Chapter One Flashcards
Alternative explanations
Elimination of alternative explanations is when nothing other than a causal variable could be responsible for the observed effect
Applied research
Address issues which are practical problems and potential solutions
Authority
A non scientific way of believing in things.
Covariation of cause and effect
When the cause is present, the effect occurs, then the cause is not present, the effect does not occur
Empiricism
Fundamental characteristic of the scientific method
Knowledge is based on observations
Falsifiability
Good scientific data is testable and can be falsified
Goals of behavioral science
Describe behavior
Predict behavior
Determine cause of behavior
Understand and explain behavior
Peer review
When other scientist carefully review and evaluate a study
Program evaluation
assessed social reforms and innovations that occur in government, education, and the criminal justice system
What makes something pseudoscience
Untestable claims
Claims rely on imprecise, biased or vague language
Evidence is based on anecdotes and testimonials rather than scoentific data
Evidence is from experts with only vague qualifications who provide support for the claim without scientific evidence
Only confirmatory evidence is present -conflicting evidence is ignored
References to scientific evidence lack info on methods that would allow independent verification
Skepticism
Ideas must be evaluat d on basis of careful logic and results from scientific investigation
Temporal precedence
The cause comes before the effect
