Test 1 Flashcards
Scientific Method
objective and systematic observation. We need to evaluate science (scepticism) and the tools of science (research methods)
Scientific Method Principles
objective & systematic observation on using agreed methods
Methods & results shared openly
Unbiased & honest quest for truth
Constant critique & evaluation
Ranked goals of science
- description = most important, need to describe accurately & well
- prediction
- determine causes
- explanation
The psychological world
Cannot be observed or measured directly, only indirectly. Caused by so many different things it is hard to predict.
Qualities of a scientist
- curiosity & humility
- freedom of ideology & objectiveness
- transparency & honesty
What does science tell us?
does not tell us what is true, but collects evidence for what may be. Pursuit of truth, no hard conclusions.
Science is…
trying to understand complex things by simplifying but still maintaining accuracy, it is a balance.
Where do we start?
research questions: come from observing the world
past research: identifying a gap
William McGuire: 50 ways to generate novel ideas
What is a theory?
a framework; a set of ideas organized by relation and explains how they are related. if correct, tells us predictions of what we should observe in the future
can account for multiple facts
narrows the question asked
Good theories…
make precise predictions
are falsifiable
make many predictions
parsimonious - simple and elegant
not simple re-descriptions
Deduction & inductions
deduction: broad to narrow. theory to hypothesis
example: tall people are more confident, so they do better in interviews.
induction: narrow to broad. evaluate theories based on results.
Theories are never…
the truth. they are working truths. explain facts not by proving but supporting.
History of psychological science
big obsession with theory and hypothesis testing. not enough focus on describing.
you should first describe then explain.
What can science answer?
empirical questions: based on observation not argument or prediction
operational definitions: taking something we want to measure into a procedure, one concept many operationalizations.
Scientific literature
generate study idea or question
design study
collect data
analyze data
publish paper
Publishing science
write paper - authorship order
submit paper to scientific journal
resubmit paper
revise paper
publish paper
Impact factor
How often are their articles cited in other journals
Basic research designs
correlation studies = relation
experiments = manipulate 1 thing as cause, and measure effect of change
Sample types
probability and nonprobability
probability sampling
for every person entering, you know their chance of being in the sample - equal chances. more representative in demographics and aspects. 300+ to be representative. beware of bias or self selection.
nonprobability sampling
inferior choice, used in psych. not random selection of people.
non probability convenience sampling
purposive sampling = picking people for a purpose
quota sampling = predetermined number or % of people/units
snowball sampling = through word of mouth, for hard to access people
WEIRD
western, educated, industrialized, rich and democratic
mTURK
people sign up for small jobs for small amounts of money. 500,000 people from US and India do it. not representative (all internet users, more young, educated people). Data is valid
Measures
psychological phenomena.
- behaviour: reaction times and behaviour traces (left over evidence)
- neural and physiological responses
- self report: peer report = asking other people about a person
measurement error
part of what you get isnt what youre measuring. inaccuracy with tools of measurement and variability in what you are measuring.
to help: use multiple measurements and repeat
self report & survey
different ways to ask questions.
open ended questions useful for new research.
scales = need to have midpoint and be clear
no leading questions
evaluating measures
reliability and validity
reliability
same responses, consistency.
retest and internal consistency reliability (measuring the same thing not different things)
validity
true and accurate.
types of validity
-construct = measuring the right thing
-content = measures all aspects of what were measuring
-face = on surface looks valid
-concurrent = predicting future and present outcomes
-convergent = when measures should correlate they do
-discriminant = doesnt correlate with thing it shouldnt
measurements =
true score + measurement errors
