Experimental Methods

Question 1

Intuition

Answer 1

Internal way of knowing where” you just know” something

Question 2

Problems w/ Intuition

Answer 2

individual; collaborating on knowledge = difficult

Question 3

Observation

Answer 3

An Internal & External way of knowing; knowing through experiences

Question 4

Problems w/ Observation? (4)

Answer 4

pure observation is difficult
1. Not always possible; limited (can’t see everything)
2. Not always true (room for misinterpretations) e.g. illusions
3. Observation can change over time
4. People disagree on their experiences (issues w/ consensus)

Question 5

Combatting Issues of Observation (Impossibility, Reliability, Biases & Opinion Differences)

Answer 5

1. Impossibility –> technological tools/advancements
2. reliability –> openness, falsifiable hypothesis, double-blind experiments
3. biases & opinion differences –> scientific skepticism, peer review, replication

Question 6

Technological Tools/Advancements

Answer 6

Tools to help measure/observe;

Combats impossibility of observation; development/advancements allow humans to observe things that once weren’t able to be observed

Question 7

Openness (& Observation)

Answer 7

All data should be publicly available;

Combats reliability of observation; Allow others to decide whether its reliable or not

Question 8

Double-Blind Experiements

Answer 8

Experiments where neither participant or data collector is aware of the hypothesis;

Combats reliability of observation; Minimizes expectancy bias

Question 9

Scientific Skepticism

Answer 9

Not believing theories/observations to be true;

Combats bias & opinion differences

Question 10

Peer Review

Answer 10

Having conclusions reviewed by other scientists; double checking work

Combats bias & opinion differences;

Question 11

Replication

Answer 11

Study/Experiments is replicated to see if the same results are found;

Combats bias & opinion differences; accumulation of confirmed/disconfirmed hypotheses

Question 12

Scientific Method

Answer 12

1. Hypothesis
2. Operationalize
3. Measure
4. Analyze
5. Report

Question 13

Problems w/ the scientific method

Answer 13

Problems: designed & validated by established scientists, scientism*, science is generalizable – how does it apply individually?

Question 14

Scientism

Answer 14

the belief that knowledge can only be derived through science

Question 15

Hypothesis

Answer 15

a prediction. derived from a theory, about what should happen in a scientific study

Question 16

Confirmatory Studies

Answer 16

Start with a falsifiable hypothesis & then find data that either confirms/disconfirms

Question 17

Exploratory Studies

Answer 17

Start by collecting data without a strong hypothesis & then look for patterns to come up with a theory

Question 18

Operational Definition

Answer 18

a description of a psychological property in measure, observable terms; redefining concept into smth measurable

Question 19

Measure

Answer 19

measuring

Question 20

Instrument

Answer 20

anything that measures the operational definition

Question 21

Validity

Answer 21

Actually measures what it claims to measure

Question 22

Reliability

Answer 22

Gives similar measurements each time it is used

Question 23

Power/Sensitivity

Answer 23

Can detect small differences in the measure

Question 24

Analyze

Answer 24

To make sense of the data

Question 25

Descriptive Statistics

Answer 25

Mathematical tools used to summarize data into ways of understanding it (e.g. mean, variability, range)

Question 26

Inferential Statistics

Answer 26

Mathematical tools used to help us decide if the data confirm or disconfirm some hypothesis (statistical significance)

Question 27

Report

Answer 27

Way in which researchers present their findings/results

Question 28

Peer Review

Answer 28

Process through which scientists receive feedback about their work from other scientists in the field

Question 29

Role of Peer Reviewers

Answer 29

To be skeptical of claims to identify alternative explanations, assess instruments for validity, reliability and power/sensitivity, and double-check the statistics

Question 30

Study Designs/Methods (4)

Answer 30

A set of guidelines for how data is collected for a study 1. Naturalistic Observation 2. ­Case-Studies 3. ­Correlational Studies. 4. ­Experiments.

Question 31

Naturalistic Observation

Answer 31

A type of study design/method; x

Question 32

Problems w/ Naturalistic Observation

Answer 32

x

Question 33

Case-Studies/Case-Methods

Answer 33

A type of study design/method; x

Question 34

Problems w/ Case-Studies/Methods

Answer 34

x

Question 35

Correlational Studies

Answer 35

A type of study design/method; Estimate the numerical relationship/prediction between two measured variables

Question 36

Steps for correlational studies

Answer 36

1. Choose any two variables. 2. Measure the two variables with an instrument in as many people as possible. 3. Graph the relationship for all collected data. 4. Estimate the “direction” and “strength” of the correlation.

Question 37

Positive Correlation

Answer 37

As one variable increases, the second increases as well

Question 38

No Correlation

Answer 38

There is no correlation between the two variables

Question 39

Negative Correlation

Answer 39

As one variable increases, the second decreases

Question 40

Correlation vs Causation

Answer 40

A correlation between two variables does not imply that one variable caused the other

Question 41

(Potential) Reasons for why correlation does not equal causation (3)

Answer 41

1. Directionality Problem 2. Third Variable Problem 3. Spurious Correlations

Question 42

Directionality Problem

Answer 42

For any correlation, A might have caused B, or B might have caused A

Question 43

Third Variable Problem

Answer 43

AKA: Confound Variables; For any correlation, a third, unmeasured variable may be the true cause of the measured ones

Question 44

Spurious Correlation

Answer 44

Strongly correlated variables that we know are not casually related

Question 45

Experiments

Answer 45

A type of study design/method; A study design where one variable (of interest) is manipulated/changed to see its casual effect on another (in a controlled environment)

Question 46

Key Components of Experiments (4)

Answer 46

Four Key Components of Experiments: ­1. Independent variable 2. ­Dependent variable 3. Random Assignment ­4. Random Selection

Question 47

Independent Variable

Answer 47

The variable manipulated (experimental vs control group)

Question 48

Dependent Variable

Answer 48

The variable measured

Question 49

Random Assignment

Answer 49

Participants are put into the experimental/control group randomly

Question 50

Random Selection

Answer 50

Participants should be representative of population as a whole