Module 2: Thinking Critically With Psychological Science Flashcards
Hindsight bias
after learning about an outcome we think that we knew it all along (we didn’t)
Judgmental overconfidence
we think we know more than we do
Pattern recognition (and extrapolation)
Is the purpose of an experiment to predict real life?
- experiments = simplified reality w/important factors controlled
- Testing theoretical PRINCIPLES, not real life recreation
- simple principles found in lab applied to real life, which does generally work (but never particular BEHAVIORS)
Differences across cultures and genders
- Traits and behaviors can vary on a specific scale
- Overarching underlying processes are the same as a sort of “human family”
Why do we study animals?
- common biology, particularly in the processes of learning, and simpler nervous systems allow us to understand the basic process which ours built upon
- Allows us to test on animals with the most similar biologies without harming humans
Value judgements in psychology
- Preconceived notions/biases going into a study influences how the study is carried out/interpreted
- Different choices of topics due to inherent researchers’ values
- Sometimes see what we want to/expect to see
- Words have connotations with inherent values too (ex. faith vs. fanaticism)
The scientific method (3 parts)
- Curiosity, skepticism, and humility
define debriefing
explain research after the fact
does the outcome of one event impact another separate event, like getting a million head coin flips in a row?
no, they are completely separate entities under the constraints of utter randomness with no clue as to what will come next
replication
repeating the core idea of a study to see if it extends to diff. circumstances
operational definition
statement of operations used to define research variables (KEY TO FRQS) (define dependent and independent)
(ex. memory improves with regular exercise
define: memory, improves (what degree? how?), regular (HOW often?) and exercise (does golf count?)
when is theory useful?
if it ORGANIZES a range of reports and observations
if it IMPLIES CLEAR PREDICTIONS to check if theory works or find practical applications
big 3 descriptive methods:
- case studies
- surveys
- naturalistic observation
describe a case study
- oldest method
- studies ONE individual in depth for principles/ideas
- not all that reliable for the general populous, overwhelms general truths
describe a survey
- SELF-REPORTED
- Usually random samples of people
- subtlewording has a massive impact on responses
false consensus effect
you think ppl agree w/you when they don’t, caused by people who share our beliefs and way of life
Naturalistic observation
- observing nature w/o control
- Hawthorne effect
what is the point of the big three descriptive methods?
describe a behavior, but not necessarily explain
illusory correlation
perceiving a fake relationships between two things and, as a result, noticing instances that confirm it rather than the legions that don’t (you always miss a text when you’re showering vs. the amnt of times you’ve showered and not missed a text)
when do we use the word correlated?
when surveys/observation reveals a trait accompanies another
correlation coefficient
- how factors vary together and predict each other
- from -1 to 1, positive = direct proportion increase, negative = inverse relationship, magnitude is strength of difference/similarity
which is the stronger correlation:
-0.71
or
0.5
?
-0.71, correlation strength does NOT = most positive, abs value instead
experimentation/ best way to isolate cause and effect
investigator manipulates independent variables to see what happens to dependent variables (behavior/mental processes)
