Review Questions Ch 1-5 Flashcards
Why did psychologists use the empirical approach?
Direct observation and experimentation
Two important characteristics of SM?
Empirical approach
Skeptical attitude
Why is ethnocentrism a problem?
How can it be prevented?
Because it will cause bias and invalid conclusions about a group of people
Cross cultural research
What does it mean that research is conducted in a “moral context”?
Researchers maintain the highest standards of ethical behavior
2 ethical dilemmas researchers might run into?
Animal research
Deception
Three initial steps researchers take as they begin a project?
What to study
Development of hypothesis
Is it good research
Why has the computer revolution been important to psychology?
Shift In emphasis from behaviorism to cognitive psychology
What is the multi-method approach? Main advantage?
Searching for an answer using various research methodologies
Adv- researchers obtain more complete understanding of behavior/mental processes
2 reasons it’s important to search literature when beginning research?
Current research builds on previous research; may discover inconsistencies
Advantage of using operational definitions
Facilitate communication
No argument
Difference between accuracy and precision when using instruments?
Accuracy difference between what an instrument says is true and what is actually true, precision is how close to perfect the measurement is
3 ways in which hypothesis can be considered untestable?
Concepts not defined or measured
Circular
Appeals to ideas not recognized by science
Nomethic approach vs idiographic approach
Nomethic= generalizations, groups used in studies Idiographic= focuses on individuals to compromise for uniqueness
What can we do with correlational data?
Predict behavior or events but cannot infer the cause of the relationship
Basic vs applied research
Basic- to understand a behavior
Applied- to change people’s lives for the better
