DEFINITIONS Flashcards
Methodology
The type of scientific methods used to investigate behaviour & cognitive processes, e.g., experiments, observations, surveys, correlations
GENERALISABILITY
Can the research findings be generalised from the sample to the target population, was the sample representative enough to be generalised
OPERATIONALISATION
Defining the variables to be measured precisely so that they can be tested/measured
OBJECTIVITY
Research that is unbiased, value free, impartial, usually from quantitative data, not open to different interpretations
SUBJECTIVITY
Research that is open to interpretation, can be interpreted in more than one way, usually associated with qualitative data.
RELIABILITY
Is the research generating consistent findings/results?
VALIDITY
Does the research accurately measure the behaviour/cognitive processes/ attitudes etc. it is investigating?
CREDIBLE
Is the research trustworthy/believable; has the research been conducted & interpreted in a manner that meets the criteria of science, is it well-planned, controlled, accurate, generalisable etc.?
CONTROL
E.g factors that might influence results, biases, subjectivity, culture, previous experiences.
EMPIRICISM
The idea that scientific research should be based on what is directly observable & therefore testable, all knowledge should be based on measurable experience, you cannot measure what you cannot see/observe/experience.
REDUCTIONISM
To focus on one small area in isolation rather than looking at the whole area. Reducing something to its constituent parts in order to establish causal relationships.
Holism
Essentially the opposite to reductionism – researchers look at behaviour as a whole, not just the some of the parts, i.e., all the possible influences/causes of behaviour.)
NOMOTHETIC
Establishing general principles that can be applied or generalised to more broadly, i.e., to the target population as a whole.
IDIOGRAPHIC
Studying individuals in terms of their uniqueness, i.e., the uniqueness of their personal experiences, thus not able to generalise.
ANDROCENTRIC
Research representing a male perspective.
ALPHA-BIAS
Research that exaggerates the differences between men & women, e.g., evolutionary psychology often highlights differences. Alpha-bias may perpetuate gender stereotypes that are an oversimplification, ignoring more complex factors between men & women in terms of power, strength & dominance.
BETA-BIAS
Research that minimises the differences between males & females when such differences do exist, e.g., a lot of psychology research was initially carried out using males but the results are generalised to both males & females.
EMIC
Knowledge and interpretations from those existing within a culture. An emic account comes from a person within the culture, an emic account, is, ‘determined by local custom, meaning, and belief’ and are best described by a ‘native’ of the culture.
ETIC
Knowledge, description of behaviour and beliefs of a culture by a researcher (an outsider to the culture)
Imposed ETIC
An imposed ETIC is where an idea or construct from one culture is imposed/applied inappropriately to another, i.e., something which is an emic in one culture is assumed to be universal.
ETHNOCENTRIC BIAS
The tendency to view your own ethnic group & its social standards as the bias for evaluating judgments concerning other cultures - assuming that your own culture is superior. Can be hard to avoid due to being unconsciously influenced by our own experiences & upbringing
HYPOTHESIS TESTING
A prediction / what you expect to happen
FALSIFICATION
The only way to prove your theory is to look for disproof rather than proof. If something’s cannot be tested and proved it is not scientifically credible (claim/prediction)
Agentic state
Surrendering our free will & conscience to serve the interests of a wider group. We see ourselves as agents to those with power and authority and shift responsibility to them.
Autonomous state
(opposite of agentic state) - we feel free to act as we wish including how our conscience dictates
Moral strain
A result of having to do something we believe is immoral in order to function as an agent to those with power & authority.
Denial
A defence mechanism - often used to avoid the distress associated with moral strain and having to do things we normally find abhorrent
Hierarchy
A system of social organisation that is ranked from the top to the bottom
Socialisation
The process in which we learn the rules & norms of society through agents of socialisation, such as parents & teachers
Social influence
When an individuals behaviour, attitudes & emotions are affected by those of another
Self - fulfilling prophecy
When others make us believe something about ourselves which eventually influences our behaviour
Social Psychology
How other people, groups, cultures & society can influence our behaviour.
Social Contagion
The spread of behaviour, attitudes and affect through crowds & other types of social aggregates from one member to another (when someone goes along with what others are doing)
Obedience
A form of social influence where the behaviour of an individual is influenced by real or imagined pressure from another.
laboratory experiment vs field experiment
lab - takes place in an artificial highly controlled environment
field - takes place in pps natural environment
