Scientific Method in Psychology

Question 1

Good scientific research should be:

Answer 1

empirical, objective, and repeatable

Question 2

Define Empirical

Answer 2

Data that can verified by observation or experience rather than theory or pure logic.

Question 3

What is Empirical Evidence?

Answer 3

The information gathered through observation and documentation of patterns during experimentation.

Question 4

Good scientific hypotheses and theories should be:

Answer 4

general, parsimonious, and falsifiable

Question 5

Define Parsimonious

Answer 5

to be unusually or extremely frugal and sparing with speech, praise, spending, etc.

Question 6

Define Falsifiable

Answer 6

able to be proved to be false

Question 7

What is a parsimonious hypothesis?

Answer 7

A parsimonious hypothesis is one that suggests the simplest possible explanation for the observed phenomenon.

Question 8

What is a falsifiable hypothesis?

Answer 8

A falsifiable hypothesis makes specific predictions for a given set of observations and variables so that it can be proven incorrect by that data.

Question 9

What are the six steps of the scientific method?

Answer 9

1. Observation and research
2. Formulate a question
3. Formulate a Hypothesis
4. Testing & Experimentation
5. Analyze the data
6. Draw conclusions.

Question 10

What is “Basic Research” in Psychology?

Answer 10

Study and research meant to increase our knowledge of psychological phenomena and the world around us.

Question 11

What is Applied Research in Psychology?

Answer 11

Practical, real-world research meant to address explicit problems people are having.