Exam 1: Sources of Information Flashcards
Sources of Beliefs
People form beliefs based on:
experience, intuition, and authority figures
but these are often flawed compared to empirical research.
Experience vs. Empirical Research
Personal experience lacks a comparison group and can be confounded.
Empirical research is more reliable due to controlled variables.
Intuition and Biases
We often think the ‘easy way’ (good story bias, availability heuristic) or ‘what we want’ (confirmation bias, overconfidence).
Authority vs. Research
Experts are not always correct.
Skepticism is necessary, and claims should be backed by reliable research.
Finding Reliable Research
Scientific sources like
* journal articles
* edited books
* peer-reviewed sources
are best for accuracy.
PsychINFO
A psychology research database maintained by APA, offering peer-reviewed studies.
Google Scholar
A broad research database but does not include abstracts like PsychINFO.
article types
empirical vs review articles
Empirical studies contain new research
review articles summarize multiple studies.
Scientific Method
Research follows a systematic process to ensure
- accuracy
- control variables
- avoid bias.
Disinformation vs. Journalism
Legitimate journalism summarizes research accurately
disinformation spreads false claims.
Bias Blind Spot
The tendency to believe that we are less biased than others.
Availability Heuristic
Judging frequency or probability based on how easily examples come to mind (e.g., overestimating plane crashes).
Present Bias
Focusing on immediate, visible information and ignoring what is absent.
Confirmation Bias
Seeking and accepting only evidence that supports preexisting beliefs.
Confirmatory Hypothesis Testing
Asking biased questions that confirm existing beliefs.
Overconfidence Bias
Confidence in one’s judgments does not always reflect accuracy.
Evaluating Research
Key questions to ask:
What is the argument?
What evidence supports it?
Do I find it credible?
Order of Sections in a Research Paper
Abstract
Introduction
Method
Results
Discussion
References
each provides essential study details.
Citing Sources
Consult academic libraries, online databases, and peer-reviewed publications for credible research.
types of journal articles
review article
provide a summary of all of the research done in one area
types of journal articles
empirical article
Results of previously unpublished research studies
they have methods, statistics, conclusions, etc.
