Scientific Method - Chapter 2

Question 1

What is Empiricism?

Answer 1

idea that true knowledge comes from observations rather than intuition

Question 2

Theory is…

Answer 2

a collection of interrelated ideas and observations that describe, explain and predict behaviour or mental processes.

Question 3

Define Scientific Method in Psychology

Answer 3

the process used to discover knowledge about human behaviour and mental process

Question 4

Explain Step 1 of Scientific Method: state the problem

Answer 4

psychologists must ask specific questions that can be answered

Question 5

Define Step 2 of Scientific Method: develop a hypothesis

Answer 5

testable prediction regarding the answer to the question that has been posed, often emerge from theory

Question 6

Explain Step 3 of Scientific Method: design the study

Answer 6

identify key variables, method of investigation, types of participants

Question 7

Explain Step 4 of Scientific Method: collect and analyze data

Answer 7

summarize the data, techniques must be selected that do not bias the results

Question 8

Explain Step 5 of Scientific Method: draw conclusions and report results

Answer 8

report results to scientific community, presentations, publish in journal

Question 9

Why are good research designs important?

Answer 9

• helps eliminate bias
• avoids subjective impressions

Question 10

Heuristics are…

Answer 10

mental shortcuts that can oversimplify reality

Question 11

Scientists develop theory through the…

Answer 11

scientific method

Question 12

What is the representativeness heuristic?

Answer 12

estimating the likelihood of an event by comparing it to an existing stereotype that already exists in our minds

Question 13

What is the Availability Heuristic?

Answer 13

mental shortcut where we estimate the likelihood of an occurrence based on how easily it comes to our minds

Question 14

What is Hindsight bias?

Answer 14

tendency for people to perceive past events as more predictable than they actually were

Question 15

What is overconfidence bias?

Answer 15

tendency for people to be more confident in their own abilities than is objectively true

Question 16

How do we avoid biases and heuristics?

Answer 16

1. test specific hypothesis
2. know that theories can not be proven, but hypothesis can be

Question 17

Psychological research often takes the form of…

Answer 17

an experiment

Question 18

What are two vital components to the experimental method?

Answer 18

1. random assignment
2. manipulation of the independent variable

Question 19

What is a variable?

Answer 19

a characteristic of a situation or a person that is subject to change

Question 20

The Independent Variable is…

Answer 20

manipulated by the experimenter

Question 21

The dependent variable is…

Answer 21

the behaviour or response that is expected to change

Question 22

Is the statement: IV affects DV, true?

Answer 22

Yes

Question 23

What is a sample?

Answer 23

a limited number of people that can represent a population

Question 24

What is the operational definition of a variable?

Answer 24

clear, concise and detailed definition of measure that is used in the study

Question 25

Does the experimental group receive the IV?

Answer 25

Yes

Question 26

Does the control group receive the IV?

Answer 26

No

Question 27

What is the Placebo effect?

Answer 27

when a persons physical or mental health appears to improve after taking a placebo treatment

Question 28

Should participants of an experiment be blind to the hypothesis?

Answer 28

YES

Question 29

What is the Nocebo Effect?

Answer 29

when negative expectations of a patient regarding a treatment cause the treatment to have a negative effect

Question 30

What is a Case Study?

Answer 30

method of interviewing participants to gain information about their background

Question 31

What is the advantage of a Case Study?

Answer 31

a lot of data is collected on patient

Question 32

What is the disadvantage of the case study?

Answer 32

the unique subject of the case study may not allow findings to be generalized

Question 33

Researchers must ___ their impact on the experiment

Answer 33

minimize

Question 34

Naturalistic observation is…

Answer 34

observation of events from a distance

Question 35

A survey is…

Answer 35

method in which researchers prepare written questionnaire or interview individuals by telephone or face to face

Question 36

What is the disadvantage of survey research method?

Answer 36

self reported, can be unreliable

Question 37

a correlational study attempts to determine…

Answer 37

the strength of the relationship between two variables

Question 38

Two events that are correlated are not necessarily…

Answer 38

related casually

Question 39

an ex post facto study is…

Answer 39

when researchers want to compare groups of individuals with pre-existing differences

Question 40

correlation coefficient can range from ….

Answer 40

-1.00 to +1.00

Question 41

in a negative correlation…

Answer 41

as scores on one variables increase, scores on another variable decrease

Question 42

in a positive correlation…

Answer 42

as scores of one variable increase, the score of other variable increase

Question 43

inferential statistics are used to…

Answer 43

determine if results obtained are statistically significant

Question 44

Ethnocentrism is…

Answer 44

the bias that individuals, groups and institutions recognize their outlook as the only valid point

Question 45

what is ethics in research?

Answer 45

the rules concerning proper and acceptable conduct that investigators use to guide their research

Question 46

must human participants give researcher their informed consent prior to study?

Answer 46

YES

Question 47

What is the event called after a study which informs participants about true nature of an experiment?

Answer 47

debriefing