Problem 1 Flashcards
basic research
acquire general information about a phenomenon, no real-world examples
applied research
generate information that can be applied directly to a real-world problem
confirmation bias
human tendency to seek out information that confirms what is already believed
scouting
systematic research
trapping
identify factors that might effect the behavior
protoscience
science at the edges of current scientific understanding, issues and phenomena at the fringes of established science, potential to develop into true science
true science
use of scientific method to get information
non-science
lack of empirical test
pseudoscience
false science, theories put forth as scientific when they are not scientific, failures are ignored, results can’t be reproduced
scientific explanations
explanations based in the application of accepted scientific methods
- empirical: based on evidence, objective
- testable: should be verifiable
- parsimonious: fewest number of assumptions/ hypotheses
- genreal & positive
- tentative/ falsifiable: fail to confirm
- rigorously evaluated
- connected with prior research
common-sense explanations
based on our own sense of the true world around us
belief-based explanations
based on belief are accepted, come from trusted source
pseudo-explanations
provide an alternative label for behavioral event
circular explanation/tautology
does not provide a true explanation but another label (instinct) for a class of observed behavior (aggression)
method of authority
use information from sources you perceive to be expert
rational method
depends on logical reasoning
scientific method
4 cyclical steps that you can repeatedly execute as you pursue the solution to scientific problem
- observing a phenomenon; induction: from specific observation to general statement
- formulating tentative explanations or statements of cause and effect; deduction: from general statement to specific predictions
- further observing to experimenting; trapping; design a research
- refining and retesting the explanations, more specific hypothesis
pilot study
miniature version of your study
hypothesis
tentative explanation for observation that can be retested
theory
plausible, scientifically acceptable explanation of some aspect in natural world
law
empirically verified, quantitative relationship between two or more variables
model
refers to a specific implementation of a more general theoretical view
mechanistic explanation
describes the mechanism (physical components), the chain of cause and effect
functional explanation
describes an attribute of something (such as physical attractiveness) in terms of its function
quantitative theory
defines the relationship between its variables and constants in a set of mathematical formulas
qualitative theory
stated in a verbal rather than mathematical terms, importance & interaction of variables
descriptive theory
describes a relationship
analogical theory
explains a relationship through analogy
fundamental theory
model an underlying reality that produces the observed relationships among variables; more fundamental description of reality
roles of theories in science
understanding, prediction, organizing & interpreting research results, generating research
confirmational strategy
looking for confirmation of the theory’s predictions
disconfirmational strategy
determine whether unexpected outcomes occurred
strong inference
tested theory can rule out other theories, which don’t have to be tested again, only one alternative should remain
population
all people
sample
small, selected subgroup
generalization
apply findings from sample to larger population
random sampling
same chance of being chosen for every person in population
non-random sampling
individuals from specialized subpopulations; e.g. students
volunteer bias
volunteers differ from non-volunteers:
more educated, higher intelligence, more social
–> threats to internal validity
using volunteer participants, can’t generalize results to population
–> threat to external validity
laboratory research
conduct research in laboratory setting
field research
select your participants while they are in their natural environment
role playing
participants are fully informed about the nature of the research & asked to act as they were subjected to a particular treatment condition
informed consent
informing participants about research
demand characteristics
knowing what study is about, behave like you think you should behave
anonymity
you must assure your participants that they cannot be identified as participants in your study
confidentiality
you guarantee the security of their responses
debriefing
explain methods used in study
dehoaxing
convince participants that deception was necessary
Nuremberg code
laid the ground-work for many of the current ethical standards for psychological and medical research
declaration of Helsinki
researchers obligated to protect the health, welfare and dignity of research participants
the Belmont Report
three basic principles of ethical treatment of human participants –> respect for persons, beneficence, justice
APA Ethical Guidelines
specify ethical responsibilities of psychologists and researchers Government Regulations: Health & Human Services guidelines for the protection of human subjects
institutional animal care and use committee (IACUC)
guide for the care and use of laboratory animals
fraud
dishonest research, potential to harm participants, damages the credibility of science and its findings
- fabrication of data: altering data to look better, selecting only the best data
- falsification: manipulation of research material
- plagiarism: steal others’ ideas
- -> need for success, publish, money = trains scientists
theory-driven
theory –> observation (induction)
data-driven
observation –> hypothesis (deduction)
