Module 2 Flashcards
What three qualities make for a great scientific theory
1) Falsifiable
2) Hypothesis is stated a priori
3) Parsimonious (succinct)
What are descriptive studies
Descriptive studies are those that involve observing behavior in a systematic way in order to accurately and objectively describe that behavior.
What are three examples of descriptive studies
Case studies, observational studies, self-reports/interviews.
What are the strengths of case studies
they provide in depth information
What are the weaknesses of case studies
they can’t be generalized to the wider population and don’t allow for control of variables
What are the two types of observational studies
participant observation and naturalistic observation
What is naturalistic observation and how is it different from participant observation
the the experimenter passively observes the situation, without intervening in any way.
What is participant observation and how is it different from naturalistic observation
The experimenter is actively involved in the situation being observed.
What two issues might affect the outcome of a observational study
observer bias and reactivity (Hawthorne effect)
What is the Hawthorne effect
When people are being studied, their performance usually improves
What two potential concerns could affect the accuracy of a self-report/interview study
Researcher bias and social desirability
What two types of correlational studies are there
- cross-sectional (at one time point)
- longitudinal (across many time points)
Positive r values denote _____ correlations
Positive
Negtive r values denote _____ correlations
Negative
What three things are necessary to demonstrate causation
covariation, temporal precedence, and elimination of spuriousness