Psychology as a science

Question 1

What is the acronym to remember key scientific principles in psychology?

Answer 1

THE PROF

Question 2

What does it stand for?

Answer 2

Theory construction
Hypothesis testing
Empiricism
Paradigms
Replicability
Objectivity
Falsifiability

Question 3

Theory construction

Answer 3

The process of developing an explanation for the causes of behaviour by systematically gathering evidence and then organising this into a coherent account (a theory).

Question 4

What are the two methods of developing a theory?

Answer 4

Inductive and deductive reasoning

Question 5

What is inductive reasoning?

Answer 5

experiment
- Make a specific observation, recognise a patter that can be tested and draw a general conclusion (Theory)

Question 6

What is deductive reasoning?

Answer 6

Correlation
- See an existing theory, make a hypothesis and experiment to confirm the theory

Question 7

Empiricism

Answer 7

Idea that factual knowledge can only come from our experience with the world. Collects data from direct experiences

Question 8

Hypothesis testing

Answer 8

Hypotheses that can be tested to prove that it is correct or incorrect

Question 9

Aim

Answer 9

What an investigator wants to discover/find out

Question 10

Hypothesis

Answer 10

A prediction for the results of an experiment or correlation

Question 11

Null hypothesis

Answer 11

Predicts no significant difference or relationship between variables

Question 12

Alternate hypothesis

Answer 12

Predicts a significant difference or relationship between variables

Question 13

Which variable is manipulated?

Answer 13

The independent variable

Question 14

Which variable is measured?

Answer 14

The dependant variable

Question 15

What are co-variables?

Answer 15

Variables in a correlation

Question 16

How to identify if it is an experiment or correlation

Answer 16

Experiment - Difference
Correlation - Relationship

Question 17

Operationalisation

Answer 17

Clearly defining your variables in terms of how they are measured

Question 18

Paradigm

Answer 18

A set of shared assumptions and agreed methods within a subject discipline

Question 19

Paradigm shift

Answer 19

The result of a scientific revolution when there is a significant change in the dominant unifying theory within a scientific discipline

Question 20

Replicability

Answer 20

The extent to which scientific procedures and findings can be repeated by other researchers

Question 21

What makes research more replicable?

Answer 21

a)Keeping things same for all participants (standardisation)
b)controlled environment (lab)
c)Researchers using standardised scripts/instructions

Question 22

Why is replicability important?

Answer 22

a)More likely to be accurate and therefore more generalisable
b)demonstrates reliability

Question 23

Objectivity

Answer 23

It is based on factual, unbiased analysis and is not open to interpretation

Question 24

Falsifiability

Answer 24

A theory cannot be considered scientific unless it admits the possibility of being proved untrue (false)