Psychology as a science

Question 1

Psychological research and scientific method

Answer 1

• Used to eliminate biases that lead us to incorrect conclusions
• Used to avoid problems like assumptions, common knowledge, common sense, and general beliefs

Question 2

Broad generalizations about human behaviour

Answer 2

Can be consistent with the truth but they’re full of biases

Question 3

Confirmation bias

Answer 3

• Looking for evidence to support what they believe and disregard info that contradicts it
• Some conclusions about human behaviour are wrong but we hear them so much they might become reality and we look for evidence to support them

Question 4

Hindsight bias

Answer 4

• Tendency for ppl to be more sure of the outcome of an event after it has already happened
• Leads us to incorrect conclusions
• We tend to do it because it comforts us
• Makes us believe the world is more predictable than it is
• Makes us feel smarter

Question 5

Study about hindsight bias

Answer 5

• Done in the early 80s
• 2 weeks before the super bowl researchers surveyed students and asked them who they though would win
• Dolphins vs. 49ers
• A week before the game the dolphins were the fav so the majority of ppl said the dolphins would win
• The 49s won
• A week after researchers asked the same students “who did you predict would win the game?”
• The bast majority predicted the dolphins would win but said they predicted the 49ers would win

Question 6

Empirical

Answer 6

Something that is based solely on experiment or experience

Question 7

Science is empirical

Answer 7

• Scientific method used to gather empirical info
• Make an observation and gather evidence that taler can be critically evaluated
• Evidence we can observe

Question 8

Scientific knowledge

Answer 8

• Is provisional (can change) because we are constantly finding new evidence, gathering new data, or finding that the last conclusion of a topic was wrong
• Obstacles that prevent us from using the word “prove”

Question 9

Theories —> Hypothesis —> Experiments (THE)

Answer 9

• How we go about investigating things
• Theories: we have a general understanding or perspective on human behaviour
• Hypothesis: that perspective gives us an idea of specific statements about human behaviour
• Experiments: We run studies to gather evidence to see if we can support our hypothesis