Mod 13 Constructing Knowledge: The Role of Graphs and Tables in Hard and Soft Psychology (Smith et al.) Flashcards
What are some of the crucial roles inscriptions play in science? (select ALL correct choices! See instructions above.)
forming hypotheses and testing theories
detecting novel relationships
assessing of data quality
communicating knowledge to other scientists as well as the public
all of the above
Some examples of inscription devices include:
chemical samples
micrographs and spectrographs
counters
graphs and tables
micrographs and spectrographs
counters
graphs and tables
Why are inscription devices particularly important for the “construction and negotiation” of knowledge?
Inscription devices can turn tentative knowledge claims into widely accepted facts.
Inscription devices can transform data to make it easier to understand.
Inscription devices allow scientist to observe their subject matter.
Inscription devices can persuasively convince others with competing viewpoints.
Inscription devices can turn tentative knowledge claims into widely accepted facts.
Inscription devices can transform data to make it easier to understand.
Inscription devices can persuasively convince others with competing viewpoints.
Some of the major features of graphs that make them so powerful, according to Latour are:
They are persuasive.
They are scalable and combinable.
They are fixed and immobile.
They are readable.
They are persuasive.
They are scalable and combinable.
They are readable.
What are some of the advantages of graphs over tables?
Graphs can show precise numerical values, while tables cannot.
Graphs can show trends in data that tables do not reveal.
Graphs have a greater power to promote theoretical integration and mobilize consensus among competing camps of scientists.
Unlike tables, graphs can reveal subtle patterns in data.
Graphs can show trends in data that tables do not reveal.
Graphs have a greater power to promote theoretical integration and mobilize consensus among competing camps of scientists.
Unlike tables, graphs can reveal subtle patterns in data.
What did Cleveland (1984) find when he measured graph use in terms of fractional graph area (FGA)?
Graph usage was greater among natural science journals than social science journals.
The FGA for chemistry, physics, biology, and medicine was lower than the FGA for sociology, economics, and psychology.
The FGA for chemistry journals was .18.
Graph use was similar across journals.
Graph usage was greater among natural science journals than social science journals.
The FGA for chemistry journals was .18.
What data do these authors provide to support Latour’s thesis that “graphism is a hallmark of science”?
-Smith, Best Stubbs, Johnston, and Archibald (2000) correlated the hardness ratings with 21 other variables besides FGA and found only one of correlated with rated hardness as strongly as FGA did.
-Smith, et al. (2000) reanalyzed Cleveland’s outcomes in relation to the hardness of disciplines and found that when FGA was plotted against related hardness for 7 disciplines, the relationship proved to be strong.
What is shown in Figure 1A?
Figure 1A shows that Economics had a lower FGA than Psychology.
Figure 1A shows that graph use varies widely between different scientific and psychology journals.
Figure 1A shows that there is a correlation between the rated hardness of a science and the FGA included in journal articles.
Figure 1A shows that Biology had a lower FGA than Medicine.
Figure 1A shows that Economics had a lower FGA than Psychology.
Figure 1A shows that graph use varies widely between different scientific and psychology journals.
Figure 1A shows that there is a correlation between the rated hardness of a science and the FGA included in journal articles.
What is shown in Figure 4A, 4B, and 4C?
The softer fields of science use more statistical inference than the harder fields.
There is an inverse relationship between hardness and statistical usage, when plotted against rated hardness.
Psychology journals are more likely than physical science journals to use statistical procedures.
Table use and graph use are directly related to the use of statistical inference.
The softer fields of science use more statistical inference than the harder fields.
There is an inverse relationship between hardness and statistical usage, when plotted against rated hardness.
Compare graphs Figure 1A and Fig. 2B and their correlations (r = ): Where would you expect the data points to be when the correlation is higher?
above the regression line
clustered in the middle of the graph
depends on what kind of data are being graphed
close to the regression line
close to the regression line
At what stage in the research process might a graph reveal the unexpected?
collecting data
assessing data
planning research
publication
all of the above
What are the potential benefits of graphing for psychologists at these stages in the research process mentioned by the authors?
Graphs encourage replication by providing visual assessments of congruity.
Graphs draw attention to novel, empirical relationships that might go undetected by standard inferential statistics.
Graphs may lead to rethinking the dependent variables before data collection is begins.
Graphs are easily made.
Graphs encourage replication by providing visual assessments of congruity.
Graphs draw attention to novel, empirical relationships that might go undetected by standard inferential statistics.
Graphs may lead to rethinking the dependent variables before data collection is begins.
