Stanovich Flashcards
What did Freud contribute to psychology and why is he no longer valued?
Identified that some behaviours are unconscious.
His methods were unscientific and unfalisfiable
Does psychology have a grand unifying theory?
No! Biology is the closest theory. It is scientific method that unifies the field.
What are the 2 grantees psychology offers?
That conclusions are based on empirical evidence and practice applications are evidenced based.
What are the two sources of resistance?
Common sense (People think they are the expert on emotion and revered authorities are challenged) and pseudoscience
What are the 4 aims of science
Describe, Explain, Predict and Control
What are the 3 defining features of science?
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.
Describe the features of Publicly Verifiable Knowledge
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.
What is the basic methodology to test empirically solvable problems?
Theory - predict - test - modify
What is the basic criteria for a testable theory
It must be able to be tested using current technology, have specific implications of society and be falsifiable (be able to be proven wrong)
Define: theory
Set of interrelated concepts used to explain a body of data and made predictions that are testable and falsifiable
Define: hypothesis
Set of specific predictions made from a theory
Define: falsifiability criterion
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.
Define essentialism and identify problems
Essentialism is the ultimate explanation of a concept. It often involves pre-existing biases, everyday language and definitive explanations
Define Operationalism
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.
Define: parsimony
When two theories have the same explanatory power, the simpler one is preferred as it is more falsifiable.
What are the two factors that can confuse causation
Third variable problem: two variables are related due to a third variable the causes both
Directionality: determining which variable causes the other
Define: Selection Bias
When two variables appear to be correlated, but it is only because the individual is able to choose their own environment.
Define: spurious correlation
Meaningless correlation based on the choices of other people
What are the two important features of a true experiment?
Random assignment and manipulation
What is the college sophomore problem?
Bc many experiments are conducted on university students, this may result in a cohort effect
What are two criticisms of experimental research?
Scientific experiments are artificial because they are conducted in labs
Random sample confusion
What is basic research
Theory driven experiments conducted to confirm /modify a theory. It has no direct implication on society.
What is applied research
Testing how theories apply to real situations. As they apply directly, they require random sampling.
What is the connectivity principle?
New theories must account for both past AND present data.
What are the two models that science progresses by?
Gradual Progression Model and Breakthrough Model
What is converging evidence and what is it’s two uses?
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.
What is the concept of interaction?
Some variables have different impacts when in conjunction with others.
What is probabilistic reasoning?
Using generalisations that are more likely true than not. They are statistically demonstrable and based on actuarial predictions.
What is the illusory correlation?
The people see two events commonly occurring together, even though they occur randomly and independently.
What is the illusion of control?
Belief that personal choices influence random events.
What is odd match?
Seeking explanations for randomly occurring incidences
What are the three causes of psychology’s image problem?
Parapsychology: layperson’s understanding
Self-help literature
Psychology itself
Summarise the final word
- Solvable empirical problems
- Falsifiable theories
- Operational definitions
- Systematic empiricism
- Peer review
- Strive for logic and manipulation
- Different methods
- Probabilism
- Slow accumulation of knowledge
