Research Strategies: How psychologists ask and answer questions Flashcards
What is hindsight bias? Describe an example
The tendency to believe, after learning an outcome, that one would have foreseen it
the i knew it all along
How does overconfidence bias us?
we tend to think we know more than we actually do. overconfidence leads to quick - rather than correct - thinking
Why do we seem to find order in random events? What are the benefits of and costs of doing so?
We pattern-seek because an unpredictable world is unsettling for us.
Making sense of our world relieves stress
What is the scientific method?
The scientific method is a self-correcting process for evaluating ideas with observation and analysis.
What is a theory? How does the scientific meaning differ from the everyday meaning?
A theory is an explanation that requires observation and predicts behaviors (outcome).
A good theory will lead to a hypothesis
What is a hypothesis? How do hypothesis relate to theories?
A hypothesis is a testable prediction. A good theory will lead to a testable prediction, a hypothesis
What is replication? Why is it so important to psychological science?
Replication is repeating the essence of the study. It’s done so we can confirm if the outcome can be reproduced.
What is a case study?
A case study are analyses of an individual or a group, often a particular case or unusual case.
Its purpose is finding universal truths
What are the benefits of case studies?
They often suggest further studies. starting point for other fruitful ideas
What are the concerns about case studies
Even though what is true for one can be true for all, the reality is that to find a universal truth we will need another type of research methods
What is naturalistic observation?
It is a descriptive technique that records behavior in daily situations without changing much (not controlling the situation)
What are the benefits of natural observation?
It gives snapshots of everyday life. This descriptions can be revealing.
What are the concerns about naturalistic observation?
It does not explain behavior, it just describes it.
What is a survey research?
Asking questions to a random sample or group
What are the benefits of survey research?
We can ask about literally everything
What are the concerns about survey research?
Wording matters a lot. Also, people can answer the question in a socially desirable way, not in a genuine way
What is random sampling? What potential problem does it address?
Is a sample that fairly represents the population, because everyone has an equal chance of inclusion.
It addresses bias
What is correlation? what does it tell us?
It is the measure of the extent to which factors vary together, and thus of how well either variable predicts the other
What can correlation tell us about causation
Correlation is not equal to causation.
Not because there is a connection between two variables, there are other variables that could influence the outcome.
In an experiment? What is a experimental group? what is the control group?
The experimental group is the group exposed to the treatment.
The control group is the one we can compare and contrast to
What is random assignment?
It is assigning participants to the groups randomly, so we decrease the pre-existing differences.
what is the placebo effect? How do researchers control it?
experimental result caused by expectations alone.
They control the placebo effect by doing it double-blind: neither the participants nor the researchers know who’s taking the placebo
What is an independent variable?
the variable that’s manipulated, the variable we’re going to study
What is the dependent variable?
The variable that will change depending on the other variable
What is a confounding variable?
Additional variables that can influence the outcome
What is informed consent?
informed consent is giving enough information so they’re informed and can choose whether to participate or not in the study
What is debriefing?
post-experiment information, to let the participants know its purpose and deceptions
Why are informed consent and debriefing important in psychological science?
It is important for ethical standards. To safeguard the human or other animal well-being.
