Research Strategies: How psychologists ask and answer questions

Question 1

What is hindsight bias? Describe an example

Answer 1

The tendency to believe, after learning an outcome, that one would have foreseen it
the i knew it all along

Question 2

How does overconfidence bias us?

Answer 2

we tend to think we know more than we actually do. overconfidence leads to quick - rather than correct - thinking

Question 3

Why do we seem to find order in random events? What are the benefits of and costs of doing so?

Answer 3

We pattern-seek because an unpredictable world is unsettling for us.
Making sense of our world relieves stress

Question 4

What is the scientific method?

Answer 4

The scientific method is a self-correcting process for evaluating ideas with observation and analysis.

Question 5

What is a theory? How does the scientific meaning differ from the everyday meaning?

Answer 5

A theory is an explanation that requires observation and predicts behaviors (outcome).
A good theory will lead to a hypothesis

Question 6

What is a hypothesis? How do hypothesis relate to theories?

Answer 6

A hypothesis is a testable prediction. A good theory will lead to a testable prediction, a hypothesis

Question 7

What is replication? Why is it so important to psychological science?

Answer 7

Replication is repeating the essence of the study. It’s done so we can confirm if the outcome can be reproduced.

Question 8

What is a case study?

Answer 8

A case study are analyses of an individual or a group, often a particular case or unusual case.
Its purpose is finding universal truths

Question 9

What are the benefits of case studies?

Answer 9

They often suggest further studies. starting point for other fruitful ideas

Question 10

What are the concerns about case studies

Answer 10

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

Question 11

What is naturalistic observation?

Answer 11

It is a descriptive technique that records behavior in daily situations without changing much (not controlling the situation)

Question 12

What are the benefits of natural observation?

Answer 12

It gives snapshots of everyday life. This descriptions can be revealing.

Question 13

What are the concerns about naturalistic observation?

Answer 13

It does not explain behavior, it just describes it.

Question 14

What is a survey research?

Answer 14

Asking questions to a random sample or group

Question 15

What are the benefits of survey research?

Answer 15

We can ask about literally everything

Question 16

What are the concerns about survey research?

Answer 16

Wording matters a lot. Also, people can answer the question in a socially desirable way, not in a genuine way

Question 17

What is random sampling? What potential problem does it address?

Answer 17

Is a sample that fairly represents the population, because everyone has an equal chance of inclusion.
It addresses bias

Question 18

What is correlation? what does it tell us?

Answer 18

It is the measure of the extent to which factors vary together, and thus of how well either variable predicts the other

Question 19

What can correlation tell us about causation

Answer 19

Correlation is not equal to causation.
Not because there is a connection between two variables, there are other variables that could influence the outcome.

Question 20

In an experiment? What is a experimental group? what is the control group?

Answer 20

The experimental group is the group exposed to the treatment.
The control group is the one we can compare and contrast to

Question 21

What is random assignment?

Answer 21

It is assigning participants to the groups randomly, so we decrease the pre-existing differences.

Question 22

what is the placebo effect? How do researchers control it?

Answer 22

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

Question 23

What is an independent variable?

Answer 23

the variable that’s manipulated, the variable we’re going to study

Question 24

What is the dependent variable?

Answer 24

The variable that will change depending on the other variable

Question 25

What is a confounding variable?

Answer 25

Additional variables that can influence the outcome

Question 26

What is informed consent?

Answer 26

informed consent is giving enough information so they’re informed and can choose whether to participate or not in the study

Question 27

What is debriefing?

Answer 27

post-experiment information, to let the participants know its purpose and deceptions

Question 28

Why are informed consent and debriefing important in psychological science?

Answer 28

It is important for ethical standards. To safeguard the human or other animal well-being.