Module 2: The Scientific Enterprise

Question 1

Scientific method (4)

What it is and what it includes

Answer 1

the common language and process used to create knowledge
* Hypotheses

● Data collection

● Statistical models

Question 2

Statistical model

Answer 2

A mathmatical model of reality that makes perdiction

Question 3

Phenomena

Answer 3

A probem, Core concept examined in their field of study

Question 4

The phenomena we study must (3)

why+ex?

Answer 4

include variability. There must be some systematic differences in the phenomena of interest so we can see corelation in 2 variables. For example, in a research about binge drinking, if all students were in a single group, such as moderate drinker, we would no longer have anything to compare.

Question 5

Good research questions share: (5)

+explain them

Answer 5

FINER
Feasible (Time resource and expertise)
Interesting (curious?)
Novel (Doesnt repeat whats done before, help us close an important gap)
Ethical
Relevant (Lead improvement in life)

Question 6

Typically, research questions fall into 4 main categories/ it occpies one of the four goals:

Answer 6

1. Description
2. Explanation
3. Perdiction
4. Application

Question 7

Decriptive (5)

What it is+what it requires+ex

Answer 7

• Simply describe a particular phenomena
• simplest type of research
• Ans “what” type of questions
• requires optionalization
• Ex: What are the current state of binge drinking college student in the US?”

Question 8

Operationalization +ex (2)

Answer 8

To define a concept in a way that allows it to be measure

Ex: “Problem drinking” must be stated in a form that allows it to be measured. The reseasrcher operationalized probkem drinking using a merasure called binge dirnking.”

Question 9

Explanation (4)

What it ans+begins with what+ex+designed to..

Answer 9

• Begin to answer “Why questions”
• Begin with a simple corelation between 2 characteritic and fevlopes
• Ex: “Why are rates of binge drinking higher in…”
• Designed to find out wether there are systematic differences based on individual or group characteristics

Question 10

Assimilation+ex (2)

Answer 10

Process by which we take in new info without needing to change existing concepts

Ex: When a child meets a family pet and learns the concept of a dog, the child then connects the animal’s charcteristic, hairy, fourleg , big tail with the concept of a dog. Later the child is introduced a cat, seeing not much difference, hairy, four leg big tail, assume this is also a dog. The child assimilate cat and dog into a single category.

Question 11

Accomodation+ ex (2)

Answer 11

Altering existing ideas or belieds in the prescence of new and non-conforming info

Ex: When a child meets a family pet and learns the concept of a dog, the child then connects the animal’s charcteristic, hairy, fourleg , big tail with the concept of a dog. Later the child is introduced a cat, seeing not much difference, hairy, four leg big tail, assume this is also a dog. The child assimilate cat and dog into a single category. However, at some point the dog category is too limited and the child notice that dog barks and cat meows. Once the differences get too much, the chikld realizes it has to develope a new category to accomodate his schema.

Question 12

Peridiction

Answer 12

allows us to estimate scores on one variable from info about one or more other variables

Question 13

Casuality requires 3 criteria:

Answer 13

Covariation
Temporal relationship
Elimination of confounds (i.e., high internal validity)

Question 14

Covariation+ex (3)

Answer 14

• 2 variables in your model must be related
• AKA corelation
• “If one tends to be in this category then they tend to…”

Question 15

Positive covariation+ex (2)

Answer 15

Both variable change in the same direction (increase/decrease together)
- Ex as drinking increase, drinking concequences goes up

Question 16

Negative covariation +ex (2)

Answer 16

The variable change in opposite directions; as one variable increase, the other decrease

• ex: relationship between drinking and grades. As drinking increase, grades go down.

Question 17

No Covariation+ ex (2)

Answer 17

The change in one variable has no major impact on the other variable
- Ex: relationship between drinking and favourite colour

Question 18

Temporal relationship+ ex (3)

Answer 18

If variable X causes variable Y, Y should only haeppen after X occurs.
The cause comes before the effect
ex: to experience drinking-related concequences, you must drink first then experience the concequence.

Question 19

Ruling out confounds:

Answer 19

• Other explanatins that could create doubt about the relationship between the variables must be ruled out

Question 20

3rd variable problem

Answer 20

While it seems like the 2 variables are related, they really just relate to the 3rd variable not eachother
Ex: drinking and poor grade may be related to test anxiety or depression

Question 21

Social norming

Answer 21

A theory suggecting our behaviour is influenced by perceptions of how others think and act

Question 22

Research steps: Hourglass model (7)

Answer 22

1. identify a real world oohenomenon of inyterest
2. Provide a background and theory
3. Chose a design and method
4. Collect data
5. Analyze results
6. Discuss your finding
7. Draw conclusions

Question 23

Most well respected form of writing is

Answer 23

peer reviewed research

Question 24

Replication

Answer 24

Researchers attempt to conduct studies more than once to determine the reliability and validity of reported results

Question 25

Theories have 3 goals

Answer 25

1. Describe a relationshio between 2 or more variables
2. Describe the mechanisms of the relationship why 2 variables should be related and how they impact one another
3. Ans the researcher’s question

Question 26

Concrete variables +ex

Answer 26

Variables recognized by the senses
ex: age, race, height

Question 27

Deciding on a method includes selecting: (4)

Answer 27

1. Samole of people
2. Type of instrument or equipment
3. Method of data collection
4. Statistical analysis

Question 28

Typical data analysis include 3 types of results

Answer 28

1. Participant characteristics
2. Descriptibe statistics
3. statistical tests

Question 29

Participant characteristics +ex (2)

what it is+what it does

Answer 29

• simple summary of the various characteristics of the population such as race, gender and income levels
• help us match sample characteristics of the population characteristics to help us identify any bias in the sample

Question 30

Descriptive Statistics+ex (2)

Answer 30

• Describes the characteristics of the individual variables that we are using to represent the variables in our research model
• ex: caculaing binge drinking and report percentage / frequency

Question 31

Statistical test+ex (2)

Answer 31

Relationship between variables
Ex: chi square test

Question 32

Direct replication

Answer 32

repeats the original study as closely as possible

Question 33

Conceptual replication

Answer 33

The methods are not exactly the same as the original. Includes a slight extension or generalization, build on existing findings in literature and add new into to the literature

Question 34

File drawer problem

Answer 34

The research community only ever hear about significant results because these are the resukts that are selected for dissemination in articles and conferences.