Doing psychology

Question 1

What is science based on?

Answer 1

Science is based on observation of facts (independent of view)

Question 2

What concept did Wilfrid Sellars come up with? and what does it refer to?

Answer 2

Came up with the concept of the ‘myth of given’ which refers to mental states being seemingly knowable but actually rely on prior concepts.

Question 3

What does operationalisation do?

Answer 3

It defines a given concept in terms of the process of measurement.

Question 4

When there is evidence of convergence, what are the different measures regarded as?

Answer 4

Regarded as being of the same thing.

Question 5

How did qualitative measures come about?

Answer 5

Emerged as the result of the attempt to address the problems associated with standard methods, as an approach that was not limited by the demands of quantification and experiment.

Question 6

What is the aim of quantitative research?

Answer 6

Aim is to make predictions or establish general laws about human behaviour/ cognition (i.e. establish causes/correlation)

Question 7

What does quantitative research involve?

Answer 7

Involves quantifying cognitions and behaviours and following the controlled procedures such as running experiments or conducting correlational studies.

Question 8

How is the data analysed from quantitative research?

Answer 8

It is analysed statistically.

Question 9

What is the aim of qualitative research?

Answer 9

Aim is to get close to the real life experiences or activities of people.

Question 10

What do the methodologies of qualitative research involve?

Answer 10

It involves getting out, watching and recording in detail what people are doing and saying, talking to people about their experiences, their views etc.

Question 11

What does qualitative research require?

Answer 11

It involves collecting qualitative data.

Question 12

What does analysis of qualitative research aim to capture?

Answer 12

It aims to capture how people give meaning to their experiences and how they perform activities.

Question 13

What are research questions?

Answer 13

They are what you want to know/learn about a topic or phenomenon i.e. researcher’s interest.

Question 14

What are research methodologies?

Answer 14

They are tools that researchers can use to answer different research questions.

Question 15

What are quantitative research question?

Answer 15

They are on how cognitive processes work, the causes and correlations of cognitions, and surveying specific population e.g. students.

Question 16

What are qualitative research questions?

Answer 16

They are about understanding how people experience a specific feeling and how people interact with each other.

Question 17

What are the different types of qualitative data?

Answer 17

Some require the intervention of the researcher whilst others don’t require intervention.

Question 18

What are the different types of general qualitative analysis methods?

Answer 18

Thematic analysis and grounded theory

Question 19

What are the different types of analysis of language or speech?

Answer 19

Conversation analysis and discursive psychology.

Question 20

What are the different types of analysis of life stories, experiences?

Answer 20

Narrative analysis, interpretative phenomenological analysis.

Question 21

What is thematic analysis?

Answer 21

It is a qualitative method of analysis which aims at capturing what is being said.

Question 22

What does thematic analysis enable?

Answer 22

It enables to identify a limited number of themes which adequately reflect the data.

Question 23

What can thematic analysis be?

Answer 23

It can be deductive, inductive, or both.

Question 24

What is deductive thematic analysis?

Answer 24

These themes reflect existing theories or concepts and coding involves developing a code book.

Question 25

What is inductive thematic analysis?

Answer 25

These themes are generated from the data and aim at staying as close as possible to the meaning of the data.

Question 26

What are open ended questions?

Answer 26

They are questions set up by researchers that allow respondents to answer the question in their own way, using their own words.

Question 27

What are the three different types of open questions?

Answer 27

Specific, broad and very broad.

Question 28

What is a specific open question?

Answer 28

Respondents are asked about a particular piece of info. e.g. what was the main problem you encountered with your undergrad studies.

Question 29

What is a broad open question?

Answer 29

Respondents can provide a whole range of answers e.g. what do you think are the reasons for internet bullying?

Question 30

What is a very broad open question?

Answer 30

It is a non-directive question about respondents experience of the overall topic of the questionnaire. e.g. anything else you would like to say about your eating habits?

Question 31

What are the steps of thematic analysis?

Answer 31

1 - familiarizing with the data
2 - generating codes
3- searching for themes
4- reviewing the themes
5- defining and naming themes
6- producing an analysis

Question 32

What do psychological descriptions reflect?

Answer 32

They reflect theoretical assumptions about the nature of mental phenomena

Question 33

What do psychological aims determine?

Answer 33

They determine the psychological knowledge that’s produced

Question 34

What is applied psychology?

Answer 34

It is a scientific study applied to the real world.

Question 35

What do psychologists call boundary work?

Answer 35

This is where psychologists distinguish what they do from other forms of psychological knowledge that have been labelled ‘unscientific’ or ‘pseudo-scientific’

Question 36

Who founded the first American psychological department?

Answer 36

G. S. Hall

Question 37

What is the purpose of psychology of advertising?

Answer 37

The aim is to attract new customers and increase sales

Question 38

What is the aim of industrial psychology?

Answer 38

Increase productivity by improving worker efficiency, reducing fatigue, adapting work environment and so on.

Question 39

When was the psychological corporation founded and who was the president?

Answer 39

It was founded in 1921 with its president J. M. Cattell

Question 40

What does ethics refer to?

Answer 40

Ethics refers to the correct rules of conduct necessary when carrying out research.

Question 41

What does ‘research ethics’ refer to?

Answer 41

It refers to the moral principles guiding research from its inception through to completion and publication of results.

Question 42

What are the three basic principles shared by all ethics codes?

Answer 42

1- respect for people’s rights and dignity
2- respectability
3- integrity

Question 43

What does respect for people’s rights and dignity mean in terms of the principles for ethics codes?

Answer 43

Scientist and researchers must respect the dignity and worth of people, and the rights of individuals to privacy, confidentiality, full information, and self-determination.

Question 44

What does respectability mean in terms of the principles for ethics codes?

Answer 44

Scientists and researchers are aware of the responsibilities to the colleagues, students, and participants, and to the institution and the society in which they work and live.
They must safeguard the psychological health of people they work with and avoid doing harm.
They are aware of the limits of their competence and expertise and of the consequences of their decisions and actions.

Question 45

What does integrity mean in terms of the principles for ethics codes?

Answer 45

Scientists and researchers ensure and promote honesty, transparency, fairness and truthfulness in research practice, and knowledge dissemination.
They contrast fraud, plagiarism, and falsification.
They avoid and solve any conflicts of interest and do not accept funders and sponsors that could limit their autonomy and freedom.

Question 46

What are the six steps that you need to consider in both applying and carrying out ethically approved research?

Answer 46

1- informed consent
2- freedom from coercion
3- protection from physical and psychological harm
4- protection of privacy, confidentiality, or anonymity
5- the risk-benefit rule
6 - debriefing