pre learning check 2 in class notes Flashcards
science
makes claims that are:
Testable and consistent with well established scientific facts
Confronts data rather than ignoring it
No vague language
Committed to an active, ongoing program of research
pseudoscience
- Unscientific thinking masquerading as scientific thinking
- Uses precise, scientific sounding language
- No evidence of continued research over time or new knowledge
- Reliance of anecdotes as evidence
- Reliance on authority endorsements (or false authorities)
- Extraordinary claims without supporting evidence
- Evidence relies on confirmation rather than refutation
- In true science, we look to disconfirm rather than confirmation
Intuition-
it feels true
A gut feeling
Subjective
We are biased
Authority
-the scientist says it is true
Could be a good starting point
Different experts have different views
They view things with their own lens of expertise
They may not always be right
- Rationalism-
- it makes sense logically
- People will not knowingly ingest poisons (yet, people smoke, so this is not the case)
- Our own logic is based on our psychology, which differs from person to person
- Empiricism-
- I observed it to be true
- Might make a generalization that cannot be taken out of context
- We all observe things differently and come to different observational conclusions; for example, the duck rabbit picture
Tenacity-
using what we have known to be true in the past; method of knowing based largely on habit or superstition
Theory
- Explanation of behavior that can be tested through research
- Hypothesis: prediction regarding the results of a research study
- Must be stated in declarative form
- Be brief
- Testable
- Reflect a theory or literature upon which it is based
- Posit an expected relationship between variables
Construct
When researchers use a theory, they typically work with a conceptual definition of a variable. The term constructs represents these abstract concepts that we aim to measure (e.g. depression, intellectual abilities, substance abuse)
Measurement
refers to the process of assigning arbitrary symbols (usually numbers), according to a predetermined set of rules, to different events or objects.
Operational definition:
A definition of a variable in terms of the actual procedures used by the researcher to measure and/or manipulate it
Variables can be described in different ways:
- Continuous vs. discrete (# levels?)
- Scales of Measurement (NOIR)
- Independent and dependent variables
- Manipulated vs. non-manipulated
- Extraneous and Confounding
Extraneous:
Unplanned and uncontrolled factor(s) that can arise in a study and affect the outcome. Extraneous variables are typically randomly distributed influences that detract from the researcher’s efforts to measure what was intended to be measured.
Confounding:
An unwanted factor that affect groups differently and make it difficult to know what caused changes in the dv. With the presence of a confound, it is not possible to determine which variable is at work (the IV or the counfounding variable).
quasi-independent variable, subject variable or classification variable.
If the researcher is unable to manipulate the variable or it’s based on characteristics of the individual that cannot be manipulated it is a non-manipulated variable. Also referred to as a quasi-independent variable, subject variable or classification variable.
