Stanovich

Question 1

What did Freud contribute to psychology and why is he no longer valued?

Answer 1

Identified that some behaviours are unconscious.

His methods were unscientific and unfalisfiable

Question 2

Does psychology have a grand unifying theory?

Answer 2

No! Biology is the closest theory. It is scientific method that unifies the field.

Question 3

What are the 2 grantees psychology offers?

Answer 3

That conclusions are based on empirical evidence and practice applications are evidenced based.

Question 4

What are the two sources of resistance?

Answer 4

Common sense (People think they are the expert on emotion and revered authorities are challenged) and pseudoscience

Question 5

What are the 4 aims of science

Answer 5

Describe, Explain, Predict and Control

Question 6

What are the 3 defining features of science?

Answer 6

Systematic empiricism: relying on controllable information
Publicly Verifiable knowledge: theories are published for peer review and replication
Empirically Solvable Problems: must be answered using current technology.

Question 7

Describe the features of Publicly Verifiable Knowledge

Answer 7

Replication: information must be public so that others can conduct the same experiment can receive the same results.
Peer review: submit to journal - critique to editor - weight decided - empirically tested - publish.

Question 8

What is the basic methodology to test empirically solvable problems?

Answer 8

Theory - predict - test - modify

Question 9

What is the basic criteria for a testable theory

Answer 9

It must be able to be tested using current technology, have specific implications of society and be falsifiable (be able to be proven wrong)

Question 10

Define: theory

Answer 10

Set of interrelated concepts used to explain a body of data and made predictions that are testable and falsifiable

Question 11

Define: hypothesis

Answer 11

Set of specific predictions made from a theory

Question 12

Define: falsifiability criterion

Answer 12

For a theory to be useful, predictions must be able to be proven false, specific and testable. The higher the falsifiability, the greater the impact.

Question 13

Define essentialism and identify problems

Answer 13

Essentialism is the ultimate explanation of a concept. It often involves pre-existing biases, everyday language and definitive explanations

Question 14

Define Operationalism

Answer 14

Concepts defined in terms of their properties. Linking concepts to measurable and observable events. It is a humanising force that allows for concepts to be publicly verified and debated.

Question 15

Define: parsimony

Answer 15

When two theories have the same explanatory power, the simpler one is preferred as it is more falsifiable.

Question 16

What are the two factors that can confuse causation

Answer 16

Third variable problem: two variables are related due to a third variable the causes both
Directionality: determining which variable causes the other

Question 17

Define: Selection Bias

Answer 17

When two variables appear to be correlated, but it is only because the individual is able to choose their own environment.

Question 18

Define: spurious correlation

Answer 18

Meaningless correlation based on the choices of other people

Question 19

What are the two important features of a true experiment?

Answer 19

Random assignment and manipulation

Question 20

What is the college sophomore problem?

Answer 20

Bc many experiments are conducted on university students, this may result in a cohort effect

Question 21

What are two criticisms of experimental research?

Answer 21

Scientific experiments are artificial because they are conducted in labs
Random sample confusion

Question 22

What is basic research

Answer 22

Theory driven experiments conducted to confirm /modify a theory. It has no direct implication on society.

Question 23

What is applied research

Answer 23

Testing how theories apply to real situations. As they apply directly, they require random sampling.

Question 24

What is the connectivity principle?

Answer 24

New theories must account for both past AND present data.

Question 25

What are the two models that science progresses by?

Answer 25

Gradual Progression Model and Breakthrough Model

Question 26

What is converging evidence and what is it’s two uses?

Answer 26

Evidence from a number of imperfect experiments that lead to the same conclusion. It is used to draw conclusions form logic flawed experiments and test theories.

Question 27

What is the concept of interaction?

Answer 27

Some variables have different impacts when in conjunction with others.

Question 28

What is probabilistic reasoning?

Answer 28

Using generalisations that are more likely true than not. They are statistically demonstrable and based on actuarial predictions.

Question 29

What is the illusory correlation?

Answer 29

The people see two events commonly occurring together, even though they occur randomly and independently.

Question 30

What is the illusion of control?

Answer 30

Belief that personal choices influence random events.

Question 31

What is odd match?

Answer 31

Seeking explanations for randomly occurring incidences

Question 32

What are the three causes of psychology’s image problem?

Answer 32

Parapsychology: layperson’s understanding
Self-help literature
Psychology itself

Question 33

Summarise the final word

Answer 33

1. Solvable empirical problems
2. Falsifiable theories
3. Operational definitions
4. Systematic empiricism
5. Peer review
6. Strive for logic and manipulation
7. Different methods
8. Probabilism
9. Slow accumulation of knowledge