Principles Of Psychology (1) Flashcards
What is science?
Observing how things are, making informed predictions of effects of certain things, testing predictions with evidence.
Ontology
What exists.
Epistemology
What we can know about what exists.
Methodology
How we can investigate epistemology and ontology.
3 people that defined psychology.
Beneke
Wundt
Atkinson and Hilgard
2 benefits of science.
Test findings and be confident what we know is true.
Improve lifestyle.
In the 19th century what did Comte say?
Science should be based on observed facts.
No theological or philosophical truths- positivism by induction
In the 1920’s what was the ‘Viennese circle’?
Logical positivism: use deduction to predict outcomes.
What did Popper say about science?
Falsifiability: disprove theories to test them.
What did Kuhn say about science?
Paradigm shifts: the reality of science.
What are the 4 scientific assumptions?
Determinism
Empiricism
Order
Parsimony
Determinism
Natural order of things means events have identifiable causes.
Empiricism
Theories must be based on publicly available observable evidence
Order
Events do not happen randomly, so patterns should be identifiable
Parsimony
Explanations should be limited to what is evidenced, whilst being thorough and simple
What is the first aim of science?
To provide objective descriptions without bias
What is the second aim of science?
identify regular patterns to develop testable predictions
What is the third aim of science?
Get a better understanding of the nature of events by identifying patterns and testing predictions and establishing cause and effect.
What is the fourth aim of science?
To enable us to have control over events
What is the hypothetico-deductive method also known as?
Scientific method.
What is the first stage of the scientific method?
Observe regularities
What’s the second stage of the scientific method?
Propose a theory
What’s the third stage of the scientific method?
Develop a prediction.
What’s the fourth stage of the scientific method?
Test the prediction
What’s the fifth stage of the scientific method?
Evaluate the theory
Why do we generate and test predictions?
To develop theories
What’s the aim of an experiment?
To observe a measurable effect on something which we manipulate
What does carrying out research involve?
Generate hypothesis
Collect data
Test the hypothesis
Generate theory
What is a hypothesis?
A statement or prediction that can be tested
How must we always collect data?
Without bias
In a reliable manner
What is internal validity?
Measures what we intend it to measure
What is external validity?
The extent that results can be applied to other situations
What is reliability?
The same results consistently found over time
What are demand characteristics?
Pots guess what the research is about and behave how they think they are expected to
What is social desirability?
Ppts want to please or be seen positively
What four ways can a research influence the experiment?
Observer errors
Intentional affect
Interpreter
Expectancy
What are observed errors?
People see things differently
What is intentional affect?
Dishonesty or poor standards
Interpreter
Researcher makes the results fit
Expectancy
Researcher attempts to influence ppts to achieve desired responses
What do research skills allow a psychologist to do?
Make objective assessments of problems
Inform and develop interventions
Assess and evaluate effectiveness of intervention
What are the four ethical principles?
Respect
Competence
Responsibility
Integrity
Respect
Treat everyone with dignity and sensitively
Responsibility
Do not harm
Integrity
Be honest, accurate and fair
What do you need to obtain from ppts before carrying out research?
Consent
What do potential ppts need to be protected from?
Harm
What should potential ppts have?
Freedom to withdraw
How do psychologists protect ppts identity?
Anonymity and confidentiality
What must researchers not do to ppts?
Deception
What must researchers always do at the end of a study with ppts?
Debrief
