Key Science Skills Flashcards
What is psychology?
Psychology is the scientific study of human mental states and behaviour.
What is a pseudoscience?
What is involved in scientific ideas?
What is involved in non-scientific ideas?
What is a theory?
A theory is a proposition or set of principles that is used to explain something or make predictions about cause and effect.
What is a model?
A model is a representation of a concept, process, or behaviour, often made to simplify or make something easier to understand.
The main function of a theory is…
To explain and predict
The main function of a model is…
Simplify and represent
What is a theory informed by?
Scientific research or logic
What is a model informed by?
Scientific theories and ideas
What do controlled experiments measure?
Investigate the causal relationship between effect of the IV on the DV, while aiming to control all other variables
What are the three types of methodologies?
Controlled experiment
Case studies
Correlational studies
What is a case study?
A case study is an in-depth investigation of an individual, group, or particular phenomenon that contains a real or hypothetical situation.
What types of case studies can there be?
- Historical (analysing the causes and effects)
- Problem solving, where developing a new design or procedure is required (VCAA)
Data collected in a case study can be:
- Biological history (medical history)
- Psychological history
- Biographical history
- Environmental information
- Quantitative and qualitative data (self-reported rating scales or in-depth interviews)
When are case studies used? Use an example?
Case studies are used when information is needed about a phenomenon that is rare/hard to study repeatedly with a larger group of people.
- People with brain injuries (valuable to know the effects and implications of brain damage)
What is a correlational study?
A correlational study is a type of non-experimental study in which researchers observe and measure the relationship between two or more variables without any manipulation of them.
What is the aim of a correlational study?
Correlational research aims to find relationships between variables, describe them, and make predictions on the basis of them.
