Exam One Study Guide Flashcards
psychology is a scientific study of __________ and ___________
human behaviors; mental processes
why is the producer role important
coursework
working in a research lab
grad school
why is the consumer role important
when reading printed or online news stories based on research
four your future career
evidence-based approach
research to see effective method for your subject
helps parental/school approval
why are critical thinking skills crucial in the world of AI
AI is not always correct, don’t know source of info
cannot always rely on AI
AI doesn’t write like scientists (brievity and clarity)
Empiricism
the use of verifiable evidence as the basis for conclusions; collecting data systematically and using to develop/challenge a theory
theory
explanation of human mind
hypothesis vs. theory
h - yet to be tested, predictions about specific study
t - revised due to info, a cycle
basic research
goal = expand understanding
enhance general body knowledge, lab setting
not meant to solve a problem in specific
ex) what parts of the brain are stimulated by mediation
translational research
real world problem solved in a lab
ex) in lab study, how can meditation improve college scores?
applied research
real-world setting
ex) how has meditation helped kids focus on math
how do scientists share the results of their research with the scientific community?
submit to a scientific journal
what are two general problems with basing beliefs on our own experience?
could be biased information
don’t have comparison group
example of need for comparison group
radical mastectomies thought to be the only way to get rid of breast cancer
confounds
alternative explanations for a result other than the targeted independent variable
identify potential confounds and potential comparison group for the following:
my dog doesn’t get as upset by fireworks when she wears the “thunder blanket”
confound - comfort/compression
group - try a different blanket or cover dogs eyes so they aren’t comforted by owner
behavioral research is probabilistic, which means …
its findings are not expected to explain all the cases all the time (i.e. there are exceptions)
ways that intuition is biased
being swayed by a good story
availability heuristic
present/present bias
confirmation bias
bias blind spot
availability heuristic
being persuaded by what comes easily to mind
ex) may think there are more shark attacks after reading a story about a shark attack
present/present bias
failing to think about what we cannot see/forgetting to seek info that isn’t there and only info that is
ex) “everytime you bring umbrella = rain” but forgetting all the times you brought an umbrella and it didn’t rain or times where it rained and you didn’t have an umbrella
confirmation bias
focusing on the evidence we like best
bias blind spot
biased about being biased
think biases don’t apply to you, failing to notice your own cognitive biases as humans all fall to them
what to ask when encountering a news item in the popular media
could this be disinformation?
can I cross-check this story on other legitimate sites?
what is the context of this story?
is the journalist politically biased?
what are two major reasons that experience is a faulty source of evidence for our beliefs? (two answers)
a. experience has confounds
b. experiences are from only one person
c. experience has no comparison group
d. experience has no hypotheses
A + C
“There are far more dogs than cats in this city. That’s all you see in the park - dogs, dogs, dogs!”
This person appears to be basing a belief on ______
a. a good story
b. availability bias
c. confirmation bias
d. a bias blind spot
B
Beware the freshman 15:
A study reported that college students in their first two years of school gain an average of 3 to 10 pounds, with most of the weight packed on during the first semester of freshman year.
which question would best help you evaluate the validity of this argument?
a. how much weight do ppl gain after freshman year?
b. what kinds of foods are freshmen most likely to eat?
c. how much weight do ppl of the same age gain who don’t go to college?
C
variable
thing being studied that varies from person to person
needs 2 levels
ex) “60% of high school grads pursue college”
pursuing college = v
level: pursue or don’t pursue
constant
doesn’t change/vary
ex) “60% of high school grads pursue college”
high school grads = constant
a measured variable is _____ and _____
observed; recorded
a manipulated variable is _________
controlled
what variables can only be measured?
gender, race, etc.
conceptual vs. operational
conceptual - abstract/not measurable
operational - specific definition/way to measure something, need in order to study
make conceptual variable into operational, how many levels and if it is measured or manipulated
car ownership
researchers asked people to circle “I own a car” or “I do not own a car”
2 levels: owns a car or not
measured
frequency claim
describes a particular rate or degree of a single variable, how frequent/common something is
involves only one measured variable
ex) 1 in 4 working students skip class due to job, college employment survey shows
association claim
argues that one level of a variable is likely to be associated with a particular level of another variable
related but cannot be causing each other
involves at least two measured variable
can be positive or negatively associated
ex) research suggests wisdom is linked to happiness and mental health
causal claims
argues that one of the variables is responsible for changing the other
ex) always on facebook, instagram, twitter? social media overuse leads to anxiety, says new study
is linked to, prefers, are more/less likely to, etc. are verbs related to __________ claim
association
causes, promotes, fights, increases, etc. are verbs related to ________ claim
causal
four big validities
construct
external
statistical
internal
construct validity
how well the variables in a study are measured or manipulated
ex) need height but found foot size = low construct validities
external validity
the extent to which the results of a study generalize to some larger population as well as to other times or situations
statistical validity
the extent to which the data support the conclusions
ask:
how strong are the associations?
statistical significance?
internal validity
in a relationship between variable A and B, the extent to which A, rather than another variable (C), is responsible for changes in B
could there be any other factors, other than B, that impact A?
type I vs. type II error when thinking of statistical validity
I - false positive, ex) man is pregnant
II - saying there is no association when there is
ex) woman pregnant but saying she isn’t
three criteria for causation
covariance
temporal precedence
internal validity
covariance
2 variables are related
temporal precedence
study conducted showing cause came before effect
internal validity
are there other explanations to causes/changes in variable? want to show that B is the only thing that causes change in A
A numerous studies found that exposure to violent TV is associated with increased aggressive behavior in children. We know that his association may not be causal because we are not sure which occurred first: watching violent TV or being aggressive. We are questioning which of the following rules of causation?
a. the criterion of covariance
b. the criterion of temporal precedence
c. thee third-variable criterion
d. the criterion of external validity
B
Joe reads about a study that says that social media use is related to increased levels of anxiety. He says, “That study must be flawed because I am on social media more than anyone I know and I don’t feel anxious.” Based on this comment, Joe may be forgetting which if the following?
a. science is based on empiricism
b. the study has been replicated
c. the study did not operationally define social media use
d. science is probabilistic
D
the Tuskegee study illustrates 3 major unethical choices, which are…
participants were not treated respectfully
participants were harmed
participants were a targeted, disadvantaged social group
the Milgram obedience studies illustrate a difficult ethical balance, including…
ethical questions (male only, large compensation)
lack of debriefing
balance risk to participants with benefit to society
belmont report 3 prinicples
respect for persons
beneficence
justice
respect for persons
everyone should be treated as autonomous agents/free to make decisions for themselves
informed consent process:
- voluntariness
- information
- comprehension