Chapter 2: Methods In Psychology

Question 1

General principles that characterize the scientific method

Answer 1

2 questions

1) what do people do?
2) why do they do it?

Question 2

The “what” aspect

Answer 2

Observe, measure, describe

Question 3

The “why” aspect

Answer 3

Look for relationships

Question 4

Empiricism

Answer 4

Accurate knowledge can be acquired through observation

Question 5

Dogamatism

Answer 5

Believing in faith

Question 6

Theory

Answer 6

Hypothetical explanation

Question 7

Parsimony (IMPORTANT)

Answer 7

The simplest explanation that still explain evidence is the best

Question 8

Falsifiable predictions

Answer 8

Prove things wrong, can not prove them right

Question 9

Observations =

Answer 9

Illusions

Question 10

Empirical method

Answer 10

Set of rules, procedures to gather data, and test hypothesis

Question 11

Psychology is challenging because:

Answer 11

1) the complexity
2) the variability
3) the reactivity

Question 12

The two methods

Answer 12

1) Observation

2) Explanation

Question 13

Observation

Answer 13

Not just causal observation
You need measurement

What is good? If a mom tells a baby to be good, what is good? *if the kid operates within those parameters, then the kid is good

Question 14

Operational definition

Answer 14

A description of a property in concrete, measurable terms

Question 15

Validity of a good student

Answer 15

Must be reliable, come prepared, and have blue hair (not valid)

Question 16

Demand characteristics

Answer 16

People behave as they think someone else wants or expects

Question 17

Naturalistic observation

Answer 17

Observing one in their natural habitat

Spying

Question 18

Controlling demand characteritics

Answer 18

Anonymous responses
Measure involuntary behaviour
Cover story (lying)

Question 19

Double blind experiment

Answer 19

An observations who true purpose is hidden from the observer and the person being observed

Question 20

Description of data

Answer 20

It tells a story

Question 21

Descriptive statistics

Answer 21

What your data looks like

Measures of central tendency

Question 22

Mean

Answer 22

Average

Question 23

Mode

Answer 23

The most

Most common answer

Question 24

Median

Answer 24

The middle number

Question 25

Standard deviation

Answer 25

The flattest line

A measure on how extreme a score is, compared to the mean

Question 26

Data analysis is looking for patterns

Answer 26

1) measure the variables

2) asked many people

Question 27

Correlations allow us to predict. Although….

Answer 27

Prediction is not cause

Predict direction and strength of correlation

Question 28

Positive correlation

Answer 28

Means x and y move in same direction

Question 29

Negative correlation

Answer 29

Going in opposite directions

Question 30

Strength

Answer 30

How much or how often does the movement in A relate to movement in B

Question 31

Perfect correlations in psychology are very ____

Answer 31

Rare!

Correlation does not mean causation

Question 32

A small correlation

Answer 32

.10

Question 33

Medium correlation

Answer 33

.30

Question 34

Large correlation

Answer 34

.50

Question 35

Third variable problem

Answer 35

Solve through experiments

Manipulation (change one of the variables)

Independent variables “X”

Dependent variable “Y”

What changed as a result of manipulating “X”

Question 36

Experiment

Answer 36

Manipulate dependent variable
Measure dependant variable
See if there is a change

Example: if I go to charge my phone one night and it does not work, I will go and try a different outlet (changing the dependent variable) if that doesn’t not work, I will change the core (independent variable). I will never change the cord and try a new outlit

Question 37

Random assignment

Answer 37

Random assignment refers to the use of chance procedures in psychology experiments to ensure that each participant has the same opportunity to be assigned to any given group.

Question 38

Statistical testing

Answer 38

P<0.05
Les than 5% chance that the data would look how it does if random assignment failed

Have confidence in findings

Question 39

Descriptive statistics

Answer 39

(measure of central tendency)

Mean, mode, median

Question 40

Inferential statistics

Answer 40

Example: P values

Let you infer causation (let you make conclusions)

Question 41

You can prove everything wrong but nothing right— example

Answer 41

Crows are always black.

As soon as you see a grey crow, you’re automatically wrong

Question 42

3rd variable example

Answer 42

Shoe size relates to the grade you are in.

Why are they correlated?
3rd variable. Growing up related to shoe size

Shoe size relates to the grade you’re in, as well as the size of your foot

Question 43

External validity

Answer 43

Can I replicate this outside the lab?

Question 44

Representative sample

Answer 44

Doctor asks for urine sample, you pee a little in a cup, you don’t give him all your pee

Question 45

Replication

Answer 45

Incredibly important!

Get the same result every time to prove experiment works

Question 46

Scientific method

Answer 46

A procedure for finding truth by using empirical evidence

Question 47

Validity

Answer 47

The goodness with which a concrete event defines a property

Question 48

Power

Answer 48

An instruments ability to detect small magnitudes of property