PSYC*2360 Chapter 1: Psychology as a Science Flashcards
What is the availability heuristic?
A mental shortcut for judging the likelihood of something based on how easy it is to think of similar instances
What is the representativeness heuristic?
A mental shortcut for determining the likelihood of an event based on how much it represents a “typical” example of it
What is the better-than-average effect?
The tendency to overestimate our skills, abilities, and performance when comparing ourselves to others
What is one phenomenon that explains the better-than-average effect?
The overconfidence phenomenon
What is the overconfidence phenomenon?
The tendency to be overly confident in the correctness of our own judgments
What are two types of bias that contribute to the better-than-average effect?
- Hindsight bias
- Confirmation bias
What is hindsight bias?
Overestimating the ability to have predicted an outcome beforehand once the results are already known
What is confirmation bias?
Only looking for and trusting evidence that confirms what was already believed, strengthening the original belief
How does the focusing effect contribute to confirmation bias?
Helps confirm preexisting beliefs, by emphasizing some pieces of information and undervaluing others
What is introspection?
Reflecting on one’s own thoughts and experiences
What are two drawbacks to introspection?
- the “what you see is all there is phenomenon”
- the pleasure paradox
Which phenomenon describes the failure to see the limitations of an immediate experience and the tendency to take things at face value?
The “what you see is all there is phenomenon”
What is the pleasure paradox?
When an introspective analysis regarding a positive experience results in it becoming less enjoyable
What is belief perseverance?
Maintaining a belief despite encountering contradictory factual information
What does the law of small number state?
Extreme outcomes are more likely when considering a small number of cases
What are outliers?
A case that is distinct from the majority of other cases
T or F: Our own selectivity when acquiring evidence to support or negate a claim is more obvious than the selectivity of others.
False
T or F: Evidence suggests that those who think about scientific research behave more ethically and are more likely to help others than those who do not.
True
What are the six characteristics of a good scientist?
SCOOCE:
- Skepticism
- Creativity
- Open-mindedness
- Objectivity
- Communication
- Empiricism
What is the main factor that differentiates science from other disciplines like philosophy and theology?
Empirical reasoning
What is the main difference between empirical research and non-empirical research?
- Empirical research: Uses systematic methods to gain knowledge
- Non-empirical research: Uses non-systematic methods to gain knowledge
Which common goal of science is achieved by sharing research?
The goal to serve the common good
What is basic research dedicated to?
Expanding the existing knowledge on a topic
How is basic research often accomplished?
By developing theories to explain phenomena
Which type of research often serves as the foundation for applied research?
Basic research
What is applied research dedicated to?
Solving a problem, and/or examining the real-world implications of a theory
T or F: Research should be viewed as simply being “basic” or “applied.”
False
What is science denialism?
The stubborn refusal to acknowledge the legitimacy of established scientific findings
What are the five key strategies used by science denialists?
FLICC:
- Fake experts
- Logical fallacies
- Impossible expectations
- Cherry-picking
- Conspiracy theories
What are logical fallacies?
Arguments that use errors in reasoning
What are people doing when they conjure a secret scheme to explain straightforward findings?
Creating conspiracy theories
What is the best way to confront science denialism?
Identifying the rhetorical techniques and using facts to refute claims
What term is used to refer to claims/beliefs that are misinterpreted as being derived from the use of the scientific method?
Pseudoscience
What are three situations in which people are more likely to accept pseudoscientific claims?
- When they are accompanied by numerical support
- When they are promoted using terms or jargon such as “new scientific breakthrough”
- When they feature individuals associated with important-sounding schools or professions
What are three things to consider when evaluating claims?
- The source
- The claim itself
- The information
What is “truthiness”?
The tendency to believe something is the truth simply because it “feels right” or “makes sense” without really considering the supporting evidence
What is the illusory truth effect?
The tendency to believe information more if it has been previously encountered
How does processing fluency contribute to/explain the illusory truth effect?
The ease with which information is processed is used as a cue to infer validity
What is the difference between the incremental view of intelligence and entity view of intelligence?
- Incremental: Intelligence is malleable and can be developed
- Entity: Intelligence is fixed and unchangeable
Does overconfidence appear to be most common in those with an incremental or entity view of intelligence?
Entity view of intelligence
Which method of study employs rules for systematic analysis that help avoid nature flaws in thinking?
The scientific method
