Media
The middle score in a rank-ordered (small to large) distribution
Skewed distributions
When a frequency distribution is normal, the MMM are all the same but when it’s +/- skewed these three measures are different
Range
The difference between the highest and lowest scores in a distribution
Standard deviation
A quantity expressing by how much the members of a group differ from the mean value of a group
Naturalistic observation
Passively (observing) and unobtrusively (recording) observing the behaviours of your subjects in natural environment
Case study
An individual or others is studied in depth. Provides great deal of information about the subjects
Survey
A technique for ascertaining the self- reported attitudes, opinions or behaviours of people
Correlation
Two variables (traits, behaviours, etc.) are said to be correlated when changes are synchronized with changes in the value of the other
Positive correlation
Both variables increase/decrease together
Negative correlation
As one variable increases, the other decreases
Scatterplot
A graph comprised of points that are generated by by values of two variables
Correlation coefficient
A number that represents the strength and direction of a correlation -1, 0,+1
Third- variable correlation
Facts that two variables are correlated only because each is causally related to a third variable
Experiment
Manipulate variables that interest us, while making their factors are kept under control
Independent variable
A variable that is manipulated
Random assignment
In order to control for differences between groups, participants are randomly assigned to a group
Dependent variable
Factor that may change in response to an independent variable. What is being measured
External validity
examines whether the study findings can be generalized to other contexts.
Internal validity
examines whether the study design, conduct, and analysis answer the research questions without bias.
Replication
An experiment that uses the same procedures as a previous experiment but with a new sample from the same population
Type 1 error
When researches conclude that there is a casual relationship between 2 variables when in fact there is not
Type 2 error
When researches conclude that there is not a casual relationship between 2 variables but there is
Debriefing
A verbal explanation of the actual nature and goal of a research
