Chapter 5: Experimental Hypothesis

Question 1

This refers to the main idea or thesis of an experiment.

Answer 1

Hypothesis.

Question 2

A statement about the predicted relationship between at least two (2) variables.

Answer 2

Hypothesis.

Question 3

This refers to a statement of your predictions of how events, traits, or behaviors might be related.

This is not stated in a cause-and-effect manner.

Answer 3

Nonexperimental hypothesis.

Question 4

This refers to straightforward predictions of the relationships the researcher expects to find between variables.

Answer 4

Nonexperimental hypothesis.

Question 5

This refers to a tentative explanation of an event or behavior that narrows the possibilities that could affect the experiment.

Answer 5

Experimental hypothesis.

Question 6

The five (5) characteristics of an experimental hypothesis.

Answer 6

1. Synthetic.
2. Testable.
3. Falsifiable.
4. Parsimonious.
5. Fruitful.

Question 7

This refers to statements that are either true or false, and can be contradicted or supported with evidence.

Answer 7

Synthetic statements.

Question 8

This refers to statements that must have means for manipulating antecedent behavior and measuring the resulting behavior.

Answer 8

Testable statements.

Question 9

This refers to statements that can be proven false by research findings.

Answer 9

Falsifiable statements.

Question 10

This refers to simple hypotheses that have the simplest accurate explanation for cognitive processes and behaviors.

Answer 10

Parsimonious statements.

Question 11

This means to choose the simplest scientific explanation that fits the evidence.

Answer 11

Parsimony.

Question 12

This refers to statements that lead to new studies.

Answer 12

Fruitful statements.

Question 13

The process of reasoning from specific cases to more general principles.

Answer 13

Inductive model.

Question 14

The process of reasoning from general principles to make predictions about specific instances.

Answer 14

Deductive model.

Question 15

This refers to working from research that has been done.

Answer 15

Building on prior research.

Question 16

This refers to the knack of finding things that are not being sought.

For example, Ivan Pavlov’s original work was on the digestive glands of dogs, but then he became interested in dogs’ salivation, which then lead him to conduct his famous experiments with the bell, a dog’s salivation, and food (classical conditioning).

Answer 16

Serendipity.

Question 17

This refers to knowing without reasoning and is most accurate when it comes from experts.

Answer 17

Intuition.