Chapter 2 - Studying Behaviour Scientifically Flashcards
What are the three scientific attitudes and what do they mean?
Curiosity, which is an interest to pursue higher knowledge or the unknown. Skepticism, which is the ability to question an idea and request a proven basis. Open-mindedness, which is the ability to accept fact that may counter or refute one’s previous beliefs.
What is hypothesis and what is theory, how do they differentiate?
A hypothesis is made before any research has been done. A theory is supported by evidence. Theory can be said to be an “educated hypothesis”.
What is hindsight bias?
A cognitive bias that causes people to convince themselves that a past event was unpredictable or inevitable. This tends to make people believe they had known the outcome before it had happened.
What is a variable?
A variable is an inconsistent or adaptive component/variable. It is often changed or altered in research.
What is an operational definition?
A description for behaviour so it can be be measured or observed.
What is a self-report?
Self-reports can known to be inaccurate descriptions of one’s own status. Whether that be something factual and tangible such as net worth or something as emotional as one’s emotional wellbeing, they are often inaccurate due to the factor of social desirability bias.
What is social desirability bias?
Social desirability bias is the theory that people tend to portray themselves as more socially desirable than they tend to truly be. E.g. If a man were asked his salary by someone of interest, he may respond with a higher number than he is truly making.
What are behavioural measures, any examples?
How an individual’s behaviour is being recorded. Examples can be questionnaires or interviews.
What is so important about reliability and validity?
Reliability is the basis for how accurate a behavioural (or any measure) may be. It should be able to produce consistent results that match the changed variable. Validity is the basis for how relevant this measure is. It should be able to produce consistent results that are relevant to the variable/the studied product itself.
What is a case study, can you give an example of one?
A case study is a systematic study of an individual or a group’s behaviour, or an event. It commonly involves a changed variable, or a large sample size. They can vary in intensity. (I will give different examples as there is no solid right answer. Judge my answer.)
What is naturalistic observation?
A method of research that observes a subject in a natural operating environment. This method can produce results of a subject behaving in a day-to-day manner without intervention.
What are surveys, population, and sample? How are they used among each other?
Surveys are a form of self-reporting data collection. Researchers often draw samples, a representative group of people from a general population, who of which we desire to draw conclusions from.
What is representative sampling and how can it be applied?
Representative sampling is ideal as it condenses a large group into a span of a smaller more observable or controlled group while preserving certain traits, however researchers prefer to use random sampling (or stratified random sampling) as it preserves natural patterns and populations. Such as if research shows that 25% of teachers are male, a group of teachers that a test is conducted on will be made up 25% of males.
What is the mean concerning a data set?
The “mean” usually refers to the average in a data set.
What is the median concerning a data set?
The median is the middle value in a set of values. If all values were arranged in an ascending or descending order, the middle value would be the same for either arrangement.
What is the mode concerning a data set?
The mode would be the most often occurring result in a data set. If a value of 5 showed up more often of a value of 7, 5 would be considered the mode.
