Textbook: Chapter 2: Research Methods

Question 1

Parsimony:

Answer 1

choosing the simplest theory with the most explanatory power

Question 2

Natural Order

Answer 2

attributing the same effects to the same causes

Question 3

Generalizability

Answer 3

ensuring the causes and effects observed in scientific

- practice are applicable in all situations involving the same causes

Question 4

Conservatism

Answer 4

skepticism towards new theories until new evidence is undeniable

Question 5

Empiricism:

Answer 5

: the philosophical perspective that states that knowledge should be gained by direct observation of the world as it is

Question 6

rational perspectives

Answer 6

using logic and reason to determine how the world ought to be

Question 7

The Role of Empirical Adequacy:

Answer 7

proper scientific research also requires that claims and theories are based on observable, testable phenomena, not merely reasonable claims, opinions or assumptions

Question 8

Inductive Reasoning:

Answer 8

moving from a collection of specific observations (facts) to a theory that allows us to describe how these observations are related

Question 9

Deductive Reasoning

Answer 9

testing the theory by making specific predictions about situations or events that we have not yet observed directly

Question 10

Reliability:

Answer 10

Reliability: the ability of any test to give the same output when the same input is entered

Question 11

Construct Validity

Answer 11

the ability of a test to measure what we intend to measure

Question 12

Binary Variables:

Answer 12

only have 2 possible values

Question 13

Constant:

Answer 13

only has 1 possible value

Question 14

Extraneous Variables/ Confounding Variables

Answer 14

variables that the researcher did not manipulate but could still effect the outcome of the experiment

Question 15

What is an example of a constant:

Answer 15

of heads a human has

Question 16

What is an example of a binary variable

Answer 16

Alive/dead or right/left

Question 17

Response Set:

Answer 17

tendency of research participants to respond to questions in a articular way that is unrelated to the content of the questions

Question 18

Social Desirability Bias:

Answer 18

a tendency to give socially approved answers to questions about oneself

Question 19

Naturalistic Observation:

Answer 19

a descriptive research method in which the researcher engages observation of behaviour in real-world settings

Question 20

Replication

Answer 20

The repetition of a study to see whether the earlier results can be duplicated, often times by independent researchers

Question 21

Basic Errors:

Answer 21

errors are inevitable in research, by employing the scientific method properly through replication and error controlled, they can be strongly reduced

Question 22

Self Report Biases:

Answer 22

involve errors of human perception such as responding in experiments in a manner we feel is expected of us (social desirability bias and placebo effect) and responding a certain way no matter the content of the experiment (response sets)

Question 23

Experimenter Bias:

Answer 23

involve the influence of experimenters’ presumptions on the experimental design and interpretation of data

Question 24

Type I Errors

Answer 24

involve claims that there effects of the independent variable when differences are actually the result of sampling errors

Question 25

Type II Errors

Answer 25

involve claims that manipulations do not have effects when they actually do